With a history going back to 1320, the recently completed restoration and modernization of the Red Monastery (Červený Kláštor), now a museum, revives one of Slovakia’s most important cultural landmarks. The Penetron System, a suite of crystalline waterproofing products, was specified to maximize the service life of key new concrete structures at the historic complex.
Located near the village of the same name, near the Polish border, the Red Monastery (Červený Kláštor) was originally made of red brick, hence its name. Once a medieval Carthusian monastery founded in the early 14th century, the complex went through many changes (and reconstruction) during its long history.
“Today, Červený Kláštor is a museum showcasing monastic history and traditional botany and pharmacy,” explains adds Evgeniy Artukh, Director of Penetron Slovakia. “The renovated complex – including convent and former farm building – is now an attractive tourist destination. Visitors can experience a historically accurate 18th century pub and museum shop offering souvenirs and herbs produced on-site, and a dedicated training facility for monument restoration.”
Working with project engineers at Almave, the general contractor, Penetron Slovakia provided a durable concrete waterproofing solution for the construction of the monastery’s water storage tank, livestock water trough (for the museum, medicinal plant garden and farm animals), and septic tank. A combination of PENECRETE MORTAR, a crystalline waterproofing mortar, and PENETRON, a topical crystalline waterproofing material, was topically applied to all concrete surfaces and tie-holes to provide durable protection from any future water or moisture penetration.
Applied on a prepared concrete surface, the proprietary chemicals in Penetron’s crystalline products react in a catalytic reaction with moisture to generate a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete. The resulting formation self-heals and seals pores and micro-cracks, decreasing permeability and making the concrete impermeable and durable – for the entire service life of the structure.
“Once applied to concrete, the Penetron System delivers exceptional durability through low permeability, reduced shrinkage, and the ability to self-heal micro-cracks,” adds Evgeniy Artukh. “This technology provides long-term protection for a historic landmark and is set to help add durability to many more structures across Slovakia in the years ahead.”
