Renovation site in the Limousin

[Leshirondelles]

Useful practical site covering the renovation of a Limousin farmstead. www.golimousin.net

[maybug]

An English bookshop with renovation books and manuals for domestic French electrical systems.

Librairie de Benevent, 18 Rue du Marché, Benevent l'Abbaye, 23210, France.

Tel: 0555620663

[Plato comes homePlato]

Hmmmmm..better let a real tradesman do it as do the French, I know it sounds over-generalising to the master race taking over France and Spain but the work I have seen done by English do it your-selfers and other experts like arophying "TV" mechanics has been so bad I would condemn the place most times..they haven't a clue and are so full of themselves as 'renovtaors" they pass on to others their appalling tradsmanship...sure France abouds with crooks but take the usual precautions..and don't pay the last 25% until inspected and signed -off

Plato and Co was well known for its excellence in the trades area over a very long period, still around today, but tragically did not have a Pompei Representative ......

[Ian Hoare<br>All the best<br>Ian<br>La Souvigne Corrèze<br>http:www.souvigne.com]

[quote]Hmmmmm..better let a real tradesman do it as do the French, I know it sounds over-generalising to the master race taking over France and Spain but the work I have seen done by English do it your-selfe...[/quote]

Hi,

You said:-

 Hmmmmm..better let a real tradesman do it as do the French,

So why is DIY about the fastest growing growing sector in the French economy? I have the greatest possible respect for the workmanship of the many true Artisans in France, but in some sectors, I'd argue that there are as many cowboys as there are in the UK. 

but the work I have seen done by English do it your-selfers and other experts like arophying "TV" mechanics has been so bad I would condemn the place most times.

Come here, and see the work we've done in entirely renovating my house. I've never EVER seen better wall tiling in France than that which we have in our kitchen and bathrooms, nor paintwork that's half as good. The quality of paint available here is lamentable and the average french house painter has absolutely no idea of how to use it. No specialist primer, diluted top coat usually, and inadequate between coat rubbing down are amongst the "crimes".

tradsmanship...sure France abouds with crooks but take the usual precautions..and don't pay the last 25% until inspected and signed -off

That's certainly true. I'm afraid most of the Brits I've seen who've set up as craftsmen are total cowboys. However, if a French Artisan's phone worked in both directions, (being able to make outgoing calls) and if they were able to keep to the timetables they had previously proposed, these Brit cowboys wouldn't have got a look in.

[Holly1]

You said:

" I'm afraid most of the Brits I've seen who've set up as craftsmen are total cowboys"

I would agree that many of them are, we have come across them too, lots of them, but I still think this is too much of a generalisation. My husband, who was a civil engineer originally is now a successful builder here and we know excellent joiners and an electrician. People need to get references and recommendations, check that the tradesperson is properly registered with the Chambre de Metiers, get a written devis etc, whether the person is French, English, or in our case Irish. Part of the problem I think is that reputable tradesmen of any nationality are so busy, so if the cowboys come along and say they can do a job, people go for it. Just my 2c worth.....

Holly

http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr