Proportion of Baseboard Molding

History

• Historically, trim molding was intended merely to join incongruous surfaces. Whether it be the joint between floor and wall or wall and ceiling, gaps tended to appear and needed to be covered by flexible trim. Molding could be as simple as a thin strip of wood. On the other hand, homeowners sometimes had larger and fancier trim installed to express their taste and show their wealth.

Baseboard Construction

• Traditional baseboards were made in three parts. The foundation of the baseboard was a flat board, which was rigid. It was capped by a more flexible, decorative cap, which followed the contours of the wall. Likewise, flexible shoe molding spanned the base and the floor. At the time of publication, baseboards often combine the base and cap in one piece, with shoe molding being applied separately.

Standardization

• Mechanization in the 19th century led to the availability of lumber in standard sizes. By the early 20th century, baseboards for middle-class houses were typically made of standard 1-by-6 or 1-by-8 boards. Grander homes often boasted 12-inch baseboards. There were no hard and fast rules, though the general understanding was that the taller the ceiling, the taller the baseboard.

Post-War

• The post-World War II building boom required housing that went up quickly and inexpensively. Every expense was spared, so substantial, decorative trim gave way to thinner strips. Necessity became style, and standard baseboards remain a mere 3 or 4 inches at the time of this publication.

Options

• A resurgence in the interest in traditional building styles has led to the use of more substantial moldings. Baseboards are available, once again, in standard 6-inch and 8-inch sizes. Traditional three-part baseboards, as well as the easier-to-install two-part style, are available at most lumber yards and home centers. If you have a large house and desire more substantial baseboards to match, 10-inch and 12-inch boards are available to fill the need.