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Dennisj
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Does anyone know of a good reliable English speaking plumber in the Ruffec/16 area. French might be good as I have not been very lucky with English tradesmen so far.

First one put in a Fosse and barely managed to put the drain pipe from the house to it under the surface, it is not deep enough to grass over, this it would seem saved him digging the hole for the tank so deep.

Second one did some plastering, when he presented the bill he said it took longer than he thought so charged more than he said it would cost but I paid as a show of goodwill. Needed some more plastering later on, same chap sent me a bill which I paid, then when I got over to France found he had not done the work and had left the area never to be seen again.

Third one did some very poor floor tiling (took him over a year to turn up) but as I was becoming jaundiced I paid for materials up front and did not settle the labour cost until I went back and checked. Even then I wish I had not used him.

The electrican was not so bad but was not 100%.

Problem is I do not speak French and still in the UK so perhaps I am fair game.

Looking forward to hearing there are some good dependable plumbers in the area.

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Dennis

I think the problem in your case is that you're in the UK and not here to oversee things. It's not the ideal situation is it? Did you not consider how difficult it would be, getting anything done in a country where you don't speak the lingo? You seem to have made poor choices with your artisans too. A plumber doesn't usually install fosses, it is a specialist job and there are a couple of installers around here (I'm 25km west of Ruffec) and they have all the heavy digging machines and lorries for the disposal of spoil. Has your fosse been inspected and approved?

I wouldn't normally ask a plumber to do plastering, and I only use French artisans. I live in a small village and I want to be seen as someone who supports (good) local tradesmen. The villagers know who is good and who is not to be trusted as far as artisans are concerned. Just ask around.

In 8 years I've never been asked to pay any money up front; some "devis" have shown a deposit amount of 30% but this has never been asked for, just prompt settlement on completion. 

You need a local contact, preferably one who speaks English (for you), and French for the artisans, and who can recommend tradesmen and monitor what's going on. I've no idea who could do that locally though, nor what he would charge. I've done it for family members but at no cost, however I wouldn't want to do it for someone else as I'm busy enough!

It all sounds obvious enough I'm afraid. One of our first jobs here was done to a very poor standard and high price, by a guy recommended by our English estate agent, and you soon learn to be more particular!

Good luck with your project.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Hi Sid,

When buying the property we were aware that there was an extensive English community earning a living in the various trades so did not see any problem getting the work done. We used a French Architect and a nice efficient chap he was. Have not used a plumber at all, yet, the Fosse was installed by a specialist and has been signed off, complied with the requirements but a poor job.

The floor tiles, plastering and other works I described were carried out by builders, two different ones.

It is time to put in a bathroom hence my search for a plumber.

regards.

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  • 2 months later...
Just a brief update,

Had a brit plumber look at the works in May, came recommended by the electrician we used, so far he (the electrician) is the only trade person we would use again. Well the plumber came looked at the work took away a set of architect drawings to give him dimensions, said he could not do the work until August as he was busy but he lives very close so the job would be perfect for him.

Have not heard a thing since and it is 2 weeks away from August.

Why is it so difficult?

dennisj

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[quote user="idun"]

 

Do you know I never ever knew of a plasterer in France, or anyone who used one.

[/quote]Recently I was having my kitchen done up by a French company.  I had some tatty old crepi on the walls which they "flattened out" (I bet there is a technical term but I don't know what it is) for me with plaster - their idea not mine and they were hired and paid for by an insurance company.  At the time, another artisan builder - British this time but French registered - was also about doing the upstairs for me.  He said to me several times that he could hardly restrain himself from stopping the French chap in his tracks and teaching him to plaster properly!  It was indeed quite painful to watch and took forever - not at all the way I've seen it done in the UK and very lugubrious.  It seems that they just prefer to put up placo and have done with it over here.[:)]

Sorry to interupt Dennis.  If you were up here I could certainly help with your problem though as I know a couple of decent plumbers.

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The previous owner of our house was a Plâtrier which might explain why the stripped wallpaper was absolutely perfect in the corners. I have had some plastering done twice, once by a French chap and the other by an Indian from the UK who worked in France, two totally different techniques.

The French chap basically put it on with his hands and then used a straight edge to draw across and level it off. The finish however was done the same way as an English plasterer in that there was loads of water and a finishing trowel used. The English plasterer did it the same way as you normally put plaster on the walls in the UK. Now I don't know much about plastering but I am told you can't get the same type of plaster here as you do in the UK but you can get something close which a good English plasterer can use. I am also told that down here in the south English plaster does not work so good because of the temperature when applying it (being hotter) and it not being able to cope with the extreme changes of temperature. How true this is I do not know.

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Hello Idun

It would seem to be a good sign, if he had followed up with a quote. He might be busy but looking at the calendar he may only work when there are only four letters in the month.

If he can not provide a price how can I place an order with him.

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Thank you Quillan,

The web sites are in French and although one has an english translation page it does not seem to be in english.

I will contact both and maybe with my very limited French and even a smaller amount of english from them it might be enough.

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