Talk about good timing . . .

To start a new business in Crete in these uncertain times due to the current financial situation may be even more of a challenge than in normal times.

And, when that business is in construction, a trade said to be directly affected by the financial downswing, it would seem that challenge would take on the proportions of, say, Romanos Elia playing OFI.

Not so, says Andre Weber, a building engineer who is general manager of ISOMETAL, which just opened its offices in Analipsi.

"Actually, the timing is good since today's new home builders are especially cost-conscious," said Mr. Weber. "With the ISOMETAL system they actually pay less in building costs than with conventional methods, and get a higher quality building which saves even more money over the years on maintenance and energy bills."

Mr. Weber pointed out that ISOMETAL is not a prefabricated system. He explained that what they do first is replace the classic concrete skeleton with steel skeletons.

"It is completely installed by a qualified technician in only one or two days," he explained. "In comparison, traditional building methods need three or four weeks per floor. Right there the savings on IKA payments alone is around 60 percent."

He said that once the skeleton is up, blocks made of polystyrene foam are inserted, which are then filled with concrete.

"The blocks are 25 centimetres wide, with four and a half centimetres of foam on either side, providing double insulation . . . something like the inside of coolers for ice cream," he said. "Then concrete is poured into the 16-centimetre cavity in the centre of the blocks."

Mr. Weber went on to explain that what you end up with are outside walls that result in 70 percent energy saving costs, further cost-saving due to smaller foundations, no expansion cracks caused by temperature fluctuations, and the highest possible earthquake resistance (>8 on the Richter scale).

Apparently, the system met with positive results in both the private and commercial sector.

Doris Walter, who recently built her new home in Prassa, said she is now paying a heating bill three times less than before.

"Plus, the savings in IKA costs was enough to pay for both the kitchen and bathroom," she said.

And, the owner of Hotel Mistral in Kalo Horio, said: "A building plan for an additional 24 apartments was realized in only 85 working days and I could receive my guests at the beginning of the season without any problems." 

Although Mr. Weber, 31, a native of Berlin who has lived in Crete for the past five years, is still a young man, he knows the ISOMETAL system well.

"It was invented in Germany, and first came to Crete in 1988," he said. "I've been working exclusively with the ISOMETAL system for several years now. I know the product well, and I know how important this product is, especially in these times. So, I knew the time was right for me to start this new business."

As they say, timing is everything!