Building a private house in Portugal
Building a house on your own land offers a number of advantages – at least the opportunity to fulfill your aesthetic preferences, not to mention the functionality of a home that suits your needs. In addition, owning your own home provides greater security and is an investment that becomes an asset for future generations.
Building a private home in Portugal involves several key steps that need to be considered.
Our portfolio
Building a private house involves careful planning and execution to create a home that perfectly suits your needs and lifestyle. Our team of experienced professionals will guide you through every step, from initial design to final construction, ensuring a smooth and successful project.
Here are the main steps and important aspects of the process:
This is a very important point, as in some areas the cost of land can be 50% of the cost of future homeownership. And here are some important points to consider in the selection process.
In Portugal, land has different classifications such as urban, developable or agricultural. However, from a technical point of view and ease of understanding, it is better to divide it into two broad categories – urban land (terrenos urbanos) and rural land (terrenos agricolas). To avoid misunderstandings and mistakes when choosing a plot of land, AMBER STAR can help you in this matter, including checking all the legal documentation for the land.
The land plot may already have an approved construction project. A plot with an approved project will have all the documentation prepared for obtaining a building permit. This means that you will only need to pay the appropriate fees and build the house according to the available design.
In case there is no project, Legendary Galaxy engineers will develop an individual project in accordance with your preferences and the peculiarities of the land plot.
Before proceeding directly to the construction works, our engineer will handle the process of obtaining licenses and permits. Existing licenses are listed below:
– Licença de Construção: Building Permit. The project approval process takes 10-15 months. The process to modify the project takes an average of 3-6 months.
– Projeto de Arquitetura: Architectural design.
– Projeto de Especialidades: Design de communications and other engineering systems.
– Licença de Utilização: The licence to use the built object is issued after the construction is completed.
The process of obtaining licenses is a long and painstaking one, during which the municipality’s representatives analyze the project at all stages to ensure that it complies with current legislation.
The legal and engineering department of our company will provide full support in obtaining all the necessary documentation and obtaining such permits, which will significantly save you time and nerves.
When the main points of approvals are passed – now you can start the construction process itself.
The main stages of construction necessary to turn an idea from paper into reality.
Land preparation. Before you start building a house, you need to work on land preparation, during which it is necessary to ensure the movement of soil, leveling, drainage, etc. Already at this stage of the project you will need a civil engineer and an architect.
Construction of the structure itself: foundations, supports, beams and floor slabs. Both isolated foundations and solid foundations are used in residential property projects.
Isolated and solid foundations are two different types of foundations that are used in the construction of private homes depending on soil conditions, climate, building weight and other factors.
An isolated foundation (post foundation) consists of individual pillars (posts) that are set into the ground where the load-bearing walls and corners of the building will be located. These pillars support the weight of the house and transfer it to the ground.
- Advantages of a post foundation:
- Less costly than a solid foundation because it requires less material.
- Faster and easier to install.
- Ideal for lightweight homes and buildings.
- Less resistant to seismic loads.
A solid foundation, or slab foundation, is a monolithic reinforced concrete slab placed under the entire area of the building. This type of foundation distributes the load of the building evenly over the entire slab area.
- It is suitable for heavy buildings and structures with a large number of floors due to the use of reinforced concrete with a reinforcement frame.
- Ensures uniform weight distribution on the ground.
- High resistance to seismic loads.
- Provides good waterproofing and protection from moisture.
When designing a foundation for a house, it is important to consider all these aspects and consult with experienced engineers to choose the most appropriate type of foundation for a particular project.
Erection of walls. Most often construction is carried out in brickwork, using cement blocks and reinforced concrete construction. Most often hollow or blind bricks are used in the work, as well as aerated blocks of cellular concrete.
Each material has advantages and disadvantages. For example, the pluses of gas blocks are considered lightness, excellent heat and sound insulation properties, environmental friendliness and fire safety. However, they also have some disadvantages, including high water absorption, the need for additional finishing and lower mechanical strength.
Roofing. Houses in Portugal are mostly built with sloping roofs and are covered with traditional clay tiles. Although flat or flat roofs are becoming increasingly popular in modern architectural designs. They provide additional opportunities to utilize space, including the creation of terraces, gardens and seating areas.
Thermal insulation. The insulation system is a detail on which many of the building’s performance characteristics, including energy efficiency, depend. The type of insulation used on interior and exterior walls is predetermined in the work documentation to ensure efficient heating and cooling.
Installation of frames, doors and windows will directly affect the energy efficiency of your future home, so these works should be performed by professionals using quality materials.
The next stage of construction is the creation of electricity, water and gas supply systems. These systems ensure comfortable living and compliance with modern standards of safety and convenience.
Interior and exterior finishing of the house – there is no limit to the flight of fancy at this stage, it all depends on your creativity, professionalism of the designer and economic opportunities. Given the long experience of LEGENDARY GALAXY, we would like to share some tips on finishing the house:
- Choice of materials: Choose materials that are resistant to Portugal’s climate, especially if the house is located near the coast.
- Energy efficiency: Invest in quality windows, doors and insulation materials to improve the energy efficiency of your home.
- Local craftsmen: Contact our specialists, who are familiar with the construction and finishings in the region.
- Tradition and style: The design that your architect will develop for you should be in keeping with the style of the area where you bought the plot and want to build your home.
Taking these aspects into account, we will help you create a comfortable and stylish home that will delight you for years to come.