ethelred

Hi Speedy - why do you need to let the mairie know that you are paving part of your garden?  I ask as I am in the process of making a terrace and had not even thought to contact the mairie about it.

As suggested, I have a couple of photos of the windows from inside and outside: [IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn279/ethelred_photos/P1010325.jpg[/IMG] Photo of the outside of the house [IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn279/ethelred_photos/P1010322.jpg[/IMG] Photo of the inside of the house

I thought I was using a professional and reputable window company and believe that is what I have paid for.  I agree that the best way would be to sort the holes out.  However having paid to have the windows installed I am loath to have to take them out and refit them myself.

Thanks everyone for your replies.  I have relooked at the windows again and I think the issue is caused by the fact that the walls are not straight.  The windows have been put in plumb but the walls are not.  This is what is causing the gaps of up to 6 inches with daylight (and rain) coming through.  I suppose the only option is to mix up a large amount of concrete and fill all the gaps.  Oh joy.

A couple were made to measure and the others where standard.  The company came and measured up.  The window openings are bigger on the inside that the outside.

I have a question regarding fitting replacement windows.  Would you expect that when the windows are fitted there would be a 4 -6 inch gap between the frame and the stone?  The windows have been secured with frame fixings and expanding foam filler has been used to fill in some of the gap.  I am a bit confused as to how a window can be said to be fitted when there is gap between the sides and top of the frame.  I have been told that it up to a mason to sort this out.  Has anyone else had experience of this and is it acceptable?

I used to keep chickens and they are wonderful creatures.  They seem to be very hardy and will get over most things.  I found the following forum to be useful: http://www.the-coop.org/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi I agree with the dust baths.  Ours used to love them.  Slugs and snails were never a problem in our garden.  Just pop them in the chicken shed and job done.  Also all scraps went to the chickens.  The ultimate in recycling I think.  

I would say go for it.  My two dogs are relatively young (8 and 9) and I was concerned how they would cope.  We bought a big cage to go in the back of the van both to keep them contained and also for their own safety.  I read a lot of information beforehand about getting your dogs used to going into a cage (it was their first time ever) and found an excellent website that explained how to go through the motions of putting food near, then next to and finally in the cage.  I don't know why I bothered.  As soon as the cage was up the dogs hopped in and said 'where are we going?'.  No bother at all.  We also did the tunnel which was great and I will be using it again in the next couple of weeks for a return trip home.  So no matter what the experts say sometimes you just have to do these things.  My dogs adore France.

I use them for broadband and find them to be very helpful.  The staff are very friendly and will try to help as much as possible.  They even phone you back!