18mm PVC Kitchen Plinth Sealing Strip – Kickboard Trim & Floor Seal

18mm PVC Kitchen Plinth Sealing Strip

This sealing strip closes the gap between the bottom of a kitchen plinth and the floor. Left open, that gap takes in mop water, spills, dust and crumbs — and water sitting under a plinth is what eventually swells the chipboard carcass of a base unit from below, long before anything shows on the surface. The strip fits an 18mm plinth board and carries a soft flexible lip that presses down onto the floor and follows it.

Also sold as a kickboard trim or plinth seal, it suits both new kitchen installations and refurbishments where existing plinths are being refitted.

Why the Lip Matters

Very few kitchen floors are perfectly level. A plinth cut to a single height will always leave a gap somewhere along the run — usually a few millimetres, usually at one end. The flexible lip takes up that variation as the plinth is pushed home, so the floor line stays closed without the board itself having to be scribed to the floor.

It also means the plinth can still be pulled off for access to pipework, a dishwasher or a washing machine, and refitted without the seal being disturbed.

Specification

• Fits: 18mm plinth board
• Lengths: 1m and 3m
• Material: PVC — rigid channel with a flexible sealing lip
• Fixing: clips to the plinth edge, or adhesive fix
• Cutting: sharp knife or fine-tooth saw
• Suitable for: kitchens, utility rooms, bathrooms, fitted furniture

How to Fit

1. Measure the length of the plinth run and cut the strip a few millimetres long.
2. Push the strip onto the bottom edge of the plinth board, working from one end.
3. Trim the excess flush with a sharp knife.
4. Mitre the ends at internal and external corners rather than butting them together.
5. Refit the plinth and check the lip is touching the floor along the whole length. If it lifts anywhere, the plinth is sitting slightly high at that point.

Where It Is Used

• Kitchens — the standard application, sealing beneath base units.
• Utility and laundry rooms — floors mopped often, water reaching the plinth line.
• Bathrooms and cloakrooms — around vanity units and fitted furniture.
• Commercial kitchens — where a sealed floor junction is needed for cleaning.
• Fitted bedroom furniture — wardrobes and desk runs needing a clean floor line.

Questions

How do I know if I need 18mm?
Measure the thickness of the plinth board itself — not its height, and not the gap to the floor. If the plinth is already fitted, take the measurement from a cut end or from behind. Most kitchen plinths are 16mm or 18mm.

Which length should I order?
This strip comes in 1m and 3m lengths. Measure the full run of plinth, including any returns at the ends. A standard kitchen run usually takes the 3m length; the 1m size suits short runs, island units and topping up an existing order. Order slightly more than you measure, as corners need mitring.

Will it stop water getting under my units?
It closes the main route in, so mop water and small spills are held out. It is not a substitute for fixing a leak or for sealing a floor properly.

Can I fit it to plinths that are already installed?
Yes. Pull the plinth off its clips, push the strip onto the bottom edge and refit. Nothing else needs to come out.

Does it work on uneven or tiled floors?
That is what the flexible lip is for — it takes up small variations and follows a tiled surface. On badly uneven floors the plinth itself may still need scribing.

Can it be removed later?
Yes, if clipped rather than glued. This is worth keeping in mind if appliances behind the plinth may need pulling out.

Do you supply trade quantities?
Yes. Kitchen fitters and contractors can apply for a trade account for volume pricing and priority dispatch.