PropertyBenalmadena® Building a House in Benalmadena

 Building a Villa in Benalmadena

Phase 1
The Architects artist impression in the designing of the villa on the Costa
del Sol

Before designing your Villa in Spain be sure to think practicality of the design before you dedicate
your savings/finance to the building of the villa in Spain.
THINK – how many bedrooms do you really need? What do you really want in your dream home in Spain
i.e large hall ? Viewing terrace ? Bedroom on ground floor ?

Take the above design as an example for instance, The Architect/owners wanted a large hall which
connected straight across to a rear terrace, the hall benefiting from high ceiling (good for dispersion
of heat) and large window vith view straight through to the pool. To the right of this hall they placed a
bedroom and a cloakroom.. Bedroom on ground floor was essential for a member of the family who
wasnt keen on stairs. On the left wing lies the Lounge /Dining area with kitchen to rear. The kitchen
having access to rear terrace too, being very practical for access to outside pool /breakfast area. Also
note, in Spain particularly the Costa del Sol there are many very hot days in summer for this reason
the Architect has placed and overhanging terrace over the South facing Lounge windows. In this way,
at the peak of the Summer no direct sunlight will enter into the lounge saving costs on cooling.
Additionally in the winter the lower postion of Sun from East to West will shine into the living area,
again saving costs on heating.

Phase 2
Important Steps Before the Excavation of Land when designing and
building a villa in Benalmadena

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY – COMPULSORY
When building a villa in Spain the law now obliges you to carry out a geological survey. In this survey,
villa or swimming pool is to be constructed. One piece of equipment will pound a hollow rod into the
ground to a depth of more than 15 metres. As the hollow rod moves down sample of earth/rock enter
the rod which are taken away for testing. Results from these tests will inform the Architect as to the
condition/state of the ground i.e distribution/composition of clay/rock/water etc. The design of the
foundations of the villa will be based on this data to avoid the property subsiding or being subject to
damp problems etc.

TOPOGRAPHY REPORT
Another important task to carry out when Building a house in Spain Andalucia , is a topography report.
This report is carried out with a precision GPS device providing information on boundaries of the plot,
altitude i.e contours of plot. This information is very important in the design of the villa particularly
with regard to respecting the local building allowances from the townhall i.e minimum permitted
length between the villa and surrounding boundary, permiitted maximum height of the villa etc.

THE PROJECT
With the Topography report and Geological survey at hand the Architect will then design the villa and
provide you with a full project in the form of a large folder containingg building plans, plumbers plans,
Electrical circuitry plans etc. This project will be sent off to the College of Architects for their
verification. When approved the College will return 4 copies of the project officially stamped to your
Architect.

PLANNING PERMISSION
Before you start the excavation for the building of the villa, you will need consent from the local
authorities. This is done by taking a copy of the stamped project to the townhall and completing an
application form with initial stage payment for the license. The townhall may now take 1 month to
several months in processing the request depending on area. It always helps if you are able to speak
the language and keep on top of them with reminders to move things as quickly as possible.
Once approved by the townhall, you will be issued with the BUILDING LICENSE you are now ready to
provide project details to builders for quotes on building the house.

BUILDING CONTRACT
Be sure to arrange a building contract, for peace of mind it is best to draw up a contract between you
and the builder. The contract will hold binding clauses for completion dates for the build and
budgeting. This will help avoid buiders trying to charge extras and delay in the build.

FINANCE
There are various Banks in Spain which will finance the build of a villa on the Costa del Sol. Normally,
payments are made monthly on the basis of how much you have borrowed in the progressive build of
the villa. These payments are normally interest only until the building is complete. Time span is
currently around 2 years.

NOW YOU ARE READY TO BUILD A VILLA IN SPAIN
The Excavation starts…………… Photo above shows JCB ready to begin movement of Earth for the
foundations.

Phase 3
The Excavation of Land in Preparation for laying Foundations

DESIGNING AND BUILDING A VILLA IN SPAIN
EXCAVATION OF LAND
The Excavated area will show a ‘Foot print’ of the Villa’ Its depth and dimensions will be checked by
your ‘Aparejador’ to comply with local building rules on height and boundary restrictions.

If at all possible try to avoid taking away any Earth, this will save you money later on if you need to fill
in any areas of land, you will therefore be saving on transport costs away from and to your building
plot. Excavated Earth may be sold on by your builder to another party. You may benefit by finding a
local buyer!

Phase 4
The First Layers of the foundation

DESIGNING AND BUILDING A VILLA IN SPAIN
Following excavation, 25 -30 cm layer of loose gravel is placed in the entire excavated area. This is
followed by polyethylene layer and then felt. Onto the felt, certified concrete mix (10cm thickness) is
laid. When cured this now forms a clean and dry base for the laying of the foundation.

Phase 5
The Foundation

DESIGNING AND BUILDING A VILLA IN SPAIN
KEY ELEMENTS IN LAYING A GOOD FOUNDATION
the actual foundations/pillars/boundaries are marked leaving approx 1m – 1.20m space along the
circumference. This space will later hold a large diameter drainage pipe covered in gravel. The pipe
would then be connected to a drain hole and may be facilitated by a pump. This will ensure very
therefore dramatically preventing any damp problems.

In the marked area, certified steel is then put together according to the Architects detailed plans. This
will then form a strong framework which will be filled with certified concrete (50 cm). This framework
of steel with continue throughout the structure of the house (via the pillars) up until the roof of the
structure.

KEY ELEMENTS IN LAYING A GOOD FOUNDATION
The framework of steel is then filled with certified concrete 50 cm high (depending on design, quality
of ground etc). Care is taken not to leave any of the steel framework exposed, the stell MUST be
covered in all areas by the concrete.

will then form a strong framework which will be filled with certified concrete (50 cm). This framework
of steel with continue throughout the structure of the house (via the pillars) up until the roof of the
structure.

Foundation Walls

KEY ELEMENTS IN LAYING A GOOD FOUNDATION
with certified concrete.

DESIGNING AND BUILDING A VILLA IN SPAIN
KEY ELEMENTS IN LAYING A GOOD FOUNDATION
As mentioned earlier, alrge diameter drainage tube is placed around the circumference of the house
which is the connected to a drain/pump. The purpose of this is to efficiently drain any rainwater
therefore keeping the perimeter walls sufficiently protected by long term dampness. In addition, the
walls are damp proofed with asphalt felt along with a layer of polypropylene covering.

Walls

BUILDING THE VILLA
The steel franework continues up through the pillars and each of the floors being then filled with
certified graded concrete. Between pillars and floors, bricks are laid to form outside walls with beams
placed for windowed areas. Following this outer layer. Insulation material (in this case rock wool) is
then placed on inner side followed by further layer of bricks. Inner partition walls then follow.

Later Tubing is then placed within walls for electrical installation/plumbing.

WALLS

BUILDING THE VILLA
The steel franework continues up through the pillars and each of the floors being then filled with
certified graded concrete. Between pillars and floors, bricks are laid to form outside walls with beams
placed for windowed areas. Following this outer layer. Insulation material (in this case rock wool) is
then placed on inner side followed by further layer of bricks. Inner partition walls then follow.

Later Tubing is then placed within walls for electrical installation/plumbing.

PHASE 11

BUILDING THE VILLA
The steel franework continues up through the pillars and each of the floors being then filled with
certified graded concrete. Between pillars and floors, bricks are laid to form outside walls with beams
placed for windowed areas. Following this outer layer. Insulation material (in this case rock wool) is
then placed on inner side followed by further layer of bricks. Inner partition walls then follow.

Later Tubing is then placed within walls for electrical installation/plumbing.

PHASE 12

DESIGNING AND BUILDING A VILLA IN SPAIN
BUILDING THE VILLA
Outside walls are rendered, then to be painted.

Phase 13
Walls, Electric, Plumbing, Electric underfloor Heating, Windows Etc

BUILDING THE VILLA
Walls are then painted. Also damp proofing is to be placed along circumference where walls of villa
meet terrace.

Phase 14
Walls, Electric, Plumbing, Electric Underfloor Heating, Windows Etc

BUILDING THE VILLA
Windows are then installed. Work on surrounding exterior terrace begins. Excavation for Pool also