Liquid impervious apparatus for wallboard

Abstract

The invention teaches a liquid impervious apparatuses for wallboard construction and methods of using the same. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

1 . A liquid impervious apparatus for wallboard, comprising: 
 a wallboard-coupling portion, the wallboard coupling being generally planar and having a width approximately the width of a mate-matched wallboard;    the wallboard-coupling portion being impervious to liquid; and    the wallboard-coupling portion being adapted to couple to the mate-matched wallboard.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the wallboard comprises drywall.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mate-matched wallboard comprises a lower portion, and the wallboard-coupling portion couples to the lower portion of the mate-matched wallboard.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a water resistant sealant between the lower portion of the mate-matched wallboard and the wallboard-coupling portion.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the water resistant sealant is caulk.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a water resistant sealant pre-placed upon the wallboard-coupling portion.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a non-stick strip coupled to the water resistant sealant such that the non-stick strip may be removed and the water resistant sealant exposed for coupling with the wallboard.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the wallboard-coupling portion comprises concrete.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a spacing member coupled to the wallboard-coupling portion such that the spacing member provides a minimum space between the drywall-coupling portion and a foundation.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the spacing member generally comprises a conduit.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a generally planar interior lip extending generally perpendicularly from the drywall-coupling portion such that the interior lip may be supported against an interior wall portion of the wallboard, and the wallboard-coupling portion is adapted to prevent the wallboard from being exposed to moisture.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive pre-placed upon the wallboard-coupling portion.  
   
   
       13 . A method of altering wallboard to make construction less susceptible to moisture damage, comprising: 
 sizing wallboard to attach to a wall frame such that a lower edge of the wallboard is no less than one-half inch from a foundation when the wallboard is attached to the frame; and    securing a liquid impervious apparatus to the lower edge of the wallboard such that the lower edge of the wallboard is resistant to absorbing moisture.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein securing comprises placing a water resistant sealant between the lower edge of the wallboard and the moisture impervious layer.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein securing comprises placing an adhesive between the lower edge of the wallboard and the moisture impervious layer.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein securing comprises 
 removing a non-stick strip from a pre-placed water resistant sealant, the pre-placed sealant coupled to the liquid impervious apparatus, and    placing the water resistant sealant between the lower edge of the wallboard and the moisture impervious layer.