Frank & Rosie

You said you have pm'd us but we haven't had an e-mail from you.

We are converting a stone barn in Firbeix to a house. Please can anyone recommend a builder who can construct the floors using concrete beam and block (plancher hourdis).

We have bought a barn from my brother, bought and paid for although deeds not yet received from Notaire. At present it is just a barn but we have sumbitted plans which have been passed to convert it to a home. Although the Permis de Construire was granted last year, work has still not started although the Fosse Septique is about to be installed and hopefully the roof started in October. We have just received an H1 Impots Locaux form with a covering letter which has the following observation highlighted on it: "Suite a achat par acte notaire du 10/5/2007 veuillez redecrire les locaux". It will be some time before the building is habitable, but obviously we still have to pay tax on it. Can anyone please help with what we have to do and how to fill in the form, our French is still not terribly good. By the way, our barn is in Firbeix, Department 24 but we still live in England.

Thank you for your reply Shimble. We have already got all the plans, ground study etc done and passed and are simply looking a 4000 llitre fosse at present. We have had a look at the Brico Marche web site and they only supply up to a 3000 litre - so no good. Thanks anyway.

Can anyone help with suppliers of Fosse Septiques or Fosse toute eaux. We need a 4000 litre one. Ideally we would like to be able to view and order on line. We are renovating a barn in the Dordogne (near Chalus) but are still resident in England. An idea of price would be good too!    

We are currently trying to arrange insurance on a stone barn we are in the process of buying. We have been told by the Notaire we need to have Dommage Ouvrage. What is this and does anyone know of a company that does it. Our French is very limited and so far three companies have told us they don't do it but we are still unsure of what it is. 

Thank you Cassis. I have contacted them and will see what happens although their form does seem to be for expats living in France and we will not be actually living in the barn for some time, but we'll wait and see.

We are in the process of purchasing a stone barn in northern Dordogne. We need to get a quotation for insurance. Our French is still not very good. Does anyone know a company with English speaking staff?

Thank you for your replies. I shall have a look through Pages Jaunes. We are living in Woking in Surrey at present and are buying one of my brother's barns in Firbeix 24 to convert. He is selling it to us on the understanding that everything that needs doing and paying for is done by ourselves which is fair enough as they have their hands full with renovating their farmhouse. My husband and I are trying hard to learn French but at present it is not at all good so we need to be able to converse in English (my brother and sister-in-law are the same). Bearing in mind it is a stone barn, I presume we will only need reports for termites and asbestos (although no asbestos there) and possibly lead (could be in paintwork on barn doors). I know termite reports only last for 3 months. My brother only bought the whole place a couple of years ago - could this mean the other reports could still be standing?

We need to have a termites and asbestos report done. How do we go about arranging this? Is this arranged via a Notaire or do we simply get someone from Pages Jaune - if so what are they called - i.e. what classification do we look under? We are in Department 24.

Thank you all for your replies

We have a French bank account with Credit Agricole (but I expect all the French bank account cheques have the same format). When completing a cheque, Just below the amount box on the right hand side there is a line starting: le (obviously for the date) and just above it a line starting: A - I believe you are to enter a town name in here. Can anyone please explain if this is meant to be the name of the town where you are residing when you write the cheque, i.e. Woking, England. We don't have this on English cheques so am rather confused - sorry if I'm sounding rather dense!

Mark, I must admit the plasterboard with the insulation on the back of it does sound a great idea. Do you have any experience of it? Is the insulation effective? Does the plasterboard not crush? Do you know who stocks it?

Thanks Wozza and everyone for your replies. What are Voliges? Do I take it they are just sawn planks? It is very interesting to hear your comments on White Poplar versus Chestnut. If voliges are not tongue and groove, does the wood shrink at all leaving gaps? Have you had any problems with twisting, warping and shrinking? At present, we are still trying to get as much information as possible. We still haven't decided whether to go with wood or plasterboard. I believe wood would be easier to use but it would be prone to insect attack and would need to be treated which could also darken the wood. Plasterboard would give a lighter and possibly more pleasing finish between the rafters. Then of course, there is still the matter of the insulation. I believe you can get plasterboard in France with insulation already bonded to it otherwise we are still very much drawn to the multi-layer foil insulation. By the way, we are intending to use re-claimed flat clay tiles (hopefully re-using 70 percent of what is already on the barn). Any further info greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much for your reply and the pics.

Thanks for your reply, I think I would prefer the plasterboard finish too but a bit worried about the timbers getting marked and smeared by the plaster skim finish. Would love to see a pic.

We are converting a stone barn with a clay tile roof in Department 24. The roof needs to be stripped and the timbers overhauled and repaired and where necessary replaced. We want to have a vaulted ceiling so that the rafters are visible from inside (underneath). We are looking to find the best method of insulation bearing in mind the limited space, also a way to finish in between the rafters internally. Has anyone any suggestions? We were thinking of the multi layered foil type insulation - Has anyone experience of this? Regarding the internal finish, it would seem (looking a pictures in magazine and books) that most appear to be finished with plasterboard in between the rafters, our architect suggested white poplar tongue and groove applied above the rafters - please, any help or suggestions gratefully received!

We were advised white poplar by our architect because of its insect resisting qualities.

We are about to renovate a stone barn in Firbeix 24 and are trying to source white poplar tongue and groove. This is to be put above the rafters and will be seen from inside (i.e. vaulted ceiling). We need to cover an area of 232 square metres. Can anyone suggest suppliers and has anyone any idea of cost?

We are about to renovate a stone barn in Firbeix 24 and are trying to source white poplar tongue and groove. This is to be put above the rafters and will be seen from inside (i.e. vaulted ceiling). We need to cover an area of 232 square metres. Can anyone suggest suppliers and has anyone any idea of cost?