Julie & Steve

Already added to the list for the next order. Ta Steve

The time to heat the tank from the starting temp of 14.6C to the set temp of 65C (it overshot by 6C, with a hysterisis of about 8C......, Sounds fascinating! Like watching a kettle boil. C'on guys, there's more to life, than staring at a white cylinder holding a stopwatch... 200 litres of piping hot water + one teenage daughter spending 1 hour in the bathroom = 1 flooded floor (with floating discarded clothes) , 0 dry towels, 50 cotton balls (dubious colours) swimming in a sink full of scum encrusted water + 1 cold shower for the next person minus shampoo. (I was going to mention the splatters of yellow goo on the mirror, but that's probably way too much information)  I doesn't matter how you heat the tank, there's never any hot water when you want it. I thaught everyone knew that?  Steve

Yes, I've seen these but never actually tried them. They appear to be a compromise between all three but not being particularly good at any one. How long do the last? I would be pleasantly surprised if one could drill 20 holes in engineering brick and then drill a couple of clean holes through the back of an iron conduit box more than a few times. (Fixing armoured cable to a wall - in case you were wondering!). Steve

Thanks all. Looks like a unanimous opinion here. If it's still on the wall in October (next visit) I'll be off to buy one from those very nice people at Brico Depot. Steve

I agree. SDS is definitely the way to go. Even the cheapest rotary hammer knocks spots off any percussion drill. I wouldn't waste the time on even one hole in granite without one. An expensive masonry drill 'bit' doesn't really make drilling the hole any easier, it just allows you to go through the same grief in drilling more than once!. If you don't drill that many holes, get one of the cheap (under 30E) but big, heavy and cumbersome SDS mini breakers. They usually come with a selection of drills and a couple of chisels and some even have a standard chuck adaptor to allow you to use your metal and wood drills (your masonry drills won't work in it). It's no Rolls Royce and primitive compared with more expensive machines but, like double chocolate chip ice cream, you don't know what you're missing until you've tried it!  Steve

We are renovating an house that used to be a boulangerie, and if possible would like to install a foyer in the 'fire box' of the old bread oven, keeping the cast iron oven doors above it. After knocking out the old fire bricks it should just be possible squeeze in the foyer. The flue has been replaced in modern terracotta to the loft. Please can anyone offer any suggestions or point out any considerations. In particular...  1) Is there a minimum height above floor level that the foyer must be? 2) What should there be the minimum clearance between the foyer and the surrounding brickwork? 3) I anticipate installing a metal flue liner, and notice in the Brico Depot catalogue (2005 p109) what appears to be a chimney heat exchanger for warm air heating. Does anyone have any experience of these? Can these be fitted near the top of the flue in the loft space? 4) There is no chimney pot at present. Is there a particular type that should be used? 5) Brico Depot (p107) sell one at E169.00  and a very similar one at E469.00. Is a cheap one cheap because it's a load of **** or does a dear one do something a cheap one doesn't? Many thanks for any comments and for at least reading this far! Steve (66)

I mounted a 200 litre  chauffe-eau using the 4 supplied coach screws on an external wall and sat back and watched as I turned on the water and the thing filled.... The screws and the wall didn't budge but the welded hanging brackets started to ever-so-slightly move. I quickly placed a timber support under the tank. I know the tank has moved because the support is now firmly wedged and it's been like this for a couple of months now. I expect that some distortion is normal but how much is normal? Am I worrying unnecessarily? Should I pluck up the courage to prise out the support, or are these things supposed to sit in a tripod using the brackets for stability only? Steve    

Hi all Does anyone know if Ikea in France has exactly the same stuff as in Britain ie. are there any differences in the sinks, oven housing units etc to accommodate French systems - or is it all the same?  We are considering buying in Britain and bringing as Ikea a long way from us in France (but seems cheaper). Thanks    

May I suggest that you heed the danger warnings already mentioned in this thread. We're talking in excess of 400 volts here and its not for learning or experimenting with. I don't know what the French regulations, customs and practices are but in the UK, a single 4 pole (3 Phase and neutral) RCD device on the incomer would generally be the most prudent and then either distributing in one three phase board or 3 single phase boards with individual front end devices to suit the needs of the installation, but there are a multitude of other issues that need consideration. It is debatable if rewiring is a DIY job at 230v single phase. Indeed, DIY wiring is now illegal in the UK without recognised approval and even then, additional approval is required for 3 phase work. I would say that unless you really know what you are doing, leave three phase to the experts. 400v kills just as effectively in France as it does in the UK!   Steve  

Hi Do Super-U have a website?   Thanks

Hi all, thanks for responses.  I don't think there are any termites in the property because every bit of wood including the main beams has been stripped out and replaced this year by new timber - probably because of termites!  The new wood has been treated and we have an inspection report on this.  I think we need to get the professionals back for another check however.  Thanks for all the advice.

We found some termites in the garden under a rock today.  We know the house is free of them as we have recently had a report done.  Can anyone advise what to get to kill them? Thanks  

Hi We had exactly the same problem recently and had to ask a fluent French speaking friend to phone and she paid it using her credit card!  Now we have a cheque book etc. with Britline (Credit Agricole) but even thought its 'Britline' its not easy to understand, all the bills and statements are in French.  However there is a phone line where they speak English (think its a call centre in India actually).  It took ages to open the account however. I know its our fault for not speaking French, we are learning but its very difficult at first.  

Anyone know a good English speaking rental firm (preferably with a website) to hire from in the South East - Perpignan or near Gerona Airport?  Many thanks      

Thanks for Dechetterie info, anyone know the location of the nearest one to Ceret?   Thanks    

[quote]Is there an existing septic tank or do you have mains drains? Admittance valve is fine but there is also supposed to be a secondary vent for a septic tank (after the tank). Most PVC fittings and pip...[/quote] Thanks to Charles who wrote ..."is there an existing septic tank or do you have mains drains?" Main drain comes in, or rather goes out, to the street. At the moment it's just an open ended pipe half way up the the chimney breast. We are now quite 'au fait' with the street's  bathroom habits as we hear every flush go whooshing by. "....You may need a plumbers merchant to source the Durgo valve." A what valve? I assume this is another name for the admittance valve? - "Avez vous un Durgo Valve sil vous plait?"   Steve

We are driving a transit van down from UK to near Ceret 20 miles  SW of Perpignian  this week to start renovation work on, what to us, is a huge project. #1 priority is to get a toilet and some means of getting washed up and running. To do this we have to move an underground 100mm drain (some sort of clay/biscuit ware) which at the moment comes up from under the concrete floor in the middle of the house in front of the fireplace in the lounge. Nice and warm but not much privacy. The plan : Because UK waste pipe sizes seem to be all different, and we enjoy the challenge of playing charades with the local builders merchants, spend Friday shopping for kit, but we need to find somewhere to buy all the materials needed to do the job. Preferably somewhere with  counter staff who are sympathetic to foreign brits with less command of the language than a Klingon at a AA meeting. Excavate the drain far enough back along the living room floor to get sufficient fall to divert and extend it using new (PVC?) pipe to come up above the floor in the far corner of the house.Get more pipe because we had to excavate further than anticipated. Split the drain for an upstairs and downstairs toilet and basin and allow provision for introduction of future kitchen waste water and bathroom  waste.Fit the pan. Pipe up the water (FGB looks favourite) grab a copy of 'Le Monde' and test.We could install everything as we would in the UK using an outside vent, proprietary fittings, connectors couplings and convertors etc., but would rather  follow the "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" philosophy. Is the French range of fittings etc. similar to the UK? Is an admittance valve a direct replacement for a  soil vent? any pearls of wisdom that you could offer? Thanks S&J          

I thought Steve's answer was very helpful Bob, not everyone has the time to shop around in France.  We have only two days to plumb a bathroom in and although we have with us a British, Corgi Registered plumber, we still need some advice.  In a new district (not to mention a new language), finding information and supplies is extremely time consuming.  To know that you already have your materials to hand is sometimes worth a little extra cost when time is short.

My daughter said it means 'what a drag'.

Hi During our first visit to our 'shell' in 66 we discovered a number of dead scorpions - can anyone tell me what to do if any live ones come?!!  Please can this be soon as we are going again and I think its much hotter now. thanks Julie    

Thanks for that, next question, where is the best place to obtain plumbing supplies from around Ceret? Cheers Julie    

Hi Just wondering what the arrangement for soil pipe and vent is in France - is this the same as the English system with the vent coming above the eaves of the house or are there admittance valves that can be fitted to avoid airlocks? Please help, coming over soon to start work on our shell, no toilet!!! Julie