*
Any ideas about height of baseboards? I’ve just bought a modest (small) house whch needs baseboards replacing/installing. I prefer tall baseboards (8″+/_) but the ceilind height is only about 8′, as most are nowadays, though the house is 100+ years old. I’m curious if anyone has a magic proportional formula for height of baseboard to height of room?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story

Listeners write in about removing masonry chimneys and ask about blocked ridge vents, deal-breakers with fixer-uppers, and flashing ledgers that are spaced from the wall.
Featured Video
Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With ViewrailHighlights
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
*
Yes, his name was Palladio - Specifically the Four Books of Architecture, which contain proportional information.
In your case, with 8' ceilings and a period house (Colonial Revival?), a 1 x 6 with base cap and shoe molding should look fine, as long as the door and window casings are at least 3-3/4" wide or so. Mock it up and see what you think - usually about 1/13 of the ceiling height - 1/13 x 96 = 7 3/8" total.
It does depend on the period and the way the rest of the house is trimmed out.
Jeff
*I did the base in my house (8' ceilings mostly, 13 and 18' in bedroom and dining room) from 4 3/4" mahogany because that was the max on my shaper. I think another inch or so would be better.
*
Any ideas about height of baseboards? I've just bought a modest (small) house whch needs baseboards replacing/installing. I prefer tall baseboards (8"+/_) but the ceilind height is only about 8', as most are nowadays, though the house is 100+ years old. I'm curious if anyone has a magic proportional formula for height of baseboard to height of room?