Lefkas Property 2008

NEWS

Well here we are in 2008 time seems to fly. Dec and Jan have been rather wet months but things have been moving on. The three new builds that we started in late 2007 are moving on well. I will post some photos of each project very soon. The biggest thing to hit us all in this line of work has been the price of steel. Steel has been moving from 0.60 cents a kilo to 0.83 cents a kilo! We were lucky to have bought our steel for these builds at the lower end of the price range. On thursday last week the price was for that day 0.76 cents, I pays to keep an eye on these things.

My villa ( Villa Octavius) is now on the rental market and can be found on www.villaoctavius.com

 16 Feb Update: Project 2. 2007/08. Well as you can see from this shot that we are ready to pour the first floor slab. The weather is very cold at the moment with snow in Athens and night time temps below zero. We must wait a couple of days for the weather to turn a little warmer.

Project 3. 2007/08. This house will have three floors. We have finished the basement and are now working on the colums. The formwork will be finished in a couple of days if my workers cope with the cold at the moment!   

 Project 1. 2007/08. As you can see we are in the same stage as the other two projects. In the forground you can see the steel work for the base of the swimming pool. Today (yes a Sunday!) we have back filled the rear wall and will pour the slab as soon as the weather turns.

 General notes: It is not wise to pour concreate if the temp is as low as it is at the moment. Above 5c is best. The forcast for eastern Greece is for a lot of snow tonight and tomorrow. Here in Western Greece we are not getting so bad but we do have strong eastely winds which is bringing the temp right down.

 Feb 22 Update:

Here we are on project 1 2007/8. The shot shows you the form work getting ready for the swimming pool. The pool has this great view of Vassiliki bay. 

 This just shows you how much steel goes into the builds here on Lefkas. The shot is of one of the columns on project 2 2007/8. We leave the columns open like this untill they have been inspected.

General note: The weather has turned and now we are in warm wet days. Great for concrete! 

March 6 Update: Things are moving on well on all sites now. Project 1 2007/8 will be ready for more concrete next week, It will include the swimming pool and the last columns. Project 2 2007/8 we will pour the last columns tomorrow. Project 3 2007/8 Also tomorrow we will pour the second floor slab.

I hope to have all three earthquake frames up by the end of the month, weather permiting. The forcast for tomorrow is for rain which is good for concrete!  

March 27 Update: I'm pleased to report that we have finished the concrete work on project 2 and will soon be finished on the other two houses with in a couple of weeks.

The weather has again been good for this job mild and wet which is great for the concrete. Balcony's and slabs have to have 20 or more days before we can take away the surports. Once this period has passed we can clear the sites and move on with the roofs and walls etc. Things will move on at a pace then. I will post photos of all three projects as soon as the last pour is done.

April 14 Update: The concrete work on project 3 is now compleate, rain is helping with the cureing.

The last steel work is being inspected today and then if all is ok we should finish the concrete on project 1 within a few days. The sess pit has been put in on project 2 and we will start the roof and brick work very soon. 

Here you see the finished frame of project 1. A great Octagon tower which will be walled in stone!

 Project 3 here you can see we are ready to pour the last concrete hopefully on Thursday 17/04

 April 20 Update: Here you can see project 2 with my roofers at work. We should have the roof finished by Monday. Project 3 all the concrete has now been poured, now we have to wait for 15-20 days before we can put this houses roof on mean time we will get on and back fill the house and build the sess pit etc.

May 15 Update: Project 1 at the moment we are waiting for the stone workers to finish a major job and then we can start work on the walls. The tower is going to be a challange. Project 2, The roof is now finished and the brickwork also finished! I have now moved my team to Project 3 to allow the brickwork to settle before first fix plumbing and Ele etc. Project 3, now the roofers are at work and the brick workers start today. Some stone walling has been done and also the mains Ele box has been made in stone ( see pic ). 

May 27 Update: The weather is now settled at last and things are hotting up. Both project 2 and 3 are now at a stage where we are getting prices for the windows and doors. Then a team will come and fix in place the plastering window and door frames. Then come the plumbers and the electricians.

Both roofs are on and all brickwork finished.

News: All building sites on Lefkas now have to under go an archaeological check up. I have done two now in as many days, here is a shot of todays. Oh by the way they did'nt find anything...whew!

31 May Update: I have had one company in to measure the windows and doors and am waiting for the quote. Mean while we have been busy digging out a plot for a swimming pool for a house that I built during 06/07. The stone workers have put up a very nice wall around the end of the pool and as you can see we are now back filling the base with rock etc and on Monday hope to pour site concrete. ( by the way sorry for some of my typing/ spelling )

3 July Update: Well its hot now and fires are starting around Greece. This one was the tip up in smoke! The fire was going for over a week.

Project 2: We are now putting up two more terraces in front of this house as we are waiting for the eletricians to finish on another house.  

 Project 3: Now back-filling and clearing the site. The eletricians are at work here, then we go for the plaster work. 

Project 1: Here we are today hard at work on this amazing roof.

30 July Update:     Project 1: The roof now finished we are ready to start on the stone walls of the house. This house will be half stone and the rest bricks and plaster.  

Project 2: We have been fixing the AC pipes and the first fix electric. Also you will see we have been hard at work landscaping.

Project 3: Here we are hard at work with the plastering. Window cills will go in next and then the finish coat.

General: Things are slowing down as Aug is the workers time off. We will however be keeping as many of the teams going as possible.   

19 Aug Update: Most teams are still off on their hoildays but to show you all that we have been working slowly during Aug here are a couple of shots.

Sept 23 Update:  Well things have been moving on during Sept. Project 3 the door cills are in the second fix electrics are done and we have started tiling the floors today. We have also had the basement internal walls finished and the plasters will soon be done. The fireplace and chimney also are finished. 

Project two has been going well too. The plaster work will be finished together with the two fireplaces any day now. The second fix electrics are being done and as soon as my team of tilers finish project 3 they will be here on this house.

Project 1 is looking great with the stone walling almost finished. I think a photo will tell the story.   

(sorry have been trying to upload the pics will get there soon)

26 Oct Update:  October has been a dry month and things have been going well. The price of Steel has droped back to 0.672cents a kilo, which is good if you are building now. One winner will be the owners of a swimming pool which we are building now.

On some fronts its not all great as the credit crunch has also hit this area with one of my builds now on hold as money is very tight for the owner. I will get the windows and doors in and then stop. I belive the owners will cont in slow time.

Project 1 We are moving on well, the plumbers have done there job and any day now the sparkies will also have finished. Windows and doors are being sorted and the plaster work will start next week.

Project 2 The painters have been in and now only have some finishing to do when the tiles are done and kitchens and cupboards are fitted. I hope by mid Nov the windows and doors will also be in and we should have this house ready for Xmas.

Project 3 As I have said is on hold. 

Photos coming soon.  

Please note my new Email is   lefkaspr@otenet.gr

18 Nov Update: 

Project 1: The plaster work is now finished and its time to get the plumbers and sparkies back to do there second fix. Then we can move on with the tiles. The property is going to have hand made hardwood windows and doors so that will take around two months.

Project 2: The tilling has been finished and the shutters and doors are in. When we get a dry day as it has been a little wet for the last few days the windows will be fitted. By the end of the week I hope to have all the wardrobs and the kitchens in. The railings for the stairs have been made and fitted. Things are moving on well here.

Project 3 Still on hold.  

I have also been working on a swimming pool.

Will try to get some photos up for you all asap.

7 Dec update:

Project 1: Plumbing work has been finished and only waiting for the sparkies to do thier job then its tiles. Have found a workshop now and agreed the price for the iroko doors and windows. I had to really shop around as the prices seemed to vary a lot.

Project 2: All windows fitted now and the two kitchens have their units in place. Wardrobs are in and fitted. The balcony railings were fitted yesterday. The fireplaces have been finished with fire bricks now and look great. I hope the weather will hold so i can get the painters back to finish the house.

 Yes this is Lefkas in Nov and  Dec !

End of year update: Well its been an up and down year what with the price of steel hitting an all time high in mid summer to now where it has dropped over 65% going from 1.21 euro per kilo to 0.584 euro per kilo. Now at the start of 2009 the price is dropping even more which makes it a good time to build. The only problem is the pound and the euro*?*!

After the Xmas and new break things are slowly getting going again. Project 1, we are getting things ready for the tileing and the doors and windows are under way. Project 2, well the house is all but finished. I has been very wet and cold over the last part of Dec so all we have to do is finish the outside painting. Then a clean up inside a check of all the hot water and heating etc then its keys in the door. Today the electricity was conected. Job done!      

How to contact us ....

Steve Clarke-Lens

Phone/fax (00 30) 26450 92355

Mobile 6934040384

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