Alcazar

We are near St.Mathieu, and our fosse was done by Bissirieix Terrassements.Malbati 16150 Chassenon .05 45 89 30 24 He is VERY busy, as are all French builders etc, so expect a wait of 6 months or so. VERY good job though, and turned up and did it exactly when he said he would, also arranging to do it while we were there. Alcazar

How local? We have a property in St Mathieu, about 30 miles, and bought it through an immobilier in St Junien, about 18 miles. We looked around Bellac too, but didn't find anything we wanted there, and wife was fairly desperate to buy there and then, (a long story), so we didn't wait on others coming up. Alcazar

Have a look through the numerous replies to the post in this thread about 87,23,16. I'm sure much of it will be relevant, and the website I've mentioned should give you a good idea of the weather, and the Limousin's 6 (yes, six!) micro-climates. Alcazar

Pushing the red button, or tripping whatever switch it has will effectively cut the supply to both live and netral, so you should be safe when dealing with this. HOWEVER: this is France, so have a voltage tester handy, the ones that light up when you touch them to a live cable will do fine, and touch live, neutral ,and even earth with it before trusting to touch with hands. Experience has taught me even then to do the first touch of each cable as a light brush: better to get a slight jolt than to grab onto a live wire and not be able to let go! In short, try it, try it, and even then , don't trust it.......better safe than sorry with electricity. Alcazar

Thompson's Water Stop does the trick. Alcazar

Sorry, I know this is a serious topic, but I just had to say thanks: I burst out laughing at the thought of a load of spiders jumping up and down on a bed: just like my kids used to do Alcazar

Your local Mairie, but basically, you need to have your chimney swept prior to fitting, which gives you the certificate you need for asurance. Then fit, or have fitted a stainless chimney liner, of the correct diameter for your flue. I did my own, and the chimney liner was 20 per metre. Beware, it cuts like razor blades. If you want advice on getting the stuff down your chimney, post again. Alternatively, pay someone to doit. I did my own as the guy I asked to come and quote me, never turned up. C'est la vie! Alcazar

25 mm tails over 16.5 metres? have you priced them up? I remember buying 2 metres of each over here, and paying an arm and a leg 12 years ago! Why not just spur off the main disjoncteur to a seperate fusebox in the barn? Alcazar

Can't answer fully, but I've just been quoted 3800 to concrete the floor of a 75 sq m barn, if that helps? Alcazar

LAST EDITED ON 02-Apr-03 AT 04:37 PM (GMT) All grey water is supposed to be properly dealt with under new regs out this year.In your case, this would mean into the fosse. But how big is the fosse? Have you uncovered it entirely? Does it have a drainage field, (is there an outlet FROM the fosse?) Our new system has a fosse of 4000litres, a filter, and a large(about 100 sq m) drainage field, which I know to be at least 5 feet deep, as I saw them dig it out. It took 17 tonnes of gravel and sand when it had to be filled. If your fosse is big enough, and HAS a drainage field, you could get the grey water diverted into the fosse. What you have at present is the older system. I would get someone to have a look, and then either do it, or get it done, but it may mean having a drainage field put in place, and that may mean a new fosse. Our system was 3800, this February! Alcazar Edited to say: Bits?? They'll just rot away........hence the smell

Cheep and cheerful? Well you could try the Hotel De la Gare at Bellac, they don't come much cheaper, and olde worlde doesn't even start to say it......... Reminds me of hotels in France in the 60's We also stayed at the Hotel Argos at StJunien. Both towns have good Immobilieres. Try Val De Vienne at StJ, and Bellac Immobilier at Bellac, both have English speaking staff if you need 'em. 87 is a lovely region. Alcazar

The chauffe-eau is very economic, and very well insulated, so will store lots of hot water, and keep it hot. Many French houses don't have heating as we know it, and so a boiler is not available to them. Also, in summer they don't want a wasteful boiler, heating an otherwise warm property, just to get hot water. All in my understanding, anyway. Alcazar

Teh Fench system is now 230V, as is ours, we went to the same voltage some years ago. Even if your cooker is pre- this change, you're only talking 10 volts, and even over 7kW, the difference is half an Amp, so not worth worrying about. If it trips when in FULL use, simply change it's trip for a 45A one. Remember that 7kW is the MAXIMUM your cooker can use. It's unlikely that it will need that very often! Alcazar

The only answer I can give is to advise you to contact someone in the area to go to the site and do a visit for you. This will entail surveying where the fosse would be sited, and checking for percolation, amongst other things. My first visit was not charged for. Alcazar

You're unlikely to find one that can do both, as most tradesmen's sevices are at a premium anyway, and one that had two trades...........? Have you tried getting a tradesman in the UK recently? And there isn't half the renovation going on over there. I am in a similar position at the mo, our builder has quoted me the END of September to floor our barn, and without the floor, no bathroom!! Alcazar

Just been on the phone to my builder in France. he went up to our house and has quoted me about 3400 to put in a solid floor to one of our barns, about 75 square metres. I'm not that worried about the price, but he can't do it until the end of summer, and wifey is wanting it done sooner! We talked about getting some "Redimix" type concrete delivered, but I don't feel confident that I could lay that sort of area before it "went off". He also mentioned to me some sort of plastic shuttering that you leave in place, and it helps you to do it by hand, (mixing the concrete with a cement mixer), and giving you a level to work to. Has anyone had any experience of doing this sort of job themselves, or any other tips? Or am I best to cut my losses and have it done as soon as my builder is able? Alcazar