Damaged concrete flooring in old wine cellar restored

A restoration job has been completed in a long-standing wine cellar in Greece.

Boutari Winery in Greece was established in 1879. In 1978, the company built a production and ageing facility in Stenimachos in the Naoussa wine-growing region, including two cellars with concrete floors where wine is stored and aged. By the end of 2025, the concrete had deteriorated, and groundwater was leaking. The decision was made to repair the concrete walls and floors rather than replace them.

To repair the concrete, the Penetratron system was used, which creates durable waterproofing and protection. The winery stipulated that no wine barrels be removed during the restoration work. This meant that the first job was repositioning the barrels before hydro-blasting the concrete to remove unwanted material and expose cracks and sources of leakage.

The repair crew then used Penetron to waterproof the concrete and Penetron Mortar to fill in cracks. Penetron contains crystals that react with moisture to form a crystalline formation that reduces the permeability of concrete. It also seals microcracks.

Theodor Mentzikofakis from Penetron Hellas said:

“The project demonstrates how crystalline technology can be used to rehabilitate below-grade concrete structures affected by active water ingress without extensive demolition or operational disruption.”

Concrete flooring is very durable, low-maintenance and cost-effective for both commercial and domestic buildings. However, in damp conditions such as cellars, concrete can deteriorate over time. The restoration work at the wine cellars shows that it is not always necessary for poor-condition flooring damaged by moisture to be replaced. Repairing the floor is a viable option in many situations.