A baseboard spelled without a space in between is a material, plastic or wooden, which covers the small area between the floor and the bottom of the wall. Its functions are to prevent the wall from damage and to conceal the joints between the wall and the floor. Baseboards are present in virtually all types of buildings and are often available as long-lasting plastic and wood. Baseboards made of wood add finishing touches to homes while plastic models are often utilized in commercial buildings.

 

Baseboards are also used to preserve paint, wall boards, and sheetrock; they are installed by gluing or nailing them to walls. Homeowners have a wide range of color options with plastic baseboards while wooden baseboards can be painted to fit individual aesthetic needs. If carpets are laid, baseboards help to conceal the carpet edges at the base of the room walls. It also serves to prevent dirt and debris from going into the gaps between the wall and the laid carpet. Finally, baseboards help to keep carpets fully stretched at the edges.