Bob McGuigan: Do you mean boards with legs or boards without legs that are used on top of tables? I guess some protection might be needed if what you were putting the board on could damage the wood but if it is going on an ordinary table I don't think anything is necessary. I use a small tatami mat under mine, mostly for atmosphere I suppose. On Japanese TV when table-top boards are used there is often a tatami mat under them, but the boards are sometimes just put on the table.