What is the difference between beading and skirting, and when should I use each?

Beading and skirting are both used to finish the edges where the floor meets the walls. Skirting is a wide board that runs along the bottom of your walls, providing a clean finish and protecting walls from damage. Beading, or scotia, is smaller and used to cover the expansion gap between existing skirting and the new floor without removing the original skirting. Use beading if you want to retain existing skirting boards; otherwise, skirting provides a more seamless look.