The wooden architrave at the foot of walls, a finishing architectural detail that also protects the wall from wear and tear during cleaning–damage from brushes or vacuum cleaners. Skirting is a feature of formal architecture; in cottages and castles stone, cob or adobe walls look very much better without. If a skirting board is deemed essential, then a small piece of undecorated timber or a partial tile will look far better than an architectural moulding that has been designed for more elaborate buildings. Tile, stone and wooden floorings often have simple skirtings of the same material.