A prehung gauged cove base is adapted to be secured to a wall base and cooperates with the outer edges of a floor covering. The cove base of the invention has an upper portion which resembles an extruded vinyl straight cove base. Extending downwardly from the rear of said upper portion is a thin walled lower gauging portion. The bottom of the gauging portion is adapted to rest on the floor and to raise the lowermost part of the upper portion above the floor a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the floor covering whereby the edges of the floor covering can be tucked under the upper portion of the cove base. The forward end of the lowermost part of the upper portion is preferably pointed downwardly to better flex around and hold the floor covering. The gauging portion may have one or more continuous longitudinal grooves so that portions can be removed by stripping areas away in order to change the height of the gauge.
