Last trim member to be installed so they can be fitted tight against casing or cabinets?

• A. Crown
• B. Baseboard
• C. Base shoe
• D. Cap

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is finishing the wall with a trim piece that creates a clean, tight line against door casings and cabinet faces. The baseboard sits along the bottom of the wall and is cut to fit precisely where the wall meets doors, casings, or cabinet toe-kicks. Installing this piece last lets you match its profile exactly to the surrounding trim and to the shapes of any casings or cabinetry, giving a seamless fit and hiding any small gaps or irregularities at floor level. It also provides a natural stopping point for the eye, tying together the wall, floor, and cabinetry.

Crown molding sits at the top of the wall, so it’s not involved with casings or cabinets. Base shoe is a narrow strip that usually goes along with the baseboard to cover the seam between the baseboard and the floor and is typically added after the baseboard. Cap is a decorative edge used in other contexts and doesn’t serve the same purpose of meeting casings or cabinet faces.