Waterproofing Amphibious House Everdure CALTITE from Cementaid

The Amphibious House Marlow, United Kingdom

Cementaid Everdure CALTITE System
Hydrophobic Pore-blocking Ingredient (HPI) for
Membrane-Free, Concrete Waterproofing & Durability

The first ever, truly "Amphibious" or floating house in the UK was built on the flood banks of the Thames River in Marlow and completed in 2014. Winning a Gold Award in the 2014 London Design Awards, the amphibious performance of the house is made possible by the use of Cementaid's "Everdure CALTITE" Hydrophobic Pore-blocking Ingredient (HPI), the world's only time-proven-effective ingredient for truly waterproof, membrane-free, reinforced structural concrete.

In addition to many other sustainability advantages, use of HPI concrete for floodprotection avoided reliance on built-up levees or other intrusive barrier structures that radically change the natural environment and associated ecosystems. The Amphibious House - which is situated in its own "wet-dock" - is designed to permit the natural movement of rising floodwaters over the site, while allowing the house structure itself float harmlessly and un-damaged on the surface.

This required that the wet-dock as well as the basement level and retaining walls of The Amphibious House be constructed using completely waterproof, dry & corrosion-proofed concrete. This was achieved by incorporation of "Everdure "CALTITE" Hydrophobic Pore-blocking Ingredient (HPI) into the concrete mix.

thames river marlow site amphibious house

Developed by the Cementaid International Group and in use since 1962, Everdure CALTITE is a liquid additive included in the mix during concrete batching. The absorption factor of the resulting hardened concrete is reduced to a fraction of that of ordinary concrete, so it does not get wet inside - or transmit moisture or dampness - even when fully submerged in water.

hydrophobic pore-blocking concrete This unique performance eliminates the old need for waterproofing membrane barriers applied to the outside of the concrete slab and walls, which would have greatly complicated or even negated the project's design intent. Time-proven effective over more than 50 years, the built-in waterproof performance of concrete made with Everdure CALTITE significantly reduces construction time and costs and protects it against corrosion & maintenance costs for design-life.

The impermeable "CALTITE" concrete wet-dock structure was constructed in an excavation extending up to 5 meters below mean river-level. Four tall galvanised steel Dolphins were installed around its perimeter, to guide and stabilise the house structure during floating events. The "CALTITE" concrete basement slab and retaining walls of the house structure itself were then constructed inside the dock.

The wet-dock structure is designed to permit rising flood-waters to enter into the approx. 600mm space between the dock and retaining walls of the basement structure. This allows the entire house to rise and float when sufficient flood-water has entered into the dock.

wet-dock structure amphibious house

The tall Dolphin structures around the perimeter of the Dock act as vertical guideposts. These allow the house to slide up and down when it needs to move, and to rise in a stable, even fashion without tilting.

diagram amphibious house below water table

The below-water, basement level of the house includes a Games and Cinema Room as well as Study and Utility rooms. The fully waterproof & vapour-proof "CALTITE" concrete means that interior floor and wall finishes of these basement living areas remain dry and completely immune to penetration or transmission of dampness, as well as any other moisture transmission that would otherwise occur through normal or ordinarily waterproofed concrete elements.

construction formwork amphibious house

The photo above shows the already-cast "CALTITE" concrete base slab and pumpplacement of fresh "CALTITE" concrete into the formwork for the retaining walls of the house. The completed house is bone dry and performing to the satisfaction of all parties.

The Amphibious House was designed by BACA Architects. The use of Everdure CALTITE HPI to waterproof the house slab and retaining walls was specified by Teckniker Structural Engineers. The contractor was Greenford Limited. Completed cost was approximately £1.2m. This unique home has attracted widespread attention and has already won a Gold Award in the 2014 London Design Awards.

The Amphibious House was featured on the wellknown Channel 4 documentary "Grand Designs", and can be viewed by entering the following URL into your browser; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEyzRjamQyw

For further information and service to get the advantages of Everdure CALTITE HPI concrete working for you in your projects, contact the nearest Cementaid Technical Service Centre in your world region now.

You can rely on Cementaid.