What the basic php code needed for e-mail contact area? As I am looking to make one but what code should I use?

Look into the mail() function.
http://us3.php.net/manual/en/ref.mail.php

I have written a tutorial on this topic. i cant post the whole tutorial here, but here is the link:
http://www.talkphp.com/showthread.php?t=65

Hope this helps

You 'could' extract some PHP from the forum files that send email!
That should get you on the right track!