Reasonable quote?? (decking)
Discussion
Take a look at my French self build thread , I threw the walls and terrace walls up in 20cm block and left a load of ties sticking out then used the stone I dug out of the site to face it , its slow going but I think it looks nice , and surely you have a quarry somewhere nearby that can supply a few ton of mathching stone ?
Driller said:
Thanks Paul, didn't see you had a build thread, I'll go and have a look.
Eta chance of a link?
Sorry , you'll have to search " French self build " I'm useless with tech , you'll also have to look carefully as half the pics are upside down and in the wrong order !Eta chance of a link?
Edited by Driller on Tuesday 28th March 07:03
I'm better with a hammer and trowel !
Looking at your diagram I'd be tempted to use block and stone facade as I said then actually put a flat felt roof under the deck so you can use it for storage then suspend a deck over the top of it , you may also need a small lottery win if you get a French trade in to do this !
lol ok Paul will do. Your comments are much appreciated!
Why oh why are French tradesmen so expensive, do you have any theories?
My dentistry prices are lower than in the UK for example so it's not a general economical thing. When I get quotes like this I wonder if I shouldn't change profession!
Why oh why are French tradesmen so expensive, do you have any theories?
My dentistry prices are lower than in the UK for example so it's not a general economical thing. When I get quotes like this I wonder if I shouldn't change profession!
The electrician that did my house told me it was to do with the tax aspect of the building trade , he reckoned he was lucky to come out with half of what he charges after tax etc , although he was maybe trying to justify his price too !
As a comparison I can get a 3 bed semi re wired and signed off in England if I do the plastering for roundabout 2k , the new 3bed bugalow over there cost nearer 6k , no knocking out , bare walls block walls that just needed conduit clipping on , no one living in it and me digging and filling the trench for the main supply , and I knocked him down in price from over 7k ! It was also a poor job .
As a comparison I can get a 3 bed semi re wired and signed off in England if I do the plastering for roundabout 2k , the new 3bed bugalow over there cost nearer 6k , no knocking out , bare walls block walls that just needed conduit clipping on , no one living in it and me digging and filling the trench for the main supply , and I knocked him down in price from over 7k ! It was also a poor job .
Taxe etranger? Could be a general stitch up the foreigner thing in certain quarters I guess + isn't assurance decenalle an expensive thing for French builders?
As for decking per se, some of the other ideas mooted might be a better idea aesthetically, I get the argument decking is a bit last year. In our case, we just replaced a completely rotten existing build the previous owner (a builder!!) had made out of scaffold boards he must have had lying around & it was the path of least resistance to just swap it for new on the existing footprint but with a bit more will & time, I would have gone with something other than a deck.
What we inherited:
And the end result.
As for decking per se, some of the other ideas mooted might be a better idea aesthetically, I get the argument decking is a bit last year. In our case, we just replaced a completely rotten existing build the previous owner (a builder!!) had made out of scaffold boards he must have had lying around & it was the path of least resistance to just swap it for new on the existing footprint but with a bit more will & time, I would have gone with something other than a deck.
What we inherited:
And the end result.
Driller said:
That's a shame Paul as we're really hoping to get it sorted for this summer-we've waited 10 years get it done. Actually it'll be 12!
You were right about the prices btw.
Astroarcadia, thanks that confirms what Paul said.
The quote we have is €26,000.00
I am glad it isn't just me who feels like he is being taken for a You were right about the prices btw.
Astroarcadia, thanks that confirms what Paul said.
The quote we have is €26,000.00
Edited by Driller on Sunday 26th March 22:56
every time someone does us a quote in France. Minimum currency here seems to be €20k.Driller said:
I don'think it's a foreigner thing ss ny wife's French.
Maybe it's a combination of exorbitant social charges plus a monopoly of trade. Either way it's definitely a thing because it's systematic.
Paul, you have mail!
I don't think it is either, a) I speak French, and b) my French neighbours get the same bMaybe it's a combination of exorbitant social charges plus a monopoly of trade. Either way it's definitely a thing because it's systematic.
Paul, you have mail!
ks.[quote=Driller]I don'think it's a foreigner thing ss ny wife's French.
Maybe it's a combination of exorbitant social charges plus a monopoly of trade. Either way it's definitely a thing because it's systematic.
Paul, you have mail
Have a scroll down on the Pistonheads email and you should see my message
ColinM50 said:
I built two big multi level decks when I lived near Toulouse, one at my house and the other at a mates. Can dig out some pics if anyone's interested. Mine had four levels and eight stairs and his had a patio, down four steps, another patio and then three more steps down to the pool. Balustrades all round.
I thought materials were pretty good vfm at Leroy Merlin or Castorama or Brico dept etc, but the one big mistake I made was doing it in wood. After two/three years it was starting to look a bit weathered and crap and a bit of rot was creeping in. Sold up & retired back to UK before it got too bad, but if I were to do it again, I'd use the plastic decking. Stays looking good for years.
Like you we just couldn't find good reliable tradesmen, they just weren't interested and that's before we talked prices. One chap I did find who helped me knock a window through, explained they charge high daily rates 'cos they don't work in the hottest months, Jun, July and August and not keen on the coldest winter 3 months either so had to charge high to make up for lack of mild days. One wag said 14 Sept or 14 May was a good day to work, but only if the rain held off and there wasn't a public holiday.
Where in France are you? I might be available to do a week or so's work. Planning to come to France in our motorhome in May, so chucking a few tools in might be possible?
Pics would be great Colin. For the work we're in the Paris area and room on the property for your motorhome I thought materials were pretty good vfm at Leroy Merlin or Castorama or Brico dept etc, but the one big mistake I made was doing it in wood. After two/three years it was starting to look a bit weathered and crap and a bit of rot was creeping in. Sold up & retired back to UK before it got too bad, but if I were to do it again, I'd use the plastic decking. Stays looking good for years.
Like you we just couldn't find good reliable tradesmen, they just weren't interested and that's before we talked prices. One chap I did find who helped me knock a window through, explained they charge high daily rates 'cos they don't work in the hottest months, Jun, July and August and not keen on the coldest winter 3 months either so had to charge high to make up for lack of mild days. One wag said 14 Sept or 14 May was a good day to work, but only if the rain held off and there wasn't a public holiday.
Where in France are you? I might be available to do a week or so's work. Planning to come to France in our motorhome in May, so chucking a few tools in might be possible?
I have to admit I'm seriously considering going down the mason route with all these shenanigans.
I didnt even know there was a pistonheads email account ! Though now I've looked I've found a couple of enquiries about a car I had for sale about ten months ago , but no private e mails .
I'm really sorry driller , best case is send it direct to the email address I sent you but not through pistonheads , not that I actually know what I'm talking about there !
I'm really sorry driller , best case is send it direct to the email address I sent you but not through pistonheads , not that I actually know what I'm talking about there !
I actually did send it to that address Paul. Could you ask your wife to look in the junk mail for that address?
I'm more or less asking you if you're interested in doing the job and if so when you can you come up? We're not in any particular hurry and we love what you've done in your build
I'm more or less asking you if you're interested in doing the job and if so when you can you come up? We're not in any particular hurry and we love what you've done in your build
Don't do it.
We have the exact, and I mean the EXACT same decking as that off the back of our house. The only difference is where the steps lie.
Its a nightmare to maintain, it gets covered in mud from the garden when wet, it has a load of dumped concrete beneath it as all raised decking seems to have, and as with all things wood it is just a constant battle against wood perishing in all weathers. The side rails turn green in winter due to house shade too.
I want to get rid and create a patio, but, the cost to dismantle and get ride alone would be huge, let alone moving the concrete, creating ground for the patio and laying it. I would estimate to get ride of our decking and create a patio we are looking around £20k.
We have the exact, and I mean the EXACT same decking as that off the back of our house. The only difference is where the steps lie.
Its a nightmare to maintain, it gets covered in mud from the garden when wet, it has a load of dumped concrete beneath it as all raised decking seems to have, and as with all things wood it is just a constant battle against wood perishing in all weathers. The side rails turn green in winter due to house shade too.
I want to get rid and create a patio, but, the cost to dismantle and get ride alone would be huge, let alone moving the concrete, creating ground for the patio and laying it. I would estimate to get ride of our decking and create a patio we are looking around £20k.
Sorry you've had all those problems but thanks for the advice! That's now convinced me completely to chuck this idea in the bin and go the masoned route with maybe just some planking for the top surface (placed on top of a poured concrete surface of course).
Paul can you send me an email please?
Paul can you send me an email please?
Driller said:
I actually did send it to that address Paul. Could you ask your wife to look in the junk mail for that address?
I'm more or less asking you if you're interested in doing the job and if so when you can you come up? We're not in any particular hurry and we love what you've done in your build
I thought this may come up ! I've looked everywhere for the emails but couldn't find them .I'm more or less asking you if you're interested in doing the job and if so when you can you come up? We're not in any particular hurry and we love what you've done in your build
I'll email you now but unfortunately that's my holiday house , so I'd be coming down from England !
I've looked in the junk box and there's nothing there , it doesn't come through to the inbox either . Hopefully you got my email earlier , youve got my phone number .
Edited by paulwirral on Monday 3rd April 18:05
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