Choosing the right wood for your baseboard can be problematic. Baseboards generally create a transition between the wall and floor. Thus, tile floors look more natural with a tile baseboard and wood floors with a wood baseboard. But then, which is the right wood?
Often, a homeowner can feel lost searching for the right baseboard material, given the many textures available. Many consider their choices to be wood for entertainment areas and vinyl or tile in high-moisture areas, like the kitchen and bath. Wood is often too porous for the kitchen and bath, which could raise moisture concerns, such as mold and mildew. Vinyl and tile are less-porous materials, which makes these a reliable choice for the kitchen and bath.
While a wood baseboard is an excellent choice for casual areas of your home, primarily, the living room, dining room and bedrooms. When you use wood, it should match the trim and molding, either painted or stained to make the room appear seamless.
Softwood or Hardwood for Your Baseboard?
Which wood you choose will likely depend on whether you intend to stain and varnish, or paint. If you have painted windows and door trim, a stained and varnished baseboard might clash, which would look unnatural. If you intend to paint, using a softwood, like fir or pine, is best. A hardwood that matches your wood floors’ color and grain is the best choice when you intend to stain and varnish. Hardwoods are usually oak, cherry, maple, cedar or mahogany. Some of these will match your flooring naturally, while others might need stain and varnish.
Solid Wood or Pressed Wood
The best option for wood baseboards is solid wood. Solid wood baseboards are more durable, for a long-lasting lustrous look than pressed wood, which may need to be primed and painted. Even when you choose to stain and varnish, pressed wood has no visible grain, which isn’t as appealing as solid wood.
Pressed wood comes from a process that forms a wood-look by mixing sawdust and other wood fibers with chemical bonding agents, which is then heated. It is less expensive, yet not as durable as solid wood. Often, it will come down to your budget and, once again, whether you intend to paint or stain. Pressed wood is an excellent choice when primed and painted with a high-gloss paint. Frequently, solid wood has knots that can bleed through, and it requires the pieces to be primed and sealed if you choose to paint.
The use of solid wood instead of pressed wood as a baseboard creates a natural feel in your home, especially if it has a lovely stained and varnished sheen to match the flooring, it will make the room more attractive. The solid wood baseboards, molding and trim can be matched for a consistent color and grain pattern, which is helpful to those who want to add more personality to their homes. Solid wood baseboards are gorgeous with a simple stain and varnish that matches your wood flooring.
Installation
While the cost and additional work required for solid wood installation may be out of reach for some, the initial expense is well worth it for others. Solid wood baseboards will last years longer and look natural next to wood flooring. Just imagine how stunning cherry or mahogany flooring and baseboards will look in your dining room.
Call the Professionals at Tell Projects
Give Tell Projects a call for your baseboard installation project, (832) 730-2471. Whether you choose softwood or hardwood, pressed or solid, let Tell Projects give you a free estimate and a no-obligation consultation, today. Ask us any questions by email, tellprojectstx@gmail.com.
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