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    BUILDING IN GREECE Welcome. Greece's natural bed rock produces an abundance of natural stone materials for the construction of the perfect home. Nature in her glory and gracefulness, helps to merge simple building forms into the back ground of natural rock formations with colours in every hue of beige, maroon, red, orange and grey. Only on this magnificent island can such a natural spectrum of colours exist. The rich red soils blend and compliment the red clay roofing tiles of the buildings. As the sun warms the fertile land, every species of plant springs into life blending the buildings into the scenery.   

Over the last 150 years in Greece, traditional family building techniques have been handed down by the generations forming the basis of modern day construction methods which, in terms of the Western building techniques, is very advanced in all aspects of  building performance and is sympathetic to environmental issues. Greek architects and scientists have also developed new forms of building techniques specifically for the Greek climate.

The construction industry generally is based on the types of materials that are available locally.  For an architect to begin profiling the style of building, the most important issue is the materials that are available locally and acceptable to the local planning department.

It is extremely important to understand the construction materials that are acceptable to the planning authorities.  Our expert team will advise you  on all aspects in this area of planning your new home in the sun.

The process of decision making in terms of materials you would prefer for your home can be lengthy. Therefore, through this website, we have enabled you to begin this  initial investigation at your leisure in your home country. Thus the examination and selection of material finishes for a building can be completed before instructing the architectural engineering team. Having a basic working knowledge of materials and construction methods will save you time and money, and alleviate the pressure of making decisions in haste on short visits to your chosen destination. A clear idea of your style and construction requirements in advance of a final decision will ensure you are completely happy with the final product.

blending           buildings          into          the          scenic          landscape          of          crete                             

The external wall profile of a property has always been a key element of the attractiveness of the building, and protection against the elements. The most common types of external walls in Greece are natural stone.  The bedrock of Greece is particularly unusual and attractive as it began life under the sea. The colour variations within the rocks displays natures eloquence and forms a natural bond with the surrounding terrain of Greece.

In some of the islands bedrock, colours alter in the sediment or igneous rocks.

By far the most popular form of external finish is a mixture of sand and cement rendering. The tradesmen apply various finishes from rough cast, patterned or troweled finish.  This practice is unique to Greek building traditions.

In the  old village buildings, the walls were coated with a whitewash solution to reflect the sun. In today's market, modern scientific methods have ensured control of  pigment discoloration and allows for easy application and bright colours that are durable  and protect the building.  A concern to also protect the environment has resulted in the creation of an innovative paint  product that is water-based, flexible and  completely ozone friendly.

As a result of these advancements, Greece has exploded into a kaliedescope of vibrant and contrasting colours that illuminate the landscape.

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These advancements in building products have considerably improved the  environment while at the same time, lowered construction costs. Pigment rendering compounds now on the market provide a wider choice of external finishes for consideration ensuring a finish to suit every taste and lower building maintenance costs.

All buildings need to be able to expel rainwater from surface areas ensuring  that  internal living spaces are watertight. The traditional flat concrete roofs of Greece, if not constructed with a membrane or waterproofing additive to the concrete, can allow water to penetrate to the living areas. Water has the natural ability to find any fault in a building, the most common complaint being dampness and bacterial mould forming on damp walls and ceilings.

A village building, if not already renovated, will require some attention to the roof area.  The ideal solution is to replace the roof with a pitched tilled roof format, if planning consent allows the building to be altered.  In new buildings a tiled roof is  recommended to ensure the comfort of a watertight building and to enhance the resale value of the building.

The terminal insulation provided by tiled roofs with internal insulation ensures a very high value of isolation in the building as always heat travels upward. New lightweight tiles of concrete with high quality anti-pigmentation discoloration properties, are readily available in the Greek market.

All recognised roof coatings now offer superior mildew resistance, soundproofing, UV ray reflectivity, corrosion resistance. Over an entire day, up to 50% of the solar heat load is prevented from entering a building's coated roof. During hot weather, internal building temperatures can be reduced by up to  60° F after the application of an insulating roof coating.  The roof also makes an excellent solarium and roof garden.  

Double glazing, of European standard, is available in Greece. The frame units are predominately manufactured in aluminum with high quality white durable paint.  A separate section for coloured paint, to suit every preference, is available in most cases on request.  New systems in distinctive wood grained finishes are also available. 

Double glazed units come in the standard 22 mm sealed units suitable for  high heat exchange with neoprene gaskets and multi point locking systems. The double glazed frames in some units also have the all important fly screens incorporated into the frames for comfort. 

Security front doors come in a full range of paneled  patterns. French doors and  sliding patio doors are fully guaranteed under  warranty. One additional feature on outside windows and doors is the inclusion of  weather shutters for extra protection against the elements and to enhance security.

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The environmental thermal building system of Greece is the future of construction. This building formulation is entirely Greek. It has been researched in Greece for the Greek climate, is manufactured solely in Greece, has been endorsed by the Greek Orthodox Church and has been commissioned by the Greek Government to build National Museums to preserve Greece's priceless artifacts.  The Olympic games village has been constructed with is format and was approved to be very satisfactory in terms of efficiency and timescale in the construction process. It has also been approved by the construction and tourist industries in Greece and most importantly, approved by the National Technical University of Athens Antiseismic Laboratory.

Other companies offer building systems developed in other European countries that are built here under license. However, the building research has been carried out in other, perhaps cooler countries and may not be ideal in Greece or Crete, the southern most points of Europe. The different requirements of building performance in cold wet climates where heat exchange is low, is not the same as those with the hottest climate in Europe. Building environmental performance and seismic activities alter dramatically in different locations.

Because the manufacture of the steel frames, beams and columns is in a controlled factory environment, quality and consistency are gauranteed. Furthermore, construction time is significantly reduced allowing you to move into your new home as quickly as possible. The existence of the wire truss in the load bearing expanded polystyrene panels adds increased seismic resistance, unlike traditional brick wall construction methods. The processs of shot concrete rendering insures the non-existence of connecting joints that are common in prefabrication which can allow water  penetrate into the interior of the building and create unnecessary problems.

The horizontal and vertical bars are welded at every crossing location. The wire mesh resembles a thick weave pattern with diameter Φ3, 0-3, 6/S500 and squares 6,25 x 6,25 cm. The two parallel wire meshes are kept in their positions with bi-diagonal bars welded every 12-20 cm, with diameter Φ3, 6/S500. There are 64. bars/m², creating at the same time a three dimensional wire mesh. In between the wire meshes is a built-in insulating material of expanded self-extinguished polystyrene 18-20 kg/m3 thick which is formed parallel to the meshes during the manufacturing process. The insulating material,  from 5 to 20 cm, controls the thickness and is perforated by the bi-diagonal bars, safely keeping the wire mesh parallel to control the spacing distance.

The ready 3Δ panel is produced at 1,25m width and non-standard length from 2m to 5m, depending on the final use. This manufacturing method fully complies with the regulations of both the Greek (ΝΕΑΚ, ΝΚΩΣ 2000) and recent European Codes by the ISO-9001 Quality Certificate, Eurocode 3 - 4 - 6- 8 walling structure. The 3Δ-panels on a combined action with steel framing, are able to withstand horizontal seismic action. The panels eliminate the possibility of 2nd grade influences for the design building movement, limiting the risk of possible damage. A considerable increase of both the endurance and the frames rigidity due to the 3Δ-panel walling is obvious in the design structure, the buildings also remain cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

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The eco system is the way forward for the Greek building industry in terms of its reduced impact on global warming, reduced costs in construction times, friendly impact on the environment, producing a ideal home solution for today's changing climate and living conditions.

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