do baseboards shrink over the years, or has the standard become larger?

[Yrrol]

I removed some baseboards and was set on it being easy to buy new ones, but discovered that it wasn't that easy to find matching ones.

Mine are about 54.2-54.8mm high with an angled top edge. But stores today sell 56mm.

So I’m curious if my baseboards have dried and become shorter, or if the factories have changed the standard?

If baseboards shrink, I can install 56mm and hope they shrink down and match the old ones. If it's a new standard, I can either plane down the new baseboards or replace the remaining baseboards in the room.

 

[tergo]

If the moldings shrink, I can mount 56mm and hope that they shrink down to match the old moldings.

If your new moldings have been indoors for 2-3 days at room temperature, they won't shrink further.

 

[sultanen1]

Lists often shrink for significantly longer than 2-3 days. Experience that today's lists with wide spacing between growth rings move extra much and for a long time.

 

[Yrrol]

I bought new baseboards today. The store had them in cold storage and I have now put them in my cold garage. Afraid they might warp if I bring them inside without securing them?

Or is that wrong, should I let them sit in room temperature for a while before installing them?

 

[Hallerudsbo]

How old can those moldings be that are in the house?

 

[Yrrol]

My old ones are about 15 years old. Although I have removed entire wall lengths so that new and old aren't noticeable in the middle of the wall. My question now is whether the new trim should acclimate in the warmth for a day before fastening them, or if they will become crooked then.

 

[Bjoellander]

56 mm was one of the standard measurements for moldings/baseboards when I worked at a building supplies store about 15 years ago, so most likely your old moldings are of that dimension.