Baseboard

In architecture

Architecture

For a topical guide to this subject, see Outline of architecture. Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures for human shelter or use....

, a baseboard (also called skirting board, skirting, mopboard, floor molding, as well as base molding) is a (generally wooden) board

Board

Board may refer to:Flat surface:* Lumber, or other rigid material, milled or sawn flat** See :Category:Engineered wood** Cutting board** Sounding board, of a musical instrument* Cardboard* Chalkboard or whiteboard, a reusable writing surface...

, covering the lowest part of an interior wall

Wall

A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...

. Its purpose is to cover the joint between the wall surface (usually plaster

Plaster

The term plaster can refer to plaster of Paris , lime plaster, or cement plaster. This article deals mainly with plaster of Paris / gypsum plaster....

 or drywall

Drywall

Drywall is the term used for a common method of constructing interior walls and ceilings using panels made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper, then kiln dried. Drywall construction is used globally for the finish construction of interior walls and ceilings...

) and the floor.

It covers the inevitable uneven edge as flooring meets the wall. As a secondary function, it protects the wall from kick

Kick

In martial arts, combat sports, and violence, a kick is a strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This attack is often used in hand-to-hand combat, especially in stand-up fighting...

s and abrasion

Abrasion

In dermatology, an abrasion is a wound caused by superficial damage to the skin, no deeper than the epidermis. It is less severe than a laceration, and bleeding, if present, is minimal. Mild abrasions, also known as grazes or scrapes, do not scar or bleed, but deep abrasions may lead to the...

 and sometimes prevents furniture from being pushed right against the wall.

In architecture

Architecture

For a topical guide to this subject, see Outline of architecture. Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures for human shelter or use....

, a baseboard (also called skirting board, skirting, mopboard, floor molding, as well as base molding) is a (generally wooden) board

Board

Board may refer to:Flat surface:* Lumber, or other rigid material, milled or sawn flat** See :Category:Engineered wood** Cutting board** Sounding board, of a musical instrument* Cardboard* Chalkboard or whiteboard, a reusable writing surface...

, covering the lowest part of an interior wall

Wall

A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...

. Its purpose is to cover the joint between the wall surface (usually plaster

Plaster

The term plaster can refer to plaster of Paris , lime plaster, or cement plaster. This article deals mainly with plaster of Paris / gypsum plaster....

 or drywall

Drywall

Drywall is the term used for a common method of constructing interior walls and ceilings using panels made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper, then kiln dried. Drywall construction is used globally for the finish construction of interior walls and ceilings...

) and the floor.

It covers the inevitable uneven edge as flooring meets the wall. As a secondary function, it protects the wall from kick

Kick

In martial arts, combat sports, and violence, a kick is a strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This attack is often used in hand-to-hand combat, especially in stand-up fighting...

s and abrasion

Abrasion

In dermatology, an abrasion is a wound caused by superficial damage to the skin, no deeper than the epidermis. It is less severe than a laceration, and bleeding, if present, is minimal. Mild abrasions, also known as grazes or scrapes, do not scar or bleed, but deep abrasions may lead to the...

 and sometimes prevents furniture from being pushed right against the wall. As a tertiary function, it can serve as a decorative molding.

At its simplest, skirting board consists of a simple plank nail

Nail (engineering)

In engineering, woodworking and construction, a nail is a pin-shaped, sharp object of hard metal or alloy used as a fastener. Formerly wrought iron, today's nails are typically of an alloy of steel, often be dipped or coated to prevent corrosion in harsh conditions or improve adhesion.Nails are...

ed, screw

Screw

A screw, or bolt, is a type of fastener characterized by a helical ridge, known as an external thread or just thread, wrapped around a cylinder. Some screw threads are designed to mate with a complementary thread, known as an internal thread, often in the form of a nut or a object that has the...

ed or glued

Adhesive

Adhesive or glue is a compound in a liquid or semi-liquid state that adheres or bonds items together. Adhesives may come from either natural or synthetic sources. Some modern adhesives are extremely strong, and are becoming increasingly important in modern construction and industry...

 to the wall; however, particularly in older houses, it can be made up of a number of mouldings to provide an elaborate decorative feature. Even today, it is quite common to have a quarter round

Quarter round

Quarter round, a term typically used in the flooring industry, is a convex molding that has a cross section in the form of a quarter circle or an ellipse....

 moulding between the baseboard and floor. Quarter round has the added advantage of covering more of the floor, giving the finished flooring installer a greater margin of error that can be covered up by the quarter round and baseboard. More recent trends in interior design are going back to more elaborate baseboards, which, in conjunction with other decorative moldings help to distinguish a home.

Plastic baseboard is usually available in white or a flexible version in several colors and is generally glued to the wall. Wooden baseboard is available in paint or stain grade versions. Paint grade will not take stain well and is suitable for painting. Paint grade baseboards can be either "raw finger jointed" or "primed." Stain grade woods--such as oak, pine, and maple--are clearer and are suitable for staining in natural finishes.

Radiators are sometimes installed inside or in front of baseboards (baseboard radiators).