01 Grade Clearance, Splashback Protection & Non-Buried Plinth Detailing
The golden rule of fibre cement plinth engineering is keeping the bottom board edge clear of standing water, soil capillary moisture and compacted snowbanks. Plinth panels must terminate above finished paving or gravel drainage strips with a ventilated starter profile, allowing rain splashback to shed cleanly while preventing wicking through the lower cut edge.
- Design a coarse washed-gravel drip trench or sloped hardscape margin along the base of plinths and garden walls to cut splashback height.
- Seal all site-cut bottom and return edges with an approved hydrophobic edge sealer matched to the exterior coating system.
- Specify thicker 10 mm or 12 mm board candidates on street-facing plinths exposed to footsteps, bicycles or landscaping equipment.