Soozie

Thanks for posting the video Christine--it confirmed my method, just lacking the vocab in french. I know not all sand and gravel are the same.

I've spent the day chipping away at 2200 old bricks we've recovered from a demolition. The patio will be 37 square meters, and I'm still not sure what to do for the base. I'd really appreciate if someone could help me out with the french vocab for my trip to LeroyMerlin.

I wouldn't even mind an English translation! ;) Thanks for the reply Théière!

I have the bricks for the patio, but I'm unsure of the foundation we need. I don't want to pour concrete, I'd rather use something dry that hardens over time, like a sand, ciment mix, or is it gravel then sand. We live in the Nord, if that makes a difference. Does anyone have experience with this and can tell me the names of the products I would need? Thanks in advance!

The front door on our old house is made of wood, and the bottom inch or so is rotten. Little pieces break off very easily, the wood is spongy. Does anyone know the best way to fix this and fill in the gaps? Thanks in advance. While I'm at it, I have a spongy spot on a beam in our attic--not a huge spot, about 7 inches by 2. The roof was replaced 5 years ago, but this beam was never treated. Thanks again!

Thanks for the reply. We are in the North--lots of brick and lots of torchi. We know a good deal about houses, but it's the terminology we're a little stuck on. We are a danish-american couple who know about danish and american houses--it would just be nice to have something on hand for the french equivalent.    

Can anyone suggest a good french (or english) book about renovating an old french house? We are finally making the leap from renting to buying, and have just signed the papers on a house from early 1900's that needs a bit of love and we need as much help as we can get! Thanks in advance.

But do we need to fill in the old fosse, remove it . . . What do you do with these things when they aren't being used anymore? Thanks!

We are buying a house where the only toilet is located in an outhouse in the back garden above a fosse. We would like to put 2 toilets in the house and connect to the main sewer line. Does a plumber install the sewer line or is their a sewer specialist we need to call? What do we do with the old fosse? Thanks for any help.  

In our search for a house, we've noticed a lot of agencies advertise a "maison CIL" and can't figure it out. Maybe it's something Ch'ti. Does anyone have an idea? Thanks.

Trying to get as many references as I can because who knows what house we will end up with and from what agency. The house from yesterday's post was sold yesterday so we are back to square one.

Okay, so I took the advice and called the first agent back this morning (with a clearer conscience), and the house was sold yesterday PAP.

Specifically electricians, plumbers, roofers and general carpenters. I need some estimates and timetables for a potential house purchase. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for your reply. The reason I'm going with agent 2 is that he is actually from the same village as the house and has a lot of connections with the local artisians, being a former builder. The house needs some work. Agent 1 is not from the area, and very inexperienced. I think it's the smart move--I just don't want to get a letter in a few months expecting fees paid by agent 1.

I want to buy a house, but want to use a different agent than the one that originally showed me the house. Can I do that without getting into trouble with the first agent? I didn't sign a bon de visit, and I didn't make an offer with the first. I just looked around. Thanks!