Greek construction terms, explained

Permits, planning and paperwork

οικοδομική άδεια — *oikodomikí ádeia*

The building permit. The central approval for construction work. See building permits.

αυθαίρετο — *afthéreto*

An unauthorised structure: something built without the permit it required. Extremely common on older Santorini property. Blocks new permits and complicates sales. See legalisation.

τακτοποίηση / νομιμοποίηση — *taktopoíisi / nomimopoíisi*

Regularising or legalising an unauthorised structure. The process that resolves an αυθαίρετο.

ΝΟΚ — Νέος Οικοδομικός Κανονισμός

The building regulation framework governing what may be built — coverage, height, setbacks and the rest of the planning envelope.

ΓΟΚ — Γενικός Οικοδομικός Κανονισμός

The earlier general building regulation. You will see it referenced on older permits and drawings.

ΠΕΑ — Πιστοποιητικό Ενεργειακής Απόδοσης

Energy performance certificate. Required for sale and long-term lease. See energy performance certificate.

Κτηματολόγιο — *Ktimatológio*

The national cadastre: the register of property boundaries and ownership. A discrepancy here stops a permit. See Ktimatologio.

συμβόλαιο — *symvóleo*

The contract or deed. In a property purchase, the notarial deed.

τοπογραφικό — *topografikó*

The topographic survey. See topographic survey.

παραδοσιακός οικισμός — *paradosiakós oikismós*

A designated traditional settlement, where external appearance is controlled. See traditional settlement compliance.

Συμβούλιο Αρχιτεκτονικής — *Symvoúlio Architektonikís*

The Council of Architecture, which reviews external design in designated settlements. See Council of Architecture.

Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Κυκλάδων

The Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, with jurisdiction over archaeological approvals. See archaeological approval.

The people

μηχανικός — *michanikós*

Engineer. Used broadly; the qualifier matters.

πολιτικός μηχανικός — *politikós michanikós*

Civil engineer. Designs and signs the structural file. See structural engineering.

αρχιτέκτονας μηχανικός — *architéktonas michanikós*

Architect. See architectural design.

επιβλέπων μηχανικός — *epivlépon michanikós*

Supervising engineer, with a statutory role confirming that work follows the approved design.

τοπογράφος — *topográfos*

Surveyor.

εργολάβος — *ergolávos*

Contractor. γενικός εργολάβος is the general or main contractor.

μάστορας — *mástoras*

Craftsman or tradesman. Used with warmth; it means someone who genuinely knows their trade.

συνεργείο — *synergeío*

A work crew or gang.

The trades

ηλεκτρολόγος — *ilektrológos*

Electrician. See electrician.

υδραυλικός — *ydravlikós*

Plumber. See plumber.

ελαιοχρωματιστής — *eleochromatistís*

Painter and decorator. See painting and decorating.

σοβατζής — *sovatzís*

Plasterer. See plastering.

χτίστης — *chtístis*

Mason or bricklayer. χτίστης πέτρας — stonemason.

ξυλουργός — *xylourgós*

Carpenter and joiner. See carpentry and joinery.

πλακάς — *plakás*

Tiler. See tiling.

σιδεράς — *siderás*

Metalworker, blacksmith. See metalwork.

μαρμαράς — *marmarás*

Marble worker. See marble and granite.

Buildings and building types

υπόσκαφο — *ypóskafo*

An excavated cave dwelling, cut into the volcanic tuff. The characteristic Santorini building type. Also heard as σκαφτό — *skaftó* — in everyday speech. See cave house construction.

καμάρα — *kamára*

A vault or arch. The structural form of traditional Santorini rooms.

κανάβα — *kanáva*

A traditional wine cellar, vaulted and partly buried. Common in Megalochori and Pyrgos. See Megalochori.

στέρνα — *stérna*

A rainwater cistern. See water cisterns.

καστέλι — *kastéli*

The fortified medieval core of a village, as at Emporio and Pyrgos. See Emporio.

αυλή — *avlí*

Courtyard.

πεζούλα / ξερολιθιά

Agricultural terrace / dry stone walling. See retaining walls.

φέρων οργανισμός — *féron organismós*

The load-bearing structure of a building.

Materials and works

ασβέστης — *asvéstis*

Lime. ασβεστοκονίαμα — lime mortar or render.

τσιμέντο — *tsiménto*

Cement.

σκυρόδεμα / μπετόν — *skyródema / betón*

Concrete.

οπλισμός — *oplismós*

Reinforcement.

σοβάς — *sovás*

Plaster or render.

στεγανοποίηση — *steganopoíisi*

Waterproofing. See waterproofing.

θερμομόνωση — *thermomónosi*

Thermal insulation. See insulation.

εκσκαφή — *ekskafí*

Excavation. See excavation.

κατεδάφιση — *katedáfisi*

Demolition. See demolition.

ανακαίνιση — *anakaínisi*

Renovation. See property renovation.

κουφώματα — *koufómata*

Windows and doors, as an assembly. See windows and doors.

πισίνα — *pisína*

Swimming pool. See pool construction.

βόθρος — *vóthros*

Cesspit. See drainage and septic.

Words specific to this island

άσπα — *áspa*

The local term for the welded volcanic tuff that yposkafo are cut into. The material that makes cave houses possible. See yposkafo excavation.

θηραϊκή γη — *thiraïkí gi*

Theran earth: the island's volcanic earth, a natural pozzolan. Quarried and exported in the nineteenth century as a hydraulic cement, and still the correct ingredient in traditional local mortar. See plastering.

καλντέρα — *kaldéra*

The caldera: the flooded volcanic crater the island encircles. See caldera-edge construction.

Θήρα — *Thíra*

Thira: the official name of Santorini, and the name you will see on documents.

Phrases you will hear on a site

Not vocabulary so much as how the words get used. These come up constantly and they are rarely in a dictionary in this form.

«Θα δούμε»

Literally "we will see". Depending on tone it means anything from "yes, shortly" to "that is not going to happen". If you need a date, ask for a date.

«Σιγά σιγά»

"Slowly, slowly." Sometimes a genuine description of careful work; sometimes a description of the programme. Worth clarifying which.

«Είναι δύσκολο»

"It is difficult." On this island this is frequently literal rather than a negotiating position — it usually means access, ferry or approvals. Ask which.

«Μπετόν» vs «σκυρόδεμα»

Both mean concrete. The first is the everyday word, the second the technical one you will see on drawings.

«Άδεια»

Permit, generally. Ask which one — οικοδομική άδεια is the building permit, but the word alone covers several.

«Μελέτη» — *meléti*

A study or design package. Your architect and engineer each produce μελέτες, and the permit file is made of them.

«Επίβλεψη» — *epívlepsi*

Supervision, in the statutory sense held by the επιβλέπων μηχανικός.

«Παραλαβή» — *paralaví*

Handover or taking-over of the works. The moment the snagging list gets agreed.

Numbers, units and how they are written

Small practical differences that cause real confusion on drawings and invoices.

• τ.μ. (τετραγωνικά μέτρα) — square metres. You will see this everywhere, on drawings, listings and invoices.
• κ.μ. (κυβικά μέτρα) — cubic metres. Used for excavation, spoil and concrete.
• μ.μ. (μέτρα μήκους) — linear metres. Used for pointing, skirting, coping and anything measured by run.
• Decimal comma. Greek uses a comma as the decimal separator and a full stop as the thousands separator — so 1.250,50 is one thousand two hundred and fifty point five. Worth knowing before reading an invoice.
• ΦΠΑ — VAT. Check whether a quoted figure includes it or not; both conventions are used.
• ΑΦΜ — tax registration number. Every company has one, and it is how you verify a business is registered.