a. Square-edged (or two-piece) baseboard consists of a square-edged baseboard topped with a small base cap. When the wall covering is not straight and true, small base molding will conform more closely to the variations than will a one-piece base alone. This type of baseboard is usually 5/8 by 3 1/4 inches or wider. Install square-edged baseboard with a butt-joint at the inside corners and a mitered joint at the outside corners (see Figure 2-36 ).

b. Narrow- and wide-ranch base (one-piece baseboard) are 3/4 by 3 1/4 inches or wider and vary from 1/2 by 2 1/4 inches to 1/2 by 3 1/4 inches or wider.

c. A wood member at the junction of the wall and carpeting serves as a protective bumper; however, wood trim is sometimes eliminated. Most baseboards are finished with a 1/2- by 3/4-inch base shoe. A single-base molding without the shoe is sometimes placed at the wall-floor junction, especially where carpeting might be used.

d. Baseboard should be installed with a butt joint at the inside corners and a mitered joint at the outside corners. It should be nailed to each stud with two 8d finishing nails. Base molding should have a coped joint at inside corners and a mitered joint at outside corners. A coped joint is one in which the first piece is square cut against the plaster or base and the second molding is coped. This is done by sawing a 45° miter along the inner line of the miter. The base shoe should be nailed into the subfloor with long, slender nails, but not into the baseboard itself. Then, if there is a small amount of movement in the floor, no opening will occur under the shoe. When several pieces of molding are needed, they should be joined with a lap miter. When the face of the base shoe projects beyond the face of the molding, it abuts.