Monika

There has been a really good thread on repairing stonework 18th August. It gives you the name of the material to use and a really good explanation by "legs akimbo" (what a weird name!) why its important to use lime mortars. I think it is www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/733936/ShowPost.aspx. I printed it out and stuck it into our DIY Manual it was that good!

It seems expensive,  just for you to compare: we paid Euros 4600 for a 3000 ltr Fosse, Pump and Filterbed.

Thanks Nick for your advice. I will go to the Mairie and ask for the form. Also I will insist on a last meeting with the PM to sign the work off before I pay the final payment.

We are just coming to the end of our project (renovation/extension). After our snagging list has been attended to, what do we need to do? Give notice to the Mairie/Comune? Meet one more time with our Project Manager on the site? We have never seen the Planning Permission. Do we need to get this from our Project Manager, also what about the 10 year guarantee?  

Thanks for that Cassis!

I just looked at the BF timetable. As I am the world's worst timetable reader does that mean there are crossings this year from Poole to Cherbourg in November/December/January?? (Last year the Ferry was "Freight" only during above months. Thanks!

Thanks Harley, it worked! I think I did not wait long enough for the posting box to appear!

Headdon consulting run a really good website and forum regards questions of French inheritance law. The website is: headdonconsulting.com. They gave me very good advice.

I would like to post a comment to Harleys Blog but I am not able to do so. There used to be a facility where you could write a comment.

  Great decision, you only live once and any new experience together as a family is worth more than anything in the world.   I can't give you any direct advice but you are in good hands here on the Forum (you are never alone). Do I dare mention another Forum which I think is very informative and especially for Normandy: www.normandy.angloinfo.com If I would make this decision I would want to keep a foothold in England, be it only a small flat or house.

Sorry scalehill, I was on holiday in France (I think you would have missed the deadline of booking anyway  which was18th August) but you could have had the Vouchers. Hopefully they do some more for September. I will let you know. And if you don't live in Bournemouth or Poole area I could collect some for you.

Poppy, I think you expressed it exactly right, that's how it is, the less you pay the more you have to spend. I am curious? Why did you have to live in a caravan so long, I think this would make an interesting story!

  If it's a complete renovation from a ruin, then you might need to factor up by 2 or 3 times.  You must take it step by step, i.e. architect, builder's estimate (if you're not doing it yourself), material costs, etc, etc. Ours was a renovation from four original walls plus small extension and it was 3 times the cost of buying.

Well, it's not as good as it sounds: I rung BF, 3 Adverts have to be collected from the ECHO, Friday, Monday and Tuesday. ( you need the reference number to book). Then I bought the ECHO and the rules are as follows:  Then travel has to be from Sun - Thurs. Out: to Cherbourg or Caen after midday only                                                              2 nights stay                                                              Back: Cherbourg or Caen morning sailings only                                                               £7.50 per person Car: 20.00   But I suppose it's marginally better than only 24 hours. Lets hope this offer will last through the winter. I just can't contemplate a crossing with the other cheaper Ferries from Dover etc. as the journey here in England and in France would be so much longer. I rather pay the extra. But BF of course knows that!!!!

That's right, our rain-downpipes are just directed into the grass, but what if it really pours for days? These two areas will get flooded?  (We will want waterbuts, but these will just fill and overflow). What could we do?

I have just seen in our local paper "Two nights in France from £7.5O" with Brittany Ferries. (Collecting vouchers or I assume for Property Owners with no Vouchers). Has anybody taken advantage of this deal yet? It would be great if we could in future stay for two nights instead of only the 24 hours.

Thanks for reminding us, Catalpa,  to ask for the 10 year guarantee, as we are nearing the end of our project too. So who would we address in the future if we have any claim? Is this insurance the builder has a national insurance, or are there different bodies? I must admit we have never asked to see anything regards an insurance, but we are employing a reputable company.  

Hi Peter, According to our Project-Manager who explained the Ballon and its workings to us you are doing exactly the right thing. The ballon is left half full which allows the water to expand. But I would be interested in a "second opinion". (He said that the pipes should not freeze in a well insulated house and with the heating on the "frost setting").

We had two new floors fitted, one as a mezzanine complete with joists,  insulation and pine floorboards: (20 sqm) = Euros 2900 and one with joists, insulation and chipboard (27 sqm) = Euros 2000. So your quote for the 100 sqm sounds quite good value for money.    

It was great to read your post: Swanage, where we live,  is twinned with  Cerisy-la-Salle and I heard about them rehearsing for a play (thats why they did not have time to come for their spring trip to Swanage), but did not know that it was going to be that spectacular. We have to come and see it, we are going to be in our house on those dates.  

We have just about finished our project in Normandy and I can give you some approx. costs: To convert a barn into a 2/3 bedroom house and build small extension with complete new roof: Architect: approx. Euros 5000 Renovation/Extension (using a Project-Manager): Euros 90'000 (This gives us one brand new house with the old walls!) I think the estimate of Euros 180'000 for all you are going to have done, three houses,  Tania, is extremely reasonable.

Hi Harley, I tried to send you a photo of our new roof in Normandy to see if it was similar, no luck! if I press copy I do not get a "paste" on this message form, I could send it in an ordinary e-mail. Perhaps you could pm me your e-mail adress so we could exchange "notes". Or somebody could tell me what I do wrong, why I can't include a picture on this message form.

Mmmmh,  Blanche Neige, it obviously had consequences!

Hi Ernie, sorry I can't answer your question, but did you bring the villager stove to France or did you buy it there? Is it just an ordinary flue which is on the roof, or is it encased in a chimney? Did it need to clear the height of the apex? Thanks for that.

You have all been soo helpful, and I still can't do it. Thanks James for your offer, I have e-mailed the photo to you. (at least I have learned how to do that: by pasting the IMG into the URL)