Wood vs. Composite Mouldings: a Pros and Cons Comparison

Let’s say you’ve got an exciting modelling or remodelling project on the go and it’s time to make a decision on some beautiful trim to finish it off. You now have a choice of moulding material options: wood or composite. Which do you choose? Which is the right one for your project? Is one better than the other?

They each come with their own pros and cons. So how you decide will depend which features are more important to you and your project. To help make your decision easier, here is a quick summary of the advantages and disadvantages of wood mouldings vs composite mouldings.

Wood mouldings – from trees

Pros

• Sustainable & Eco friendly
• Durable
• Variety of colours & grains
• Can leave natural, paint or stain
• Easy to customise
• Time-tested favourite
• Adds value

Wood is a durable, sustainable resource and is 100% recyclable. It comes in a variety of colours and grains allowing homeowners to find a perfect match for their designs. Paint it, stain it, or leave it natural for even more choices.

Wood mouldings are also easy to customise from start to finish–to refinish. Which means they are milled to client’s expectations; they are trimmed on-site for exact fits, and they are removed and reinstalled when and if necessary for some future restaining or remodelling. Composites, by comparison, are too brittle to work with once formed. Nail holes are predrilled to prevent splitting, and they are likely to break if removed after the initial installation.

Wood mouldings have been a favourite building material since…forever. They lend a warmth and natural element that is beloved and adds value to our homes.

Cons

• Pricier
• Susceptible to water damage

Depending on the type of wood, wood moulding can be the pricier option, however the ease of use, sheer variety and added value have to be weighed alongside it.

Wood mouldings, like all natural wood products, are susceptible to water damage. Care should be taken to protect wood surfaces from sources of constant moisture.

Composite mouldings – from plastic, or wood fibre & plastic

Pros

• Cheaper
• Resistant to water
• Durable

Composite mouldings tend to be cheaper and are completely resistant to water damage. They’re more brittle than wood mouldings, however once in place they’re durable and easy to maintain. One could, for instance buy white composite mouldings, trim to fit and install with no extra steps or attention necessary.

Cons

• Brittle
• Less customisable
• Not environmentally friendly

Composite mouldings are more brittle than wood, so they’re less customisable. If one does attempt to customise, one must take extra care–drilling nail holes beforehand, for example. Composites are not a recyclable nor environmentally friendly option since they’re made of plastics.

We hope this list has been useful. If you have any questions about wood mouldings or your project, we’d love to help. Give us a call at 403-627-8873.

Alpine Mouldings is a premier Canadian lumber remanufacturer specializing in wood mouldings. Our products are made directly at our facility in southern Alberta with local materials and can be customized to exact specifications. Contact us today for a free estimate!