The first residents at the Barrio Alto Del Rosario development in Coquimbo, Chile, moved into their new homes in June 2024. The development's hundreds of single-family homes were secured with PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline concrete waterproofing admixture, to protect against the presence of groundwater that could cause leaks in concrete structures.
Situated in the northern half of Chile in a valley about 10 km (6 miles) south of La Serena, Coquimbo is a port city with just over 200,000 inhabitants. Today, the city remains an important shipping center for fruits, copper, and wine. An emerging tourism industry, with the beaches of Guanaqueros and Tongoy to the south, adds to Coquimbo's current double-digit economic growth rate.
Coquimbo’s Barrio Alto del Rosario Residences consist of 200 Mediterranean style single-family homes (111-130 m²/ 1,220-1,430 ft²) available in three bedroom / three bathroom layouts. Also encompassing green areas, public squares, outdoor sports facilities, children's playgrounds, and a dog park, the development is located close to shopping centers, pharmacies, and schools.
Due to proximity to the Pacific Ocean and high groundwater levels present at the construction site, Unicon Chile, the project’s ready-mix concrete supplier, consulted with the technical team at Monumental Construction, the general contractor, and Penetron Chile about a robust concrete waterproofing solution. “Based on our success with similar projects across the country, PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was chosen for all concrete structures,” explains Domingo Lema, Managing Director of Penetron Chile.
PENETRON ADMIX was added to the concrete mix during the batching phase to protect the foundation slabs and ground floor walls of the 200 homes.
Once added to concrete, the active ingredients in PENETRON ADMIX create a non-soluble crystalline network, which forms throughout the pores, capillaries, and microcracks of the concrete. This network significantly increases the durability and service life of concrete and also gives the concrete structures in Coquimbo the ability to self-heal and seal any microcracks that may occur in the future. The need for future concrete repairs is virtually eliminated.
“The builder was not only pleased with the self-sealing capability of Penetron’s admixture, but also the ease of implementation, which saved time in the construction schedule,” adds Domingo Lema.
Built for durability: PENETRON ADMIX was added to the concrete mix to protect the foundation slabs and ground floor walls of the 200 Mediterranean style single-family homes in Coquimbo, Chile.
