Waterguard
Protects the drywall edge, supports rubber base and provides sound performance up to STC 71.
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Estimating and installed cost
The Real Cost of Bottom-of-Wall Sealant Isn’t Just the Tube
Bottom sealant costs more than the material in the tube. Include the labor to apply, finish and inspect it when comparing the installed cost with Waterguard.
Compare the same work.
Use the same wall type, treatment length and performance requirements for both methods. State whether the footage measures wall length or treatment length; the quantities will differ where both faces need protection.
Price the complete sealant detail, including material, coverage and installation labor. Then price the Waterguard profile and attachment labor for the same wall.
What the model shows.
Waterguard’s Installed Cost Comparison compares material and installation labor at fully burdened labor rates of $25 and $35 per hour. The table shows the modeled cost reductions for each wall type.
Use these figures for estimating. Actual savings depend on material prices, the wall detail and crew production. The model is not a project quote or an independent labor study.
| Wall and comparison | $25/hr labor | $35/hr labor |
|---|---|---|
| Waterguard vs acoustical sealant — smoke + sound walls | 16% lower | 25% lower |
| Waterguard FS vs firestop sealant — 1-hour walls | 6% lower | 15% lower |
| Waterguard FS vs modeled two-sheet sealant method — 2-hour walls | 50% lower | 53% lower |
Check your crew’s production rate.
The model assumes 400 linear feet of sealant installation per day. For Waterguard, it assumes 30 seconds per stick, or 3,840 linear feet per day. A 20-ounce sealant sausage covers 9.1 linear feet in the model.
Those are estimating assumptions. Use your crew’s production history where available and account for access, floor condition, layout, interruptions and inspection time.
The same production difference creates larger modeled savings at the higher hourly labor rate.
Check the alternative firestop detail.
The model’s two-hour sealant method uses twice the material and 1.5 times the labor of its one-hour method. Waterguard FS installs on the outermost board layer only, on both sides of the wall, under BW-S-0078.
The 50–53% modeled saving depends on that comparison. A different listed firestop system may use a different amount of sealant or labor. Price the actual alternative before using the result in a bid.
Recalculate when the detail changes
Use the material quantities and installation work required by each complete listed system.
Include the other project costs.
The model excludes scraping, sweeping, sealant rework and callbacks. Price those activities separately if they affect your scope.
Include delivery, staging, waste and other project costs consistently for both methods. Decide who supplies, installs and checks the profile before the work starts.
Request material pricing for the products and quantities you plan to use. Combine that quote with your labor estimate to compare the installed costs.
Choose your product½-inch profile · Non-fire-rated 1- and 2-hour fire-rated walls · BW-S-0078 1¾-inch profile · Non-fire-rated
Choose the right Waterguard for your wall.
Waterguard FS
Pink FS protects 1- and 2-hour joints under UL BW-S-0078 without a separate bottom sealant application. FS also achieves STC up to 71 in separate sound tests.
View Waterguard FSWaterguard Plus
The taller profile provides over an inch of vertical water protection, rubber-base backing, smoke control and STC up to 57.
View Waterguard PlusSources
Sources and related information.
Project pricing
Get pricing for your wall types.
Send the product, approximate footage, wall details and delivery location.
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