im with you apm, any wood in bathrooms is a no no. As for mess and expense, 5 mins takes them off and with paslode nailer 5 mins puts them back on, fill the holes and caulk and your done. Cant say ive ever made a mess taking skirtings off, time you run a blade round the top edge to break the caulk seal and tile the floor you are up onto fresh wall which is then recaulked after the skirting itself is cleaned up. Nine times out of ten it looks better than it did originally! Dont think 30 or 40 quids gonna burst the bank either for a quality finish.