Learned the hard way about using the right baseboard trim for Edmonton homes

For years I just slapped up the cheap MDF trim from the big box store like everyone else. After last winter's freeze-thaw cycle, the corners in my living room started separating and the paint peeled right off. I asked a contractor friend about it and he told me solid wood or primed finger-joint pine handles our climate way better. Has anyone else had issues with MDF trim warping in their older Edmonton houses?

2 comments

2 Comments

luna_sanchez29d ago

Saw a post about this exact thing on a local home reno Facebook group last month. Someone who works at Windsor Plywood said Edmonton's dry winters and wet springs make MDF expand and contract way more than people realize. They mentioned that finger-joint pine is actually cheaper in the long run because you don't have to replace it every couple years like you do with those flimsy MDF boards. Makes total sense now seeing your corner separation pic.

ramirez.caleb29d ago

I was totally on the MDF train for years, figuring it was cheaper and fine, but after seeing the same peeling and warping in my own house I've switched to finger-joint pine for any new trim work.