Timber Moulding Matching

Timber moulding matching is an in-branch service where our team compares a sample or drawing of your existing moulding against our range to find the closest profile, rather than you having to guess from a catalogue. This is useful whether you are extending skirting into a new extension, repairing a damaged section of architrave, or replacing joinery during a renovation. Instead of fitting a profile that looks almost right, the match is checked against what you already have so new and old lengths sit together properly. The service covers both finding the nearest stocked profile and advising on a bespoke profile where nothing in our range is close enough. It suits trade professionals working across multiple properties as much as it suits homeowners tackling a single room. You can find out more about our wider range on our timber and joinery page.

We stock a wide range of profiles including architraves, skirting, dado rails, and picture rails, along with smaller detail sections such as staff bead and quadrant, stop bead, and glass bead and scotia. This covers most of the internal joinery details found in typical UK homes, from period conversions to newer builds. Having this many profiles available means you are rarely limited to a narrow standard selection, whether the job calls for a simple modern skirting or a more detailed traditional section. If you are unsure of the exact name for your moulding, our team is used to identifying profiles from a sample or drawing alone. For anything unusual, it is worth calling your local branch in advance to check what is held in stock. Browse our full range of decorative mouldings online.

Yes, if you are extending, repairing, or replacing a run of existing skirting or architrave, our team can compare a sample against our stocked profiles to find the closest match. This is especially useful when you need to continue a room after building work, replace a damaged length, or finish a job started by someone else without knowing the original profile name. Bringing along a physical offcut, even a short one, gives the most reliable result because our staff can check the shape, height, and thickness directly. Photos alone are far less accurate than a physical sample, since the angle and lighting can hide the true depth of the profile. Where you cannot remove a sample, an accurate drawing with measurements is the next best option. Visit your nearest branch with your sample and our team will talk you through the process.

Our matched profiles are available in both timber skirting and architrave and MDF skirting and architrave, so the right choice depends on your project and finish. Timber is a solid, natural material well suited to areas where you want a traditional look or a stained finish, while MDF is smooth, stable, and typically pre-primed ready for painting. MDF also tends to be a more budget-friendly option and resists warping in stable indoor conditions. If you are matching an existing painted moulding, MDF is often a practical choice, while a stained or varnished original is usually best matched in timber. Whichever material you go with, the profile itself can still be matched to what you already have. If you are unsure which material suits your job, our team can talk through the options with you in branch.

Yes, moulding matching is especially useful for period properties, where original skirting, architrave, dado, or picture rail profiles are often no longer sold as standard. Older homes frequently have taller, more detailed profiles than modern builds, so bringing in a sample of the original gives our team the best chance of finding a close match. For listed buildings, always check with your local conservation officer or planning authority before replacing or altering original joinery, as consents may be required. Where a profile is unusual or highly detailed, the nearest stocked match may not be exact, and a bespoke profile may be the better route. This makes the service well suited to renovation specialists as much as to homeowners restoring a single room. Bring your sample or drawing to your nearest branch to get started.

A stocked match is the closest profile we already hold in our standard range, identified by comparing your sample or drawing against the mouldings in branch. A bespoke profile is made to your specification where nothing in our standard range is close enough, which is useful for unusual or discontinued mouldings. In practice our team will always check the stocked range first, so you only need to consider a bespoke option if the nearest match is not right for the job. Bespoke work is likely to take longer and cost more than a stocked match, reflecting the extra sourcing or manufacturing involved. Either way, the aim is a profile that sits properly alongside your existing joinery. Our team can talk you through which route applies to your situation when you visit.

If you bring your room measurements with you, our team can help estimate how much moulding you will need for the job, which helps avoid running short mid-project or over-ordering. As a general guide, measure the full length of each wall for skirting, and the height and width of each door or window opening for architrave. Subtract door openings from your skirting total, then add roughly 10% extra to allow for mitres, joints, and offcuts. Rooms with lots of corners, bay windows, or chimney breasts tend to need more allowance, as each internal and external corner uses extra material. Noting the lengths of any long unbroken runs will also help our team suggest the best lengths to buy and reduce joins. Bring your measurements along and we can work through the quantities with you.

Turnaround depends on whether your profile matches something we already hold in stock or needs to be sourced or made to a bespoke specification, so it is difficult to give a single answer that applies to every job. Straightforward matches from our stocked range are generally quick to arrange in branch. Less common profiles, larger quantities, or bespoke mouldings take longer, as they may need to be ordered in or manufactured. If you are working to a tight deadline, it is worth calling your nearest branch ahead of your visit to check current lead times and confirm the profile you need is available. This is especially useful for trade professionals coordinating multiple properties or a tight installation schedule. Our team can advise on timing when you get in touch.

The most useful thing to bring is a physical sample of your existing moulding, even a short offcut is enough for our staff to work from. If you cannot remove a sample, an accurate drawing showing the full profile shape, height, and thickness will let our team identify the closest match instead. For quantities, bring your room measurements or a list of the lengths you need so we can help estimate how much to order. If you are matching a moulding still fixed to the wall, a sample taken from an inconspicuous area such as behind a radiator or inside a cupboard gives the most reliable result. Photos on a phone can be useful as a backup reference alongside measurements, but they are not a substitute for a physical sample. Pop into your nearest branch with whatever reference you have and the team will guide you from there.

Timber moulding matching is offered as one of our in-store services, and it is available at branches across our network, so you do not need to travel to a specific location. However, the profiles held in stock can vary from branch to branch, so the exact match you need may not be on the shelf at every site. If a particular profile is not in stock at your local branch, our staff can advise on sourcing it from another branch or from our suppliers. It is worth calling ahead if you are working to a tight deadline, so the team can check availability before your visit. This is particularly useful for trade professionals who need consistent stock across several sites. Use our branch locator to find your nearest MP Moran and confirm availability.

Stocked mouldings are covered by our standard returns policy, provided they are returned unused and in a resaleable condition. Bespoke profiles made or ordered specifically to your requirements may not be eligible for return, since they are not sold as standard stock. This makes it especially important to confirm the match with our team before you order, whether you are working from a physical sample or a drawing. If a product you receive is faulty, or not as described, we may offer an exchange, refund or repair as appropriate, and this does not affect your legal rights. Checking a short length against your existing moulding before cutting and fitting the full run is the best way to avoid a costly mismatch. Full details are available on our Returns & Refunds page.

There is no charge for our team to assess your sample and recommend a matching profile, you only pay for the moulding itself once you order. Pricing depends on the material, profile, and length required, so costs will vary from project to project. A bespoke profile will generally cost more than a standard stocked item, reflecting the extra sourcing or manufacturing involved. Choosing MDF rather than timber can also help keep costs down where the moulding is going to be painted. For an accurate price, it is best to speak to your local branch team directly once your moulding has been identified. You can also request pricing through our get a quote page.