Cement skirting boards

[dspp]

QUESTION : Does anyone know why cement skirting boards exist and were in vogue at one time ?

I'm asking because I've just removed some cement skirting boards whilst stripping a room of plaster etc. This particular room is an upstairs bedroom in a 1900 Victorian terrace. Most of the other rooms had wooden skirting. I've had to deal with in in other houses from time to time and in some places it was likely used because of damp concerns, but not always. I am guessing this particular skirting was done in maybe the 1930s or 1950s, as for various reasons I think that room was reworked at some point. I'm struggling to understand why owners and/or tradespeople would have selected cement skirting at all - heavy, cannot be worked easily, and presumably (?) more expensive than timber.

Any answers welcome.

regards, dspp

[ReformedCharacter]

QUESTION : Does anyone know why cement skirting boards exist and were in vogue at one time ?

I'm asking because I've just removed some cement skirting boards whilst stripping a room of plaster etc. This particular room is an upstairs bedroom in a 1900 Victorian terrace. Most of the other rooms had wooden skirting. I've had to deal with in in other houses from time to time and in some places it was likely used because of damp concerns, but not always. I am guessing this particular skirting was done in maybe the 1930s or 1950s, as for various reasons I think that room was reworked at some point. I'm struggling to understand why owners and/or tradespeople would have selected cement skirting at all - heavy, cannot be worked easily, and presumably (?) more expensive than timber.

Any answers welcome.

regards, dspp

Just a guess, wartime shortage of wood?

RC

[sg31]

I found cement skirtings in a house built in 1922 so I suspect RC has the right explanation.

[redsturgeon]

Keep out the mice!

John

[Stonge]

Granite kitchen work tops.

[GrahamPlatt]

Almost all european houses have tile upstands (plinthes) rather than wood. I prefer them.

[kiloran]

Almost all european houses have tile upstands (plinthes) rather than wood. I prefer them.

Not my apartment when I lived in France..... it had a 3in strip of carpet glued around the walls!

--kiloran

[dspp]

I found cement skirtings in a house built in 1922 so I suspect RC has the right explanation.

Cement was in even more short supply during the war years, both war years. Wood was needed for trenching and formwork and pitprops (coal) and war-construction. Cement was highly prized for fortifications.

regards, dspp

[StepOne]

The builder had some left over from a previous job?