Profigips PVC Plinth Overlay Bead with Mesh - Plinth Drip Bead - 2.5m length - pack of 25

Profigips PVC Plinth Overlay Bead with Mesh (often called the Plinth Drip Bead or a Base Transition Profile) provides a structural and aesthetic bridge between the main facade and the base of the building. Its primary job is twofold: to ensure that rainwater is shed away from the plinth and to provide a reinforced, crack-resistant edge at a point that often suffers from mechanical stress. It is specifically designed to handle the horizontal junction where the main, thicker wall insulation meets the thinner, recessed insulation of the plinth (the bottom section of the wall).

CHARACTERISTICS

• The profile features two wings of alkali-resistant mesh, typically 100 mm wide. These are embedded into the basecoat on both sides of a corner, ensuring the render skin is continuous and crack-free.
• Perfect for bay windows, hexagonal extensions, or splayed reveals where a standard 90-degree bead simply would not fit.
• It can be compressed to handle sharper corners, which is often a requirement in contemporary architectural designs with pointed features.
• Because the PVC core has a degree of natural flex, it can better accommodate minor structural shifts or slightly out-of-plumb masonry compared to brittle, rigid alternatives.
• Being made of UV-stabilised PVC, it will not degrade in the sun or corrode like old-fashioned metal beads. This is vital for the long-term aesthetics of the façade.
• It works with almost any thin-coat system, including silicone, acrylic, and mineral renders.

APPLICATION

• Recessed Plinths: The most common use. Where the insulation on the main wall (e.g., 100mm) is thicker than the insulation on the plinth (e.g., 50mm).
• Overhanging Facades: Used where a rendered section of a building overhangs a different material below, such as brickwork or timber cladding.
• Horizontal Terminations: Anywhere a horizontal render edge is exposed to the elements and requires a drip to manage water runoff.

INSTALLATION

• The bead is installed after the insulation boards are fixed. It is bedded into a layer of basecoat at the bottom edge of the main wall insulation.
• Use a long spirit level or a laser level. Because this bead creates a long horizontal line across the entire length of the building, even a slight slope will be very noticeable to the naked eye.
• The main wall mesh must be overlapped onto the 100 mm mesh wing of the plinth bead. This creates a continuous reinforced skin from the top of the wall right down to the drip edge.
• When applying the topcoat render, ensure you do not fill the drip channel. The drip leg must remain clear and unobstructed to function correctly.