crossy67 Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 We are getting our last trip ready and need to know if some of the materials we will need will be readily available in France (16) and if so how does the price compare. If one of you wonderful people could share some knowledge I would be most grateful.Are fibreglass roofing valleys available?Cellotex type foil backed insulation boards?How does the price of pressure treated timber compare? I need 175mmx75mmx3m lengths (7"x3") is pressure treated timber readily available, oh, and how do I ask for 175x75mm, I know the numbers but the "by" bit is worrying me.Are anti fungal and insecticidal sprays easy to come by? Plasterboard and foil backed plaster board, easy to come by?Thank you lovely people[:D].Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Hi there. I may stand corrected because we are in 24 and maybe building materials are more expensive here, but we have brought across many of the items on your list. On our next trip we are bringing all the wood to build a car port because it's much cheaper in the uk. Similarly plasterboard, all plumbing to complete an en suite etc. In fact the only thing we have ever found to be cheaper in France was some wide and thick pine floor boards. Having said that, we have never tackled electrics as we have left that to the experts and we will be buying windows and shutters from Brico.Hope this helps and good luck with the project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 [quote user="crossy67"]We are getting our last trip ready and need to know if some of the materials we will need will be readily available in France (16) and if so how does the price compare. If one of you wonderful people could share some knowledge I would be most grateful.Are fibreglass roofing valleys available? From what I have seen the French use more zinc than fibreglassCellotex type foil backed insulation boards? Not so far, so bring your own.How does the price of pressure treated timber compare? I need 175mmx75mmx3m lengths (7"x3") is pressure treated timber readily available, oh, and how do I ask for 175x75mm, I know the numbers but the "by" bit is worrying me. Personally I think French timber is reasonably priced. Be aware that the standard French sizes are not standard UK sizes. treated available easily.Are anti fungal and insecticidal sprays easy to come by? Yes but more costly I find Plasterboard and foil backed plaster board, easy to come by? Plasterboard very easy to purchase everywhere, foil backed not as common but with insulation attached also very commonThank you lovely people[:D].Ian[/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 My chimney has foil backed plaster board and I don't remember them sticking the foil on when they were here or am I talking about something quite different? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 All widely available around:Latitude:46° 53’ 09’’ NordLongitude:0° 43’ 54’’ Est Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossy67 Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Great, thanks for the info good people. I will try to get the fibreglass valleys and Cellotex here then. As I am hiring a big van I might find it easier to buy all the main stuff and use it to fill the van. The plumbing bits are a bit of a problem, I am not sure of the size of pipes we have throughout the house. Are polly pipe to all the various different sizes of copper in France adapters available, might it be worth my while stocking up on push fit plumbing ready?Papps, I tried searching Google maps but came up with nothing[:(] made me chuckle though[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Do also bear in mind that the exchange rate is not very favourable at the moment so if you don't have lots of euros already, any bits and pieces you buy in france will cost you more than they would have done a few weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty Sam Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 From the coordinates provided, it seems PPP is encouraging you to plunder an ancient monument but, as it will involve a round trip of some 500 miles, and some risk to yourself, I think your option of purchase within the UK is very wise.;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Guerriere Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Standard timber sizes in France are 150 x 50, 175 x 63 next one up I believe is 225 x 75 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossy67 Posted March 27, 2011 Author Share Posted March 27, 2011 Hmmm, so I will need to source this odd size, best look into getting it here I suppose then.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 One of my regrets was not having access to a big van as a lot of building materials (particularly insulation and decent paint) can be much more expensive in France. So my advice would be to work out what you need before you go and get that van filled up at a friendly UK builders merchants (after haggling with them, of course - my son-in-law seems to get materials at a fraction of the B&Q and Wickes prices by negotiating at his local builders merchants.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babbles Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 The other thing to bare in mind if your only over here for a limited time I'm sure you don't want to spend hunting round brico sheds so if you've brought it with you yo can just get on with it, your French neighbours might not be so keen on seeing bringing everything with you so be a bit discreet and support your local french businesses if you can in other ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 I think that is a very good point. Time is always a factor for us at the moment so if we have to go to Brico or similar it can significantly eat into the time we have to work on the place. Having a very large van also helps and we don't seem to pay that much more to travel via the tunnel with it.A sort of 'point of no return' for us was paying 48e for a can of white paint a couple of years ago from Maury i think. Boy, did i make that can go a long way!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 [quote user="virginia.c"]I think that is a very good point. Time is always a factor for us at the moment so if we have to go to Brico or similar it can significantly eat into the time we have to work on the place. Having a very large van also helps and we don't seem to pay that much more to travel via the tunnel with it.[/quote]Now that's a significant point, T & C's for the tunnel and a van. Anything more than 3 m3 in load (that's not much in a van and they will send you through commercial and that does cost quite a bit more.You need to set aside some time for reconnaissance of the Brico's and merchants locally, grab as many of the brochures as possible, then you will see what is available at your leisure and what it's called. then you can also cost the alternative in the UK. Brico Depot, if there is one near you, open at 7am so if you're on the door at 7am much less time is wasted queuing behind French people passing the time of day/lives later on in the day.Pipe sizes for instance you have the problem of ID and OD caused by different wall thickness's etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossy67 Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 We have a Brico about 6 miles away in Chalais so no big problem there.With regards to paint:What paint would you recommend? I am getting really fed up with buying the decent brand names over here and finding they go yellow within a year. we redecorated our spare room a year ago and the skirting behind the bed is yellow. I know it's a problem with lead free paints but surely there must be a longer lasting paint than Dulux and the likes. The pint on the windows of our new home is all cracked and looks like it's been there for decades but it's still white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 True re tunnel rules, but we are always careful to keep within the 3m. We have been stopped and searched but have not been found over the limit. I've just booked a return for April and paid £140, the tunnel is perfect for us as we are only 30 mins away but i know it isn't so great if you are not so close. We do lose out the other side however as our nearest Brico is a fair distance away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 I personally have used Leroy Merlins own brand which I have found very good and covers well. With the exception of special paints like for the outside walls of your house when you work out that many of them you have to dilute and the fact they cover very well (just one coat in some cases) they compare very well with English paint. Not so important probably up your neck of the woods, shutter paint. Down here they all use Bondex which is French, anti fungicidal, anti UV (very important as we are higher up and more south) and lasts seven years. Somebody I know off buys Wicks shutter paint every year because its cheaper, not if your painting them every year it's not. I don't know much about spirit based paints in France as all I have used is varnish and shutter paint but I have used a lot of 'Acrylic'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 [quote user="virginia.c"]True re tunnel rules, but we are always careful to keep within the 3m. We have been stopped and searched but have not been found over the limit. I've just booked a return for April and paid £140, the tunnel is perfect for us as we are only 30 mins away but i know it isn't so great if you are not so close. We do lose out the other side however as our nearest Brico is a fair distance away.[/quote]If you are making several trips, don't forget the Tunnel frequent user 10 ticket deal, potential to save a fair bit compared to the ferry's which seam to have gone up quite steeply for vans now.It's worth noting the Brico's on your way from the ports to pied a terre. I often fill up with stuff at Calais, Dieppe or Rouen on my way down saving lots of time when "on site" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Another good point re the frequent trips but we have never quite got up to the ten! And, funnily enough, we are going to do one of these day returns to go to the Brico nearest the tunnel in the next couple of weeks. We plan to get the windows and shutters to take with us so that we are ready to start straight away.So, five days to do all plumbing in en suite and pipework to hot water tank upstairs, build frames and fit three large windows. Build frame and fit door. Fit and treat 8 shutters. Paint internal wall to ensuite. Paint chalet (again), cut down couple of trees, do garden. Oh, and another layer of self levelling compound over the underfloor heating (didn't have enough last time) then tile floor. Will be lovely when it's finished though!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 You should note that according to Eurostar flammable liquids are only acceptable for transport in 'minimal quantities'.This essentially means that solvent based paints are prohibited items.http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/travel_information/before_you_go/prohibited_items.jspThat said alcohol is a highly flammable liquid but I don't recall hearing of anyone having their duty free confiscated because of this prohibition ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Guerriere Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Five days? Eeek. That's be the twenty-five hour days then ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 They be the ones!! Better weather than the last trip in Feb (hopefully) and much more daylight which makes a huge difference. And all this to make the smallest barn in the world, spare accommodation!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 [quote user="virginia.c"]Another good point re the frequent trips but we have never quite got up to the ten! [/quote]I am not sure I will either but the break even point is around 5 with the car and 2.5 with the van and with more frequent and faster travel as addition I am away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Hhhhhm. Off i go to investigate.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginia.c Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 TheiereI had a good look and i think you are correct. We wouldn't save a fortune, but enough to make it worthwhile i believe. We would have to pay the £20 extra each way because we like to travel at those more expensive times, but we could probably avoid the High Peak times. And, even though we should have only a couple more van trips, i think it will still be that bit cheaper.Thanks for the tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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