Moldings that "shrink"

[offlarjon]

I have a thought about changing the baseboards in most of the house. However, I'm wondering what can be done to prevent the material from contracting/shrinking? I've replaced them in 2 rooms so far, and in almost every corner, there's been a small gap about six months after I installed the baseboards. That wood moves is inevitable, but maybe there's something to consider to minimize the actual movement in the material?

 

[Immobil]

Allow the moldings to sit in the room for a week to ten days before you cut them. This gives them time to acclimate.

 

[prototypen]

And nail low on the list.

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[Stuff]

The normal procedure is to buy the moldings, let them sit for a few years, and put them up when it's time to sell and move ;P

 

[offlarjon]

And nail low on the trim.

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What is the reason for doing that, really? Is it because the floor joist is narrower than most trims?

 

[vectrex]

What is the reason for doing this actually? Is it because the baseboard itself is narrower than most trims?

The main reason is that most of the movement will then occur above the nail, and the gap towards the floor will thus be minimal.

 

[prototypen]

You do use the plank stub trick when setting the baseboard.

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[offlarjon]

You do use the board stump trick when installing the baseboard.

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What is that?

 

[Hasse302]

What is it?

Now I don't know for sure what he meant, but a guess is that you have a small piece of board with you so that you can press down the base properly before nailing it down.
But what I read in your first post is that it's the corners that are opening up, not a gap against the floor.
Let the moldings stay inside as others have written and use a little wood glue, there's not much more to do.

 

[offlarjon]

Now I'm not sure what he meant, but a guess is that you have a small piece of board with you so that you can press down the baseboard properly before nailing it down. But what I read in your first post is that it's the corners that are opening up, not a gap against the floor. Let the moldings acclimate indoors as others have suggested and use a little wood glue; there's not much more you can do.

No, exactly, it's not the gap between the molding and the floor that's the problem, but as you said, the corners where the moldings meet are pulling apart. But I'll go with these tips & just try it out! In the worst case, I'll put them in the living room & fire up the wood stove so they really contract hehe .

 

[hsd]

Acrylate sealant.....

 

[Kane]

Acrylic sealant.....

Acrylic sealant?

 

[Johnsvi]

I always tend to caulk all joints regardless of how good they are. Latex caulk becomes more elastic and doesn't crack as easily as paint

 

[Marcussjogren]

As previously mentioned, it is the same with solid wood floors. The wood retains a higher moisture content when it has been outside in the lumber yard; it is only at normal room temperature that it can dry properly, and then it shrinks.

Drying it by a wood-burning stove can be a bad idea as high temperatures may risk causing it to crack. But the risk might be small for moldings.

 

[prototypen]

Do you create inner corners? Of course, there will be a gap between the baseboards.
For inner corners, you should make a butt joint; if you have a profiled strip, you need to carve the end so it fits against the other's profile.

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