| Also known as skirt, baseplate, mopboard, or just | | | | wall and floor. |
| plain base, baseboard is the most common form of | | | | Baseboard is installed with a hammer, a nail set and |
| molded running trim used in finish carpentry. | | | | finishing nails, or with an air-powered finish nailer. While |
| Baseboards serve a dual purpose: they visually anchor | | | | the nailer is a more expensive alternative, it makes |
| the wall to the floor and they also cover any gaps | | | | installation quick and clean. It is preferable to |
| between those two surfaces.Visit the Woodworking | | | | handnailing when working with hardwood molding, |
| Plans Website pages for more info.. | | | | which is more prone to splittingthan softwood. |
| Baseboard comes in two basic types: single-piece or | | | | Baseboard molding is typically nailed in place after the |
| built-up. Standard singlepiece baseboard is usually | | | | walls have been painted and the finish floor installed |
| between 3 and 12 inches wide and is sold in a variety | | | | and sanded. Then the shoe molding is nailed in place. |
| of molded profiles; it can be made easily with a table | | | | If the floor is to be installed after the baseboard, |
| saw, router, or shaper. While single-piece baseboard | | | | leave a space under the baseboard for the floor; use |
| may be easier to install, it is more likely to cup than | | | | scraps of the flooring to help you determine the size |
| built-up molding. The simplest form of built-up | | | | of the gap. As with all molding, baseboard can be |
| baseboard is base-and shoe,which features a molded | | | | stained or painted; this is best done after all the |
| shoe that provides a visual transition between the | | | | molding has been cut to size, but before it is installed. |