This villa project in Al Khawaneej, Dubai, includes a basement, ground floor, first floor and roof. Its below-grade structure needed reliable protection against groundwater and hydrostatic pressure. Baumerk Crystal PW 25 crystalline waterproofing admixture was added directly to the concrete mix to provide integral protection against water ingress and hydrostatic pressure. Eliminating external waterproofing systems streamlined construction, reduced maintenance needs and ensured reliable, long-lasting performance.
The waterproofing performance of this project is built on the properties of Baumerk Crystal PW 25. Crystal PW 25 is a hydrophilic crystalline waterproofing admixture that reacts with cement and water to start a catalytic process, forming a protective crystalline network inside the concrete's pores, capillaries and cracks and significantly reducing permeability. It also increases resistance to water, chloride and sulfate ingress and to chemical attack, while keeping the concrete vapour-permeable so it can breathe. Supplied as a powder, it is added at the batch plant, in the ready-mix truck or at the precast plant at 0.8–1.0% by weight of cement, and it is compatible with all cement types, supplementary cementitious materials, admixtures and fibres. It is non-toxic, safe for use in water tanks and removes the need for additional waterproofing applications.