Thanks for the responses! I think it's maybe 1/2"... I'm actually not sure if quarter round is the correct name for it. Maybe it's a shoe molding? Not sure of the difference, but just noticed that it looked sloppy. Thanks for confirming--hopefully the contractor will be willing to fix

That piece needs to be redone, but take a level and check if that wall is plumb.

To me they dont look they have finished the job yet. i am not sure if that is the case or not.

if they have finished, then that is terrible.

This is either a bad job, or they haven’t finished. Have them redo it so it’s flush with the wall. Make sure they don’t try to caulk the gap - that will just look awful.

Thanks everyone, the contractor said that they will renail the trim to get it as close to the wall as possible, and then caulk the top edge. @Revelry Interior Design I asked them not to caulk the gap, and they said the trim would be as close to the wall as possible, but that caulking all new trim is part of the painting process and is standard practice (I assume the caulking will be done after they try to get the trim flush to the wall). Thanks for the advice!

@millworkman you had mentioned that quarter round is not usually used as a base--the quarter round they used is less than an inch high. I was just reading that baseboards are needed in bathrooms due to moisture and maintenance issues. Is it important to have them redo with baseboards instead of just the 1/4 round? Thanks!

You should have a standard 4” high baseboard put on first. If that doesn’t fully cover the gap at the floor then they would also use the 1/4 round to finish it off. It will be a nicer finished look.

I like a good baseboard everywhere but with a cap.

I have an old house so i like wide baseboards so typically have mine with an 8 inch board and 1-1/2 inch cap, 3/4 to me just does not look right.

Sometimes you see quarter-round at the toe of the baseboard but this is an indicator they are hiding a gap or some other problem. I avoid that like an ex-wife, just because it seems like ”cheating” to me. Its always best to solve the problem then hide it with more trim.

" -the quarter round they used is less than an inch high. "

It still should not be quarter round in any size. It should be a base shoe moulding.

" I was just reading that baseboards are needed in bathrooms due to moisture and maintenance issues. "

I fail to see how a baseboard has anything to do with mositure and or maintenance in a bathroom. I agree there should be a baseboard but not specifically for the reasons you may have read about.

Thanks for the replies!

If not for easier maintenance and to prevent water from damaging the wall, what is the purpose of having baseboards? Is it just aesthetics?

Tried to talk to the contractor to have them put them in. He said that right now it's a shoe mold, not quarter round, and that if they were to do a baseboard, it would collect more dust than the shoe mold on the flat top (vs. rounded for the shoe mold)... he's pretty much not willing to put in the baseboard. If it's just aesthetics, I'm willing to just leave it alone at this point. I don't think it looks horrible with just the shoe mold, but if there's some other purpose that a baseboard would be beneficial, please chime in! Thanks in advance!

I suppose it could be a personal preference using just 1/4 round but I’ve never seen it done. I have 4” baseboards with 1/4 round at the bottom. I can attest there’s more dust and cleaning on the 1/4 round than the baseboard. Your contractor obviously doesn’t want the extra work. It’s your home so obviously do as you wish.

@Jo Reno the job of baseboard, moulding, whatever aesthetically is to provide a transition. Typical used in a more traditional home. In a modern home it is possible to go "naked". But the meeting of floor and wall had better be damn good quality workmanship. 

Functionally it can help protect the wall from the dings and scratches associated with cleaning and maybe some aspects of living. 

In a bathroom, there is no functional need between a tile floor and tile wall or half wall. In my sort of traditional bathroom with stone floor and some tile some painted walls, and having a desire to make the room feel longer, I used the edge of countertop material cut as a baseboard even into the shower. The top edge did get caulking (which I agree is standard). And by the way, I have never seen an absolute straight wall in any of my homes. That's why these craftsmen should be appreciated.  The miracles many of them perform...

Upstairs renovation · More Info

Practical reasons for baseboard is to protect the drywall from getting kicked in. The lower edge is vulnerable because there is no support between the studs. Also to prevent it from water damage from mopping. To hide the gap between the wall board and the floor. And, aesthetically, to provide definition, with consideration for scale. Meaning that small quarter round is generally considered too small, aesthetically, as well as providing little protection for the unsupported drywall behind it.

Your contractor should know all of this as well as knowing that the inside corner should be coped rather than mitered as has been done.

What you have is D grade handyman work.

I would definitely want the baseboard, and yes, thats very sloppy work.

It should be baseboard and shoe