Drywall subcontractor: sequence and labor
Include profile attachment in the hanging sequence. Compare the same wall detail’s material, labor, sealant application and cleanup when pricing. The modeled savings below are not a project quote.
GCs + installers
Install Waterguard as you hang the drywall.
Snap the profile onto the bottom of the board before hanging. It protects the gypsum edge, supports rubber base and replaces a separate bottom sealant application. Choose the product for your wall and follow its installation instructions.
Practical benefits
Less work at the bottom of the wall.
- Fewer steps. Install the profile with the board instead of returning to apply bottom sealant where the approved detail permits.
- Cleaner work. Eliminate the separate sealant application, tooling and cleanup.
- Consistent workmanship. A factory-made profile gives the crew a consistent fit along the wall.
Match the product to the approved detail and follow its installation instructions. For Waterguard FS, the complete BW-S-0078 system governs the rated installation.
Review FS requirementsGC: coordination and inspection
Decide who supplies, installs and inspects Waterguard before work starts. Coordinate the floor, openings and finish base so the approved detail continues through every transition.
One checklist from takeoff to closeout.
Slab preparation and best practices- Before ordering
- Assign the product and footage to each wall type. Confirm who furnishes and installs it, the distributor, delivery date and required submittals.
- Before hanging
- Coordinate slab preparation, track fasteners and finish transitions at the pre-installation meeting. Match the delivered profile and board clearance to the installation instructions. For FS, follow BW-S-0078.
- During installation
- Snap the profile onto the board, seat it against the track, and fasten the drywall. Follow the product detail at corners and transitions.
- Before closeout
- Inspect the installation and record any corrections before rubber base covers it.
| Wall / product / comparison | $25/hour burdened labor | $35/hour burdened labor |
|---|---|---|
| Non-fire-rated smoke and sound wallWaterguardvs. acoustical sealant | 16%lower cost | 25%lower cost |
| 1-hour fire-rated wallWaterguard FSvs. firestop sealant | 6%lower cost | 15%lower cost |
| 2-hour fire-rated wallWaterguard FSvs. firestop sealant in the two-layer wall model | 50%lower cost | 53%lower cost |
The model compares material and installation labor. Actual costs depend on the wall, prices and crew production. The two-hour comparison uses 2× the sealant material and 1.5× the sealant labor; FS installs on the outermost board layer only. Follow the listed system for rated walls.
Read the model assumptions
Source: Waterguard Installed Cost Comparison. The $25 and $35 hourly labor rates are fully burdened model inputs, not wage quotes.
Assumed production: sealant at 400 linear feet per day; Waterguard at 30 seconds per stick, or 3,840 linear feet per day. A 20-ounce sealant sausage covers 9.1 linear feet in the model. These are model assumptions, not a measured jobsite time study.
The two-hour case is the model’s two-layer gypsum wall comparison. Scraping, sweeping, sealant rework and callbacks are excluded.
Performance references for submittal review
Sound
Waterguard and Waterguard FS deliver sound performance up to STC 71. Waterguard Plus delivers sound performance up to STC 57. See the sound reports for the tested wall designs.
Fire-rated joints
Waterguard FS is UL Certified for use in joint systems. BW-S-0078 lists it for 1- and 2-hour joints (UL File R42194).
UL BW-S-0078 uses Waterguard FS without a separate bottom sealant application.