BeauGeste<P><FONT face=Arial>Pat<FONT><P><P><FONT face=Arial>See us at <FONT><a target=_blank href="http:www.chez-robineau.com"><FONT face=Arial>http:www.chez-robineau.com<FONT><A><P><P> <P>

Hi all I've been trying to find the cheapest car park in France. So far my money's on Dinard Airport. I'm sure I saw a Mark II Cortina there last year that looks like it's been there since the '80's.     So I'm sticking to Dinard unless, of course, anyone knows different!      

Nick wrote: - The affect of lead is accumulative and is reputed to dull the intelligence... I reckon I must have chewed through a couple of cots worth when I was a kid. Or maybe it's the scotch wot dunit.  

Be careful about comparing foil insulation with rockwall etc. The manufacturers will often state an equivalency to R value or U value. But they work in different ways. The foil ins. is reflective insulation which is why they can't state an R value. The foil relies on an air gap between the layers of foil to work properly, so installation is also quite important. There are some good explanations on some of the American insulation companies' web sites where they seem to have been using these products for longer (you'll need to search a bit). I've used the more expensive multi layered insulation on the vaulted/pitched ceilings and the less expensive (I think 3 layer stuff) on the north facing walls. Probably didn't need it on the walls but when you get so far it seems worth making the effort. You can see some of what we've done on http://www.chez-robineau.com Have a look at the latest photos section, there's some foil insulation about half way down the page. While you're there you can have a look at what else we've been doing if it's of any interest.        

Virtually all mortal mixes come back to 3:1 Sand:Cement/Lime. Adjusting the lime or cement depending on use and site conditions, but not much beyond 4:1. The sand for pointing and rendering mixes should be washed sharp sand 0/2 or 0/3mm (soft sand normally has too much loam and will crack). I've had some real good old plasterers work for me in the past and several have said that the mixes used to be adjusted according to the sand delivered by sometimes adding a little more very fine sand. I think as far back as roman times powder was added to aid workability and set. Although nowdays I think the sand seems to be very well graded. You could try a stabalizing solution to stop the powdering but I think I'd tend to hack it off and have another go. 2 coat work would be a first coat to eaqualize the suction on the wall, once set apply a second coat, straighten if necessary, and float with a wooded or plastic float (sounds easy). The small plastic type approx 200 x 200 mm with a triangular top work really well. Start off with these and search the archives here on LF I'm sure you'll find lots of info. http://www.lime.org.uk/ http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/pozzo/pozzo.htm http://www.scotlime.org/content/

Posted here before but seems to have been deleted in the update, never mind. A bit outside Civray, La Vienne, (86). You can see what where up to by clicking on the website below. Feedback is always very welcome.  

LAST EDITED ON 18-Aug-04 AT 06:43 PM (BST) Pat http://www.chez-robineau.com Sorry didn't mean to reply, just got the wrong key Pat

I think tape and paint is being a bit unkind. It's more usual nowadays to see plasterboard white side showing, in France and UK, the joints being tapered, the joints are taped and filled, allowed to dry filled again and finally overfilled with a finish coat once it's all dried it's rubbed down with a 120 grit paper (horrible gob). The same process is applied to the lines of nails (of screws). Have a look at the Lafarge UK site there's some nice explanations of the process if I remember and a downloadable Pdf document. There are French finish plasters available, but you don't see them used on board by the French much, it's all a matter of taste really. The taping method if done well will give an extremely flat surface which could be seen as too regular, so a skim finish might sometimes be preferable, it seems to have a bit of depth somehow. Good luck. Pat http://www.chez-robineau.com