storeysinfrance

yes... on my second now... not for publication but more a document for my children for when im long gone so that they know what really happened when dad went walkabout to france... part theraputic, part a chronicle of absurdities, part looking back on a life lived - its a bit like an extended diary... with all shades of grey from dark to... not quite so dark. first was called french letters: the apprentice, current one is french letters: the far side of the world. neil (24)

A few electrical questions – that I hope that someone on here will be able to answer in words of one syllable. First, though, apologies if the terminologies used aren’t precise. All the re-wiring in the downstairs of our cottage (very simple because it comprises four runs of either two or three power points as well as two seperate lighting circuits) has been 75% completed.  We’ve used conventional 3-core brico-depot sourced cable – exactly the same as the people who totally re-wired the main house before us did and which passed the relevant inspections – as opposed to single strands bound together in gaine. Questions: Any wiring that’s being chased into walls will obviously need to be encased in gaine but… with some of the wiring to be hidden in the ceiling void – ie above where we’re about to plasterboard – can someone clarify whether that, too, has to be in gaine or not – given that this is simply replacing / renovating what was (more or less) there in the first instance. Next… we’re a bit confused as to precisely which box we’ll need to get when we link back to the mains. Single rangee or double… can someone help out here? Pretty sure it’ll be single rangee and from under the selection marked renovee in the brico-depot handbook but… clarity / advice would assist here! And… lastly… the incoming main has been tested and it’s a live inward feed & entirely separate from the main house. Thus, (besides the inevitable meter which EDF would supply / fit etc) what else is required twixt live inward feed and the box of tricks into which the cabling runs? If this last is a really daft question – apologies but we’d rather ask the gurus on here instead of being blinded by science or confused by gobbledygook & paying artisan rates when the vast majority of renovation work here has been & can be done by ourselves! Thanks N & N (24).

A few electrical questions – that I hope that someone on here will be able to answer in words of one syllable. First, though, apologies if the terminologies used aren’t precise.   All the re-wiring in the downstairs of our cottage (very simple because it comprises four runs of either two or three power points as well as two seperate lighting circuits) has been 75% completed.  We’ve used conventional 3-core brico-depot sourced cable – exactly the same as the people who totally re-wired the main house before us did and which passed the relevant inspections – as opposed to single strands bound together in gaine.   Questions:   Any wiring that’s being chased into walls will obviously need to be encased in gaine but… with some of the wiring to be hidden in the ceiling void – ie above where we’re about to plasterboard – can someone clarify whether that, too, has to be in gaine or not – given that this is simply replacing / renovating what was (more or less) there in the first instance.   Next… we’re a bit confused as to precisely which box we’ll need to get when we link back to the mains. Single rangee or double… can someone help out here? Pretty sure it’ll be single rangee and from under the selection marked renovee in the brico-depot handbook but… clarity / advice would assist here!   And… lastly… the incoming main has been tested and it’s a live inward feed & entirely separate from the main house. Thus, (besides the inevitable meter which EDF would supply / fit etc) what else is required twixt live inward feed and the box of tricks into which the cabling runs? If this last is a really daft question – apologies but we’d rather ask the gurus on here instead of being blinded by science or confused by gobbledygook & paying artisan rates when the vast majority of renovation work here has been & can be done by ourselves!   Thanks   N & N (24).

sandblasting is one idea but.........there are downsides (cost of hires / sand everywhere)... so... suggest a conventional angle-grinder with a normal, toughened sanding disk... its stronger than a normal wood sander and you get all you want off easily... then xylopene the beams and, you're done.... not difficult (ive done numerous this way and result is fantastic).... its messy so be prepared - a mask a good option.... neil (24)

plasterboard is available in all different formats at every single brico-place you can think of... the only difference will be... delivery charges (unless you have the means to bring it home yourself).... brico-depot anywhere in france is cheapest all round but... be aware that they are a nightmare re delivery..... neil (24)

its a simple mix of 3-1 of straightforward builer's sand to chaux... and frankly, thats all you need to know.... there is no great magical secret or rocket science to pointing... mix it reasonably firm... ie not sloppy - bucket mixing is easiest (9-3 or 12-4), pop the mix in - off a larger trowel onto a smaller one, wire brush it through as its drying out or when its dried and... sorted... easy and incredibly satisfying.... wise to give the stone and old mortar a bit of a spalsh before if youre doing it in hot weather but... thats really all there is to it. neil (24) and... before any purists suggest this or that or the next thing... really, the above formula is all you need.... i've done enough walls - inside and out - on various properties here!

you don't say where you are.... first thing i'd do is double and treble check with your mairie re the siting of the wall... you may even need permission... if that all goes to plan, suggest breeze block construction and then facing it with local stone - dead easy + looks great when all properly pointed in... dependant on where you are you may find that there are people who love close by just dying to get a stack of stone off their hands... thus, you could end up with more stone for your wall building than you need! neil (24) ([email protected])

there is a much easier and much more cost effective way...i'm assuming you are splitting oak?.. if not, you're burning wood thats not going to give you much heat... anyway... so long as it is dry or dry(ish)... stand it upright... take a bolster and hammer that centrally into the top... the wood will gradually split... lengthways.... if needs be, use the same pronciple with a short handled axe as this'll give the same result... its a long drawn out process but just as lengthy as utilising some machine bought from one of the brico-places... and exactly the same principle... and mile cheaper. the trick is to get your wood in the warm months, split it, cut it and store it (on pallets) with as much ventilation as possible such that it drys properly... that way you have decent wood for the winter months and are not forced into using crap, wet wood which'll not burn properly = gives you no heat! any more questions, just ask... all best neil (24) ([email protected])

agree with the other posts on this topic... just scrape out all the old cruddy stuff and re-point... the sand / chaux mix is really all you need to get right... 3/1 with ordinary builders sand - 250 kilos at your local big mat or similar should cost you about 6 euros or so... add in a bag of chaux (i use the green bag personally) will bring the bill to not much more than ten euros. i tend to mix in a bucket as opposed to using anything larger as a bucketfull (12/4) is just enough to work with before it starts going off... the trick is little bit by little bit and always wire brush it back as its going off - ie, firm to the touch... initially, this was a job i (somehow) was really scared of but, having re-pointed many walls now, its become one of the most pleasurable and satisfying... bonne chance neil (24)

mo dave - in the last post - was quite correct in all he said... in brief (and if you've the energy and inclination) do it yourself... paying 3.5k is (to my way of thinking) absurd... if the roof is 300 years old then the beams themselves will be even older, like you say they're as solid as a rock and thus a good coating of zylophene (can't spell it) which comes in clear to dark oak colourants will suffice... either spary it on or, as we did, paint it on... preferably two coats but, quite honestly, one will suffice. before you do that, do clean the beams down - its a mucky old job this but we've found the best way is to use an angle grinder... pick one up cheaply on promo (leclerc i think do them for less than 20 euros) and use a sanding disk... we did our cottage a frame and other exposed beams and used no more than 5 disks and they look absolutely superb now... just remember to wear a good mask as the dust etc is horrendous but, even after 5 minutes you'll start to see the beginnings of a fabulous result... then zylophene them and hey presto, something to be dead proud of and a whole load cheaper than getting someone in to inject them! bonne chance neil (24)

hiya i'm looking to buy a digital radio but just want to double check a few things. one... am i right in assuming that i'll be able to pick up channels from (say) the uk besides those in france? (we can pick up bbc etc etc via the tv / dish set up we have but that really only covers us for part of the house). second.. if so... has anyone any thoughts on the best makes / brands? all advice etc etc gratefulkly recieved. thanks neil (24)

thanks for that... much appreciated... being pedantic... what is the mix - ie, what quantity of sawdust to glue? regards neil.

hiya if youre looking to purchase a 20kw stove i can but presume you have a collosal area to heat!!! we're just in the process of getting a 14kw godin which is specced to heat up to 500 cubic metres... (given that we'll be heating a floor space of 65sqm by 5m high thats going to be well sufficient...) also... there are many promos on right now... but there is, as ever, a catch (having investigated carefully!). in brief... brico places all have special offers on right now and seem to be decent prices... however, watch the tva... cos it's 19.6 %... unless... if a registered installer buys the model you want from a brico-place then they'll (you in turn) will get it at 5.5%. however, no self respecting installer will buy from there. what we've discovered to be the best poss deal is: buy from a registered installer and you'll get the model of choice for 5.5% tva (as opposed to 19.6%) - first saving, obtain an all in quote (binding) for the installation and have it installed that way - keeps the insurers happy - ... then - second saving - 'cos, purchasing this way, you're now able to reclaim 40% (from memory) of the cost of the poele a bois back from the government on your next tax return - but, this only works / is applicable if the fire is installed by a registered installer. in short and doing one's arithmetic plus scouting around, i think you'll find that the toatl net cost works out far cheaper this way. neil (24) if it helps and you're in this neck of the woods, i can let you know of one or two locally who are / would be worth contacting

hiya we've a fairly significant area (40sqm approx) of flooring which - in places - will need a reasonable amount of filling after the sanding down etc... we don't madly want to use conventional wood-filler (pate du bois) is we can help it - not leats 'cos it'll be tub upon tub and trouser lightning in the euro department. i believe there is a 'recipe' for concocting a wood filler using sawdust and...??? - some kind of flexible glue i suspect - that goes off hard as in hard... and will take a stain...  anyone any thoughts..? thanks neil (24) ps - if it helps, the floor is a curious combination of ancient oak, old pine, some chestnut and one or two planks of elm...  

hiya in brief lutece 3000 is no more... its been superseded by the 2000 variant which works just the same... ie, it goes off slowly as opposed to the normal french platre which is a nightmare to use (as we've all doubtless experienced)... lutece 2000 isn't, however, that widely available and you won't (normally) find it in brico-bati-man-marche-those sorts of places but you'd need to go to a proper builder's merchant's instead... hope that helps kind regards neil (24)      

yes, am aware that large timbers are valuable but the sizes work for us in terms of lintels and the side panel-timbers... equally, am also aware of the cost of new oak (ie, green or thereabouts) having checked at our local saw-mill... we're lucky in that we'll be working with 200 + year old beams and so their green days are long gone... and, putting lintels in over that expanse, it isn't overly wise to use green wood which'll split, shift and genearlly vreat a bit of a rumpus... in any event, there will be minimal wastage and what ends up on the cutting room floor will be smartly removed to our log pile for the dark, cold days unlike the extreme warmth of right now! neil.

hiya the beams will be cut to size to act as the lintel and side supports... recycling them is the best way of explaining it! they won't be replaced since they're not load bearing / non-supporting and thus all one'll see when you look up from the floor the main a-frame beam(s)... regards neil.

 hiya not sure if this is the right place to post this but... here goes... we're renovating the cottage which adjoins the main house here (very close to brantome) ourselves and were wondering if anyone local fancies a day of reasonably intensive labour in return for similar(ish) help being offered? we've got to cut down and shift six or seven lengthy and heavy oak beams (that curently support the attic / grenier floor) which we're taking out... its not rocket-science - just a pretty simple job but... these beams are darned heavy so... if anyone feels strong and would like an extra pair of hands in return... please let us know. we're aiming to do this either last week june or, more probably, end of the first week of july. regards, neil - la chapelle faucher, brantome (24)

errrr... thanks... it sort of answers my question which, actually, i'd hoped was a lot simpler... but, perhaps not? i don't have a french set top box and thats what i really need! but, am now a bit more muddled than before as i've not a clue if our (new) tv is secam enabled or not... the boffins at toshiba have told me that the tv (british bought just before christmas) should work perfectly well if connected by a scart lead to a french set top box so maybe that means it is secam enabled but... i know not. and, i'm not that mad keen on investing in a set up to find all that we end up with is glorious black & white. we've seen all manner of boxes for sale - tnt and others... but, which to go for...? i realise this is a bit of a minefield and probably i'm being really dense (sorry)... but, just need some very very simplified advice!!! thanks neil

hiya not sure if this is the right place to post this but... here goes... we're renovating the cottage which adjoins the main house here (very close to brantome) ourselves and were wondering if anyone local fancies a day of reasonably intensive labour in return for similar(ish) help being offered? we've got to cut down and shift six or seven lengthy and heavy oak beams (that curently support the attic / grenier floor) which we're taking out... its not rocket-science - just a pretty simple job but... these beams are darned heavy so... if anyone feels strong and would like an extra pair of hands in return... please let us know. we're aiming to do this either last week june or, possibly, end of the first week of july. regards, neil - la chapelle faucher, brantome (24)  

hiya the mix is actually pretty simple... use two and half scoops of (sharp) sand to one scoop of chaux and add water to make a reasonable moist mix... not too sloppy... personally, i'd not use any cement at all plus the chaux / sand mix will give you the creamy finish that i'd assume you'd look for / require. besides which, chaux is important as it allows the natural stone to breathe (thats why its used here). then work it in bit by bit in between the stone using a normal two trowel process and as it's drying, either wire brush it or use your fingers to achieve the finish you want - one major tip however is whatever you do, wear gloves as chaux is horrid stuff and will dry your hands out in no time at all... its slow going and like your previous respondent said, do a few square metres at a time... its very satisfying and actually one of the jobs i most enjoy! however, after lunch of shellfish and wine... hmmm... well, i'd recomend starting early morning and rewarding yourself with the shellfish and glass of the well chilled when the boss congratulates yu on your hard wrk! best wishes neil - brantome (24)

hiya the mix is actually pretty simple... use two and half scoops of (sharp) sand to one scoop of chaux and add water to make a reasonable moist mix... not too sloppy... personally, i'd not use any cement at all plus the chaux / sand mix will give you the creamy finish that i'd assume you'd look for / require. besides which, chaux is important as it allows the natural stone to breathe (thats why its used here). then work it in bit by bit in between the stone using a normal two trowel process and as it's drying, either wire brush it or use your fingers to achieve the finish you want - one major tip however is whatever you do, wear gloves as chaux is horrid stuff and will dry your hands out in no time at all... its slow going and like your previous respondent said, do a few square metres at a time... its very satisfying and actually one of the jobs i most enjoy! however, after lunch of shellfish and wine... hmmm... well, i'd recomend starting early morning and rewarding yourself with the shellfish and glass of the well chilled when the boss congratulates yu on your hard wrk! best wishes neil - brantome (24)

hopefully someone reading this will be able to help us... hopefully! our sky free-view connection thingy all works fine and dandy but... we have an additional dish (60cm - yes, we know that alignment is tricky with the bigger sized dish) and want to use that - and this is the bit we're confused about - via a french set-top-box - to get french tv... sounds simple..? well, am sure it is and we know - 'cos we've seen them - that they're available in the likes of d'arty, brico-wotsit stores but... the question is... which one to get? all we really want is something thats basic... can get the regular french channels... does tnt (for example) reach our area? anyhow, its kinda becoming a bit urgent now since the tour de france is about ten days away and without that daily fix, life will be unbearable... so... if anyone has any advice and can offer words of wisdom that genuinely non-techno folk understand... please let us know! many thanks neil - 24 (brantome)

your other corespondents are pretty much saying the same thing - we use aol and have done for years and really, its more a case of what you're used to than anything... simply connect as you normally would but by using the new connection feature - ie, you're dialing in from france and like another said, look for the offres tout compris (all inclusive / free call - same as it is in the uk)... connection is fine (we're in the dordogne). braodband is a different issue of course and not available everywhere but then again... does one want to be chained to a computer the whole time when there are so many other things to do! frankly its quite refreshing not to be so! my advive would be - stick with what you have and are used to but simply adapt it to french living... a bit like learing about shop opening a closing hours here - just another form of adapting! kind regards neil storey.

hopefully this isn't too stupid a question to ask..? does anyone have any suggestions as to which is the best / most cost effective 'box' to buy to link in to our tv (and yes, toshiba have confirmed that it'll pick up the signal via this method) to connect to french tv via a second satelite dish. by linking in i mean in the same way as one would a sky box (which we have anyway)... all that we really want is / are the normal free-to-air channels (similar to bbc 1 / itv 1 etc etc) that one picks up via conventional sky-card... is this facility available or does one have to subscribe or...? frankly every visit to a darty store or similar feels a bit like a maze so any easy to digest info would be much appreciated. thanks neil storey (pres de brantome, 24).