Jerac

53 Mayenne     Renovating a barn near Villepail. When it's finished we hope to move out. Liz & John   

Try materiaux de recuperation - there should be an accent or two, but Google doesn't mind, and in Normandy http://www.antikmateriaux.com/

Yes.    Colliers de serrage.   I bought some recently in Super-U to help a dying van exhaust limp back to the UK.

I agree that 2,500 seems reasonable. We had similar work done last year for a comparable price.  I too winced when I saw the devis, and queried the cost with the builder.  He pointed out that part of what you are paying for is (as long as he is registered and insured) the transfer of risk to the builder should the whole wall end up as a pile of rubble. I watched the work being done and it was a worrying process. Not only were there three vertical temporary supports, but also a number across the opening. One large stone could not be moved and had to be cut.  The job was finished with brick pillars at either side and three large pieces of oak as a lintel.