The drywall should technically be a half inch off of the floor. This is, as you suspected, to provide a buffer between the floor and the drywall to allow for for water spillage or mild flooding. I would ask that they provide this gap.
The chosen answer was sheetrock or drywall should not touch the floor. The gap between the sheetrock and the floor leaves room for the floor and wall to expand without cracking the sheetrock boards. Push the boards up and close gaps between the sheetrock and the upper sections.
Does drywall touch the floor?
Drywall should NOT touch the floor. Allow for floor and wall expansion without cracking the drywall by keeping a 1/2-inch (1.27-cm) space between them. This space also aids in preventing moisture from seeping if the floor floods.
For example, you can place a piece of wood on the ground to act as a fulcrum and then use a small pry bar as a foot lever. If you’ve already installed drywall while letting it rest on the floor, all is not lost, but you have your work cut out for you.
Should drywall go all the way to the floor?
Always leave a 1/2-inch gap at the floor. This allows for floor and wall expansion without cracking the drywall. It also helps prevents moisture wicking if the floor floods.
First-time remodelers often make the mistake of letting drywall rest on the floor while attaching it to the vertical wall studs with screws, rather than pushing the board up as high as possible to close the gap between it and the boards on the upper section of the wall.
If you’ve already installed drywall while letting it rest on the floor, all is not lost, but you have your work cut out for you. Use a drywall knife to fill the large gaps with ready-mixed joint compound . If time is a factor, use fast-drying joint compound.
Should drywall be installed before or after flooring?
Install drywall on the walls before installing floor covering. This recommendation does not apply to subfloor. Protection: Both drywall work and floor installation create a mess, but drywall’s mess far exceeds that of flooring. By putting in the drywall first, you separate drywall and its dust from the flooring later on.
Should the gap between the drywall&floor be caulked?
I’ve heard that sealing the gap between the drywall & the floor, and between the drywall and the ceiling, will drastically cut down the dust in your house. I’m not a duster and apparently never will be, so if this works I could do this, this weekend.