Mapei South Africa, part of the global Mapei Group and a leading supplier of chemical and adhesive products for the construction industry, recently supplied a turnkey solution to RCL Holdings, the Mapei authorised applicator in Botswana, for the waterproofing and finishing of a large pool and the surrounding deck area at a new luxury hotel in Gaborone, Botswana.
RCL Holdings was subcontracted by ICC Construction during the construction of the hotel. The pool is built on the third floor – with a glass front and waterfall overflow.
For the screed of the pool floor, Mapei’s Topcem was used. This specialised hydraulic binder offers controlled shrinkage and is quick-drying, allowing for short installation times. It can be used in both indoor and outdoor applications.
A combination of Mapei Novoplan Easy and Planicrete was used for the rendering of the pool walls. Mapei Novoplan Easy is a high-strength, self-levelling, cement-based underlay and Planicrete is a synthetic rubber latex for cement mixes: when mixed with aggregates and cement it improves the plasticity, water retention capacity and trowellability of the mix.
The corners and joints of the pool were waterproofed with Mapei Mapeband, an elastic rubber tape made from alkali-resistant fabric that offers excellent resistance to adverse weather conditions.
The entire installation was waterproofed with Mapelastic, Mapei’s two-component, flexible cementitious mortar which has excellent bonding properties and offers high resistance to UV rays. Mapenet 150, an alkali-resistant fibreglass mesh, was applied after the Mapelastic to reinforce the waterproof protection layers, anti-fracture membranes and cementitious smoothing and levelling layers.
For the tiling of the pool, Mapei’s Kerabond T adhesive was used. This easily trowellable mortar for ceramic tiles offers good bonding strength, low slump and high grab. After hardening, it has no noticeable shrinkage and no vertical slip.
The grouting used was Mapei’s fast-setting and drying Ultracolor Plus. High-performing, polymer-modified and anti-efflorescent, this water-repellent grout guarantees consistent colour uniformity and features Mapei’s innovative DropEffect® and BioBlock® technology – formulated, respectively, to stop the growth of micro-organisms that cause mould and to reduce surface water absorption.
In the final stage, Mapesil AC, a solvent-free, acetic, cross-linking, mildew-resistant, silicone sealant was applied.
Mapei products were also used to waterproof the basement cinema room at the hotel. The cinema room, because it is located below ground, presented a significant waterproofing challenge.
The products selected for this application included Triblock P, a three-component, epoxy-cementitious primer; Lamposilex, an ultra-fast-setting and curing hydraulic binder to stop water leaks, and Mapelastic Foundation, a highly flexible and stable two-component elastic cementitious membrane that is ideal for use in underground areas as it can withstand both positive and negative water pressure.
Robert Lunda of RCL Holdings says RCL trusts the Mapei brand and relies on Mapei South Africa’s technical expertise and support when specific challenges are encountered on a project. For the hotel, Mapei’s products met the requirements fully.Copyright © 2013 Infixion Media (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved.
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