Best Skirting Board Adhesive for Uneven Walls: 2025 Expert Review
DR Joinery
Expert Joiner & Craftsman
Fitting skirting boards might seem straightforward, until you encounter the walls in a typical York terrace. Nothing is straight, plaster is often blown, and brickwork is rarely plumb. If you rely on a cheap adhesive, you'll find your boards popping off the wall before the caulk is even dry.
In professional joinery, especially when finishing a high-end hardwood flooring installation, the skirting is the final frame. It needs to sit tight against the floor and the wall. Whilst mechanical fixings (nails or screws) are often necessary for bowed walls, a high-quality grab adhesive is the backbone of a solid installation.
In this review, I'm comparing three different adhesive options I keep in the van. We look at a reliable budget grab adhesive, a bulk pack for doing the whole room, and a handy tube format for quick repairs where getting the caulking gun out isn't worth the hassle.
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Specs vs. The Real World
The Spec: "Instant Grab Claims"
"Marketing suggests you can just press the board to the wall and walk away immediately."
On flat new-build plasterboard, maybe. On uneven Victorian walls, the timber will spring back. You almost always need to prop it with heavy weights or use a few lost-head nails to hold it whilst the adhesive cures.
The Spec: "No Fixings Required"
"The adhesive is strong enough to replace nails entirely."
Adhesive relies on surface quality. If you stick skirting to dusty, flaky old plaster or old wallpaper, the glue holds the dust, not the wall. Always prime porous surfaces first or use mechanical fixings for a 'belt and braces' approach.
My Top 3 Recommendations
Three options to cover different needs and budgets
Sika Pinkgrip Solvent Free Grab Adhesive – Overpaintable – White – 380ml
Sika
This is a solvent-free variation of the legendary 'Pinkgrip' that tradesmen have used for years. It's fantastic value and offers excellent gap-filling properties, which is essential when working with the undulating walls we see around York. Being white and overpaintable makes it much easier to hide during the decorating stage.
The Good
- Excellent price point for trade use
- Good gap-filling properties for uneven plaster
- Solvent-free means less fumes in occupied homes
The Bad
- Slower curing time in cold, damp conditions compared to solvent versions
- Requires at least one porous surface to bond effectively
Installer Tip:
Because this is high-solids and gap-filling, don't press it too flat. Leave a 3-5mm bead so it can bridge the gaps in the wall. If the wall is very dusty, dilute a little PVA glue and seal the wall line first to give the adhesive something to bite onto.
Priced at £2.82 at the time of writing
Check Price on AmazonUniBond No More Nails Original, Heavy-Duty Mounting Adhesive, Pack of 3
Unibond
When we're fitting a hardwood floor and replacing all the skirting in a room, buying single tubes isn't economical. This 3-pack from UniBond is the industry standard for grab adhesive. It provides a reliable, strong bond that I trust on jobs where I can't afford a callback for loose boards.
The Good
- Prover strength and reliability over decades
- Bulk pack is ideal for full room renovations
- Excellent initial grab reduces need for props
The Bad
- Water-based, so not suitable for areas with rising damp
- Cartridges can be stiff to pump if left in a cold van overnight
Installer Tip:
Apply in a 'wave' pattern on the back of the skirting rather than straight lines or dots. This increases the surface area significantly and creates a suction effect that helps hold the board against the wall whilst it sets.
Priced at £16.98 at the time of writing
Check Price on AmazonUniBond No More Nails Original, Heavy-Duty Mounting Adhesive, 1 x 234g Tube
Unibond
Not every job requires a heavy caulking gun and a full cartridge. If you're just fixing a short return on a skirting board or reattaching a piece that's come loose near a radiator, this squeezable tube is the problem-solver you need. It's the same quality adhesive but in a format that anyone can use instantly.
The Good
- No caulking gun required - use straight from the tube
- Perfect for small repairs or short lengths of skirting
- Resealable cap prevents waste
The Bad
- More expensive per kg than cartridges
- Harder to get a consistent bead thickness by hand squeezing
Installer Tip:
This is ideal for mitre joints. When joining skirting at an external corner, apply a dab of this to the cut timber faces (in addition to the wall) to glue the mitre together. It helps prevent the joint from opening up as the wood expands and contracts with Yorkshire's humidity.
Priced at £4.50 at the time of writing
Check Price on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Do I still need nails if I use grab adhesive for skirting?
How do I remove old adhesive from the wall before fitting new skirting?
Can I use these adhesives in a bathroom?
What is the best way to apply adhesive to skirting?
How long does grab adhesive take to dry?
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