When my floors were refinished, the refinisher used the same type of wood for the shoe molding as for the floor. The floor was not stained, only sealed. The molding was sealed, with the same polyurethane coating as was the floor. They put on the same number of coats (3). The molding was nailed to the baseboard. You want to be able to remove the shoe molding without damaging the baseboard, and glue won't let you do that.

Our shoe molding is white oak as is our floor. However, our shoe molding is stained a darker brown and it matches the rest of the baseboard molding. Our floor is natural with an oil finish.

We cut the shoe molding first. Then I hand sanded it, then wiped with cheesecloth. Then 2 coats of stain - I wanted to get a richer color. I used Minwax but there are other makes out there. Yes, it needs to be sealed. All trim in our house is stained wood and it's sealed with amber shellac so I did 1 coat on the shoe molding before it was nailed in place. You need to nail it - it will hold securely that way. After we got ours in place, then I applied 2 more coats of shellac. It's been 3 years now and it looks as good as the day it was finished.

They sell prefinished (clear lacquer) shoe at our local outfit. If the color is close, it's a good choice, as you can get it done the same day. It's maybe 10 cents a foot more than unfinished.
Casey

Call some lumber yards and try to find the same wood as what you have, then use the same product they're putting on your floor. If you ask I'm sure they'll gladly leave some extra sealer for you.

Do not glue the molding since removing it years from now for another refinish will be h%ll.
Use finish nails and a little wood filler.

The first issue is what are you baseboards - stained or painted? Because, when baseboards are painted and floors stained, usually the shoe mold is painted to match the baseboards. I have stained baseboards and clear varnished floors (no stain). My shoe molding looks much better stained to match the baseboards.
Diane

No, not always...there are many pictures on this forum where the shoe molding is stained, with painted baseboards. I love that look and that's what we intend to do. See an example below, in NHB's home. It's beautiful! :)

Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: NHB's home

powermuffin - Here is the original thread:
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg081839296055.html

The photo that I have shown has the main flooring in red oak, the border in Brazilian Cherry and the toe mould is oak (but don't know what type). Everything is stained in a clear Durcell stain. The above was the floor refinishers recommendation. I love the way all three wood surfaces look different. In the four years that I owned that home, I received many compliments on the floors.

In another past home, I stained the toe mould myself, after we had some painted toe mould ripped out. I simply sanded quickly with a sanding block, wiped with cheese cloth, and rubbed on a combination stain/poly with a cotton cloth. One coat was all it took. Very quick and very easy.

I wanted to add that if you have short base boards, painting the toe mould may look the best. We have really wide baseboards.

The problem with amateurs doing stain, is that if the woods are not the same, using the same stain color will not achieve the same color on the two woods, as some woods will "suck up" the stain and make it darker whereas harder woods will gradually take in the stain and will be lighter. It is best left to someone who has stained before and knows the woods as it is cheaper in the long run to have it done right than to keep buying and dinking around with stains and woods and throwing good money in after bad. Shoe molding and stain are so cheap and those who do it all the time know how to get the right colors.

New home builder, your floors are beautiful. I have not seen the shoe molding done as yours is; maybe it is a regional thing. The shoe molding gets a beating in most homes so being stained or just varnished might be best. Our house is 100 years old so the baseboards are quite tall, I still prefer them stained to match the baseboard though. The floors are original heart pine with a high degree of figuring so I could have gone either way. I really think it is just a matter of taste.
Diane

Hi, have to ask advice in this same line. Built last summer, have clear pine baseboard and trim I've been finishing (some natural, some with a touch of Minwax Honey Maple gel where window jambs were turning dark with conditioner, sill was light so touched with honey to blend in). LOVE it with my Navajo White and also with Thornton Sage and Antique Jade walls. Really goes with everything. Here's the problem - installing Brazilian Cherry in dining room next week, open to foyer (dark green tile) and stairs (oak tread with linseed oil/beeswax, unfinished pine risers). What do I do with trim and baseboards (1 long wall from dining to front door) to make it look good with cherry floors (will darken with age) and oak stairs/furniture? I haven't even thought about shoe moulding - but my uncle has lots of nice oak left over from his house. Too much with pine base and cherry floor? Here are some pics. Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: Snapfish floor pics

OK, I bought some colonial stop (only about 1/2' tall, almost 1/2' wide at bottom so will hide 3/4' gap) last night. Now, should I stain the 3 1/4' baseboard (and all the trim in the room) the same Honey Maple I've used in other rooms, maybe 2 coats instead of just a wipe? Or try a really light coat of Cherrywood gel stain? Or cherry on shoe to go with floor, honey on baseboard (but then that might look weird in the foyer with the tile - think I want base and shoe the same so it won't look so strange not to have shoe in the other rooms). Help! I need to start staining this weekend, floor being installed a week from today! Thanks

Here is a link that might be useful: Floor pictures

ajsmama
Do you have a sample of the Brazilian Cherry to match to?

I think you could do the shoe in either wood, but I'd go with whatever gives you a best match. I'd do the baseboard the same as the rest of the house.

You may want to start a new thread for more responses.
Sorry, only one pic showed up.....of some boards?