Waterguard
Protects the drywall edge, supports rubber base and provides sound performance up to STC 71.
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Finish durability
Rubber base cannot bond to air.
Rubber or vinyl base can hide the gap below drywall, but its lower edge still needs solid backing. Without that support, impacts from chairs, carts and cleaning equipment can leave the base uneven or pushed in.
The gap leaves rubber base without backing.
Drywall is held above the floor to limit moisture exposure. The gap leaves the lower edge of rubber base without support.
Resilient wall base manufacturers require the substrate to meet their product-specific installation conditions. Where the gypsum stops, the lower edge of the wall base may span open space instead of bonding to a clean, smooth, dry, solid surface.
A small unsupported edge can become a visible finish problem.
The wall base may look acceptable when it is first rolled or pressed into place. In service, chairs, carts, cleaning equipment, and repeated low-wall impacts can expose the weak point.
That is how an initially clean finish can become rippled, kicked out, released, or visibly uneven at the floor line.
- 01Unsupported lower edgeThe wall base spans the opening below the gypsum board.
- 02Interrupted adhesive contactThe bond surface and physical support stop before the floor line.
- 03Impacts and cleaningImpact and cleaning loads can crease, release, or deform the exposed edge.
Rubber base needs solid backing.
The wall design may require sealant for sound, smoke or fire protection. Rubber base also needs a flat, solid surface for its adhesive.
Include both joint protection and rubber-base backing in the wall detail.
Specification check
Follow the rubber-base manufacturer’s surface and adhesive requirements. Give the base solid backing across the gap.
Carry the wall thickness to the floor line.
Waterguard protects the bottom edge and gives rubber or vinyl base continuous backing. It snaps onto the board before hanging, so the backing is in place when the drywall goes up.
Choose standard Waterguard for non-fire-rated walls. For 1- and 2-hour fire-rated walls, use Waterguard FS under UL BW-S-0078. Choose Waterguard Plus for non-fire-rated walls needing the taller profile.
- Coordinate the gypsum clearance and wall-base substrate in the drawings and specifications.
- Verify the selected wall-base manufacturer’s substrate and adhesive instructions.
- Assign who installs and verifies the bottom profile before finish work begins.
- Name the selected Waterguard product in the wall detail.
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