Christmas Artisans

[Iceni]

No I am not being funny, we have had a sudden rush of Artisans. The carpenter is only taking 3 days off for a family visit, the deputy Mayor and his firm have mortared our internal walls this week, the central heating firm started - but then stopped due to an accident ('things' not people thank goodness) so they are forgiven and the Brico has just phoned up to day the shower ordered ages ago is in and we can pick it up when we want.

2006 should see me out of one room and into a real home. (If I could do an Icon I would put a very happy smiley here).

Rose tinted specs off and back to work.

[le bouffon]

Glad to hear that,only when I see,hear read the word artisan pound signs pass before my eyes.

[Iceni]

[quote user="le bouffon"]Glad to hear that,only when I see,hear read the word artisan pound signs pass before my eyes.[/quote]

Well lets just say that € signs passing before our eyes are far far less than the £ that would be passing if we had UK equivalents working for us at this time of the year in the UK- central heating men in again today - in the UK everything seems to stop for 2 weeks and any work over that period is at 'Outside normal working hours' rates unless you are very lucky.

John has also project managed the whole job and getting materials on site on time and making sure that everything is being done when it should be done is one of the greatest money savers. Having one group of artisans waiting for another or materials is a good way to annoy folk and waste money.

Any building work is expensive - the problems come when you don't plan and budget the job - then double the money and then add a contingency. Otherwise no problem  [8-)].

[Tony F Dordogne]

Obviously not working our side of the Lot/Dordogne border Di.

We have a UK born, French living and properly registered electrician booked for the 2nd January.  Had a letter from him today, postmarked Orleans, saying he was on his way back to the UK for the New Year and wouldn't be back until 7th January, starting with us on the 9th.

Shouldn't have been surprised though - he was contracted to start work for a neighbour on 6th December, major rewiring job, 30% upfront with signed devis, 30% on first day, the rest on completion.  They are also Brits and from what he said it was going to be done in one hit - so far, two half days work completed, no mobile to contact him, turns up when he is able to fit it into his busy schedule - doesn't auger too well for our job.

Means we have to change all our working arrangements now!

[Iceni]

We had our walls in the main barn pointed - and as you know Tony that is a huge space - before Christmas - still waiting for the bill - nothing up front. Central heating is partly in - boiler and oil tank - lorry with radiators came to a sticky end so we have to wait till they get more - not a problem for us as we were not planning on using it this year - not a penny up front.

Both firms are French and the timescales were roughly what they said - ie November (read December) and the pointing was agreed to be done when the weather got bad - and it did and they did the job as agreed. I find that if they start off badly it never seems to get any better.

We work with both English and French artisans and now would not pay any up front unless they had worked for us before - we have paid a deposit on a kitchen but I regard that as slightly different.

Thank goodness we are nearly finished - well inside at least.