APRIL 2005

The land we are using we bought in April 2005 the process we followed is outlined on buying land or a house both procedures are much the same.

We bought into a project that had already been started so we were fortunate enough to know we could build on our chosen piece of land.  Plans had already been drawn up for houses but after some thought and consultation with the architect we did change the plans. Licenses take many months but through help from our local estate agent and the architect these were granted at the beginning of October.  We had to take a photocopy of the licence & residence permit to Lagana police station. The licence is logged in their register and the licence paper stamped.  So we were ready to 'break ground' the beginning of October. We have not employed a builder or property company to oversee the project, we are employing sub contractors directly (with help from a Greek friend). This is not the fastest method but we get a better price.

It is worth mentioning that all structures in Zante are built to strict earthquake standards. 

1. Dig a big hole & fill with 100mm concrete. It is larger than the house by about 1 meter on each side. This forms a level working base for the shuttering & steel for the actual house.
2. Shuttering goes up. Note when building the concrete shell, no provision is made for services. To quote  our architect “ Greeks like to lay the concrete and then make holes for water, electric etc".
3. teel is added, 10,000kg at this stage. The walls here are solid concrete because this is the basement. The ground is to be raised by 1 meter because the surrounding land gets very wet when it rains in the winter.
4. Another layer of wood is inserted on the other side of the steel and it is ready to have concrete poured in. Most constructions in Zakynthos use the concrete pump because of the drying time of concrete in the summer.
5. The concrete is vibrated to remove any air.
6. The wooden shuttering is removed to reveal the concrete structure.  By the end of October we had built the basement level.
7. It is now November and it starts to rain. The ground becomes a bog, causing problems for vehicles driving across the land. We have to build a road with rocks from the quarry.
8. The above process is repeated and the building gains height. The second stage is to raise the walls and put in the ceiling, which contains beams reinforced with steel.
9. Scaffolding in place ready to do the concrete columns that form the first floor.
10. We are now in March and the house now has the full concrete skeleton in place.  The picture shows the pouring of the concrete for the top floor ceiling. 
11. Now the structure is complete we have started the brickwork. Top and bottom of the window opening has a concrete lintel cast in situ.
12. When the brickwork is complete a thin coat of cement is spayed on to the brick inside and outside.  This is the base for the cement coat.
13. The fireplace is installed ready for the chimney to be built.  They will have to make a hole somewhere to get the chimney outside. 
14. Scaffolding erected ready to plaster the house and put roof on. Plumbing and electrics are also being installed.
15. The house now with roof and plaster, marble window and door sills.  We have also been and chosen all the tiles for the floors and bathrooms.