Our French farmhouse build thread.
Discussion
gemini said:
Many years of visiting France led us to the Vaucluse.
We want to start a business there hosting travellers.
Love what you're doing.
The detail is great.
Thanks for the compliment. It is a helpful thing to do and would of been a shame to complete this whole process and not have a record of it. It is good for us when we have a period where not much appears to be done, to look back and see how far we have come. We want to start a business there hosting travellers.
Love what you're doing.
The detail is great.
When you move are you intending buying a ready made up and running business or are you mad enough to take on a full renovation?
cirian75 said:
if you ever need a house sitter 
That is a very kind offer! First though I feel you need to see it is not 5* luxury we live in.This is both sides of the kitchen/dining/living/site office.
This is the guest bedroom
Hallway between the 2 rooms
And if you want warmth this is where the wood is and will need cutting while avoiding all the nails in it.
Plus the dog needs walking while avoiding the Fire Salamanders who like to sit in the middle of the road.
Wall is now insulated from top to bottom all the way along and just the downstairs loo to be done, but we need to agree on a sink so can put the plumbing pipes in place before that is done.
Also filled in some of our electrics trench so we can drive between the front of the house and our other entrance. It was not a fun job as had to be done by hand. Everytime you put a shovel in it hits stone at the wrong angle so pointless trying.
Plasterboard is now going up. With the first plasterboard, it had to be cut down on the thin edge and then sculpted to the contour of the wall. This meant hanging the board and tracing the wall edge. With the thin side cut out it was not wide enough to go on the plasterboard lifter. Final solution was to use a ratchet strap between 2 uprights on the scaffolding and a board resting on that and the landing. Then with me standing on the board and leaning over and cargeekswife standing on the scaffold to the side, we rested the plasterboard and moved it into place while I controlled the height by standing on the end of the board.
Was exceedingly happy when we attached it to the frame. We could then trace the edge and fit the bottom board in place to trace and fix in place once sculpted. With the bottom board in place could then hold the top board in place and unscrew to flip out and cut the edge. Was much easier to fit back with the bottom board to hold it up.
Before we did this we needed to do a bit of re-wiring as where Wilfrid had placed the wire for the over the stairs light meant it would have to be hidden in the re-pointing. Also there wasn’t enough wire to go where we wanted it. Out with my new drill and made a hole through the centre wall. Wire threaded and then we put the top plasterboard in place. Hopefully it will be the most difficult now done.
This afternoon we got three more boards up and had to stop there as we need to move some more electrics so we can have a light switch level with the bottom step of the stairs. Nothing is ever straight forward!
Also filled in some of our electrics trench so we can drive between the front of the house and our other entrance. It was not a fun job as had to be done by hand. Everytime you put a shovel in it hits stone at the wrong angle so pointless trying.
Plasterboard is now going up. With the first plasterboard, it had to be cut down on the thin edge and then sculpted to the contour of the wall. This meant hanging the board and tracing the wall edge. With the thin side cut out it was not wide enough to go on the plasterboard lifter. Final solution was to use a ratchet strap between 2 uprights on the scaffolding and a board resting on that and the landing. Then with me standing on the board and leaning over and cargeekswife standing on the scaffold to the side, we rested the plasterboard and moved it into place while I controlled the height by standing on the end of the board.
Was exceedingly happy when we attached it to the frame. We could then trace the edge and fit the bottom board in place to trace and fix in place once sculpted. With the bottom board in place could then hold the top board in place and unscrew to flip out and cut the edge. Was much easier to fit back with the bottom board to hold it up.
Before we did this we needed to do a bit of re-wiring as where Wilfrid had placed the wire for the over the stairs light meant it would have to be hidden in the re-pointing. Also there wasn’t enough wire to go where we wanted it. Out with my new drill and made a hole through the centre wall. Wire threaded and then we put the top plasterboard in place. Hopefully it will be the most difficult now done.
This afternoon we got three more boards up and had to stop there as we need to move some more electrics so we can have a light switch level with the bottom step of the stairs. Nothing is ever straight forward!
I am happy to report that we have now finished lifting up plasterboard from the ground floor to the top ceiling. We couldn’t use the plasterboard lifter for another one of the boards due to one of the support beams on the ground floor being in the way. So the board had to be lifted up to the first floor and we placed some floorboards across the scaffolding and a sheet of OSB from the landing. We could then shift it over to the wall and screw it in place. Fortunately all the upper boards we have done only had one complication each. It was either we couldn’t lift it from the ground floor, or we had to cut to fit around beams or window holes.
We do have some more double board walls upstairs but they only extend to 3.50 so the top board will be a metre high at most, so a lot lighter to handle.
Downstairs loo planning is going well. We have agreed on location of sink so started to do the waste outlet only to find out that the 32mm waste pipe I have has got too cold or something as it is very brittle and has what I would describe as striations all the way down it. So that stopped our progress there. We do have the back wall of it in place now though for Wilfrid to do some bits before we fix it all in place.
It’s not going as fast as we would like, but it is being done right and when we get onto the next barn we will at least do things right the first time!!!!
Cooked a curry the other night and to save stinking the house out I shifted the site lamp into the garage so could see what I was doing. Got to multi task and cut wood at the same time. Power tools and wine really shouldn’t be mixed but everything is still intact.
We bought a cheap sandblaster from Lidl (€16) about a month ago and tried it out on a ladder that is going to be used within the barn and happy to report that it is doing a great job of cleaning the paint off of it. The 2kg of sand that came with it didn’t last long but I have got a quarter of it cleaned so far.
We do have some more double board walls upstairs but they only extend to 3.50 so the top board will be a metre high at most, so a lot lighter to handle.
Downstairs loo planning is going well. We have agreed on location of sink so started to do the waste outlet only to find out that the 32mm waste pipe I have has got too cold or something as it is very brittle and has what I would describe as striations all the way down it. So that stopped our progress there. We do have the back wall of it in place now though for Wilfrid to do some bits before we fix it all in place.
It’s not going as fast as we would like, but it is being done right and when we get onto the next barn we will at least do things right the first time!!!!
Cooked a curry the other night and to save stinking the house out I shifted the site lamp into the garage so could see what I was doing. Got to multi task and cut wood at the same time. Power tools and wine really shouldn’t be mixed but everything is still intact.
We bought a cheap sandblaster from Lidl (€16) about a month ago and tried it out on a ladder that is going to be used within the barn and happy to report that it is doing a great job of cleaning the paint off of it. The 2kg of sand that came with it didn’t last long but I have got a quarter of it cleaned so far.
gemini said:
What a great way to store memories. When it's done you'll look back with immense pride!
I was really glad when someone asked for a build thread. We had a blog up and hosted but never really got round to doing much on it. This way we have a larger audience (hopefully) and encouraging comments. It is also good to look back on now and see how far we have come in a short while, as sometimes it really feels like we are just treading water.Start of another week and we have now boarded out the living room except the door and window recesses. Have framed the bedroom windows above the living room, as this area is the next area for work to commence.
Wilfrid has also been busy and we have numerous power points live that we can utilise. I am having difficulty getting used to it though and keep dragging extension leads all over the place.
One thing that I have not been looking forward to was sorting out the toilet cistern plumbing. The outlet sits through the wall visible and has a flexible pipe to connect to the cistern. Using the plastic plumbing pipe my personal thoughts were that it would not be a solid feeling outlet if we just left it sitting in the wall. Now call me stupid, but I would have thought that there was a standard solution for securing an outlet with a 90 degree bend in through a plasterboard sheet. Having been to the plumbing merchants there appears to be a gap in the market for such a thing! Our solution is to take a shower back plate and cut it in half. This is then connected to a small piece of plasterboard with the centre hole drilled out. Then the same size hole is drilled in the wall sheet and then can be screwed together. Solidly mounted the wall board can then be screwed to the studwork and the 90 degree connection can be secured to the back plate. Happy Neil, as it is now much more like I would expect it to be. Having felt the one in our bathroom, which I might add is not a shining example of brilliant finishing thanks to the bodgers cutting every corner, it goes in and out of the wall without any resistance.
The last board to go in was against the exposed stone wall. We mounted this and then traced the wall contours on it. Back off the wall and jigsaw out the shape to fit snugly.
We had a visit today from the guy who is making our stairs to measure up and go through the final agreed design. Don’t know how long it is going to take them but can’t imagine it will be this side of Christmas.
Last thing this afternoon Wilfrid was wiring up some bits in the downstairs loo and we couldn’t find the light wire after drilling the hole. Light has moved a bit as we have made the loo a little bigger. 2 wallboards had to come off and we just ran a new wire as the termination point for the light seems to have done a runner too! All back together now so finished the day with the room once again fully boarded.
Wilfrid has also been busy and we have numerous power points live that we can utilise. I am having difficulty getting used to it though and keep dragging extension leads all over the place.
One thing that I have not been looking forward to was sorting out the toilet cistern plumbing. The outlet sits through the wall visible and has a flexible pipe to connect to the cistern. Using the plastic plumbing pipe my personal thoughts were that it would not be a solid feeling outlet if we just left it sitting in the wall. Now call me stupid, but I would have thought that there was a standard solution for securing an outlet with a 90 degree bend in through a plasterboard sheet. Having been to the plumbing merchants there appears to be a gap in the market for such a thing! Our solution is to take a shower back plate and cut it in half. This is then connected to a small piece of plasterboard with the centre hole drilled out. Then the same size hole is drilled in the wall sheet and then can be screwed together. Solidly mounted the wall board can then be screwed to the studwork and the 90 degree connection can be secured to the back plate. Happy Neil, as it is now much more like I would expect it to be. Having felt the one in our bathroom, which I might add is not a shining example of brilliant finishing thanks to the bodgers cutting every corner, it goes in and out of the wall without any resistance.
The last board to go in was against the exposed stone wall. We mounted this and then traced the wall contours on it. Back off the wall and jigsaw out the shape to fit snugly.
We had a visit today from the guy who is making our stairs to measure up and go through the final agreed design. Don’t know how long it is going to take them but can’t imagine it will be this side of Christmas.
Last thing this afternoon Wilfrid was wiring up some bits in the downstairs loo and we couldn’t find the light wire after drilling the hole. Light has moved a bit as we have made the loo a little bigger. 2 wallboards had to come off and we just ran a new wire as the termination point for the light seems to have done a runner too! All back together now so finished the day with the room once again fully boarded.
For those who said you would use a log burner I am now happy to report that we have put the fireboard up. This was a trip to the merchants to get these and screws today as we were nearly out of plasterboard screws. The dog was very happy as he got to go in the truck. Poor chap has been locked in the house every day since the wood floor went down and the colder days hit.
Back to boarding upstairs and we are progressing ok. We have three quarters of the back wall done in 1 bedroom. The progress gets slowed by power point placements. As every room will have zip and link beds the plugs have to be in a position to be accessible for either double beds or twin beds. Also need to be enough space to walk round both sides of the beds. So many things to consider for cargeekswife!
First proper injury for me incurred yesterday when I broke my little toe. Wasn’t even on site, was in the kitchen where I kicked a suitcase while avoiding Millie’s toys. Not impressed but will not take too long to heal hopefully.
Back to boarding upstairs and we are progressing ok. We have three quarters of the back wall done in 1 bedroom. The progress gets slowed by power point placements. As every room will have zip and link beds the plugs have to be in a position to be accessible for either double beds or twin beds. Also need to be enough space to walk round both sides of the beds. So many things to consider for cargeekswife!
First proper injury for me incurred yesterday when I broke my little toe. Wasn’t even on site, was in the kitchen where I kicked a suitcase while avoiding Millie’s toys. Not impressed but will not take too long to heal hopefully.
IanA2 said:
Not much you can do about wee toes, just give it some time. At current rate of progress you'll be toasty in no time.... 
Toe will be covered in a steel toe cap for quite some time to protect the poor little thing. Was less than impressed. All the dangerous stuff we have and do and I kick a suitcase!5potTurbo said:
Loving the updates, aside from hearing about a busted toe. I've done similar. Hurts like fook, bruised quickly and badly, but it seemed to heal quickly.
Thanks, I'm hoping for a quick recovery. Glad it isn't stopping me working though. Just have to keep the dog from treading on it as he tramps around. End of the week and we have 2 walls done in the first bedroom. Re-routed a couple of Wilfrid’s wires in the bathroom wall as wasn’t happy with their placement. We also boarded the other side of the bedroom wall, once insulation was put in, that makes the upstairs landing. It has changed the acoustics in the barn. It is a little empty sounding now with more boards up to reflect the sound. Closing the rooms off now means we are having to use the site light more often as the days are getting shorter. The one plus is the heat it generates.
Our piles of materials seem to be going down too, but where they are going they seem to disappear and not take up any room. It is amazing what it swallows up and you wonder how a metre high pile of plasterboards that are 2.5m by 1.2m can just be absorbed.
The downstairs loo has shrunk again this week by 7cm to fit in to the plan for the stairs. So many things to consider and how the flow of the building will be.
Today we took a 200 mile round trip to collect a wardrobe as it was the best dimensions we have been able to find for its purpose of hiding the consumer unit and soil pipes bulkhead. The people we collected it from had to re-arrange their whole living room so we could manoeuvre it out. I think the dimension are 2.4m high, 1.6m wide and about 65cm deep. Was a heavy old beast too. Now safely deposited in the back barn awaiting me to take a saw to it.
Gratuitous evening sky shot.
Our piles of materials seem to be going down too, but where they are going they seem to disappear and not take up any room. It is amazing what it swallows up and you wonder how a metre high pile of plasterboards that are 2.5m by 1.2m can just be absorbed.
The downstairs loo has shrunk again this week by 7cm to fit in to the plan for the stairs. So many things to consider and how the flow of the building will be.
Today we took a 200 mile round trip to collect a wardrobe as it was the best dimensions we have been able to find for its purpose of hiding the consumer unit and soil pipes bulkhead. The people we collected it from had to re-arrange their whole living room so we could manoeuvre it out. I think the dimension are 2.4m high, 1.6m wide and about 65cm deep. Was a heavy old beast too. Now safely deposited in the back barn awaiting me to take a saw to it.
Gratuitous evening sky shot.
We have lights in the living room! Great for going in the barn at night, but not much help as we are boarding out the upstairs. We have three sides completed in the first bedroom and a little bit on the fourth side. Yesterday we got 1 & a half pieces up and today got 2 & a half pieces up.
The panel on the floor is cut in readiness to go over the window but will have the aircon unit mounted on it first before it is screwed into place.
Top of the stairs now we have a wall we can see the space that we are turning into a reading area. Just need to find the right comfy chair that we can both agree on. I am happy to sit back and let the design just happen, but certain things I do stick my nose into and this is one of them.
Cutting them around beams is not a quick process when you are trying to keep it close to the beams. While cargeekswife has been doing the cuts, I have gingerly started plumbing in the shower. I am sure I will grow with confidence as I plumb more, but at the moment water leaks fill me with dread.
Yesterday Millie took herself off to have a bath and when cargeekswife checked on her she was sat at the opposite end to the taps with the plug out. She had discovered that our boiler was not heating the water! Panic ensued and we started the search for a new boiler while I had a look at killing power to it. Tripped its fuse to have the workshop lights go out on me too. They have used the same fuse for 3 circuits. Can’t wait until I have the time to re-wire it all. Fuse back on and an hour later we had lukewarm water coming through. Very glad to have a shower and not to have to replace the boiler right now. We will start investigating the replacement in the new year.
The panel on the floor is cut in readiness to go over the window but will have the aircon unit mounted on it first before it is screwed into place.
Top of the stairs now we have a wall we can see the space that we are turning into a reading area. Just need to find the right comfy chair that we can both agree on. I am happy to sit back and let the design just happen, but certain things I do stick my nose into and this is one of them.
Cutting them around beams is not a quick process when you are trying to keep it close to the beams. While cargeekswife has been doing the cuts, I have gingerly started plumbing in the shower. I am sure I will grow with confidence as I plumb more, but at the moment water leaks fill me with dread.
Yesterday Millie took herself off to have a bath and when cargeekswife checked on her she was sat at the opposite end to the taps with the plug out. She had discovered that our boiler was not heating the water! Panic ensued and we started the search for a new boiler while I had a look at killing power to it. Tripped its fuse to have the workshop lights go out on me too. They have used the same fuse for 3 circuits. Can’t wait until I have the time to re-wire it all. Fuse back on and an hour later we had lukewarm water coming through. Very glad to have a shower and not to have to replace the boiler right now. We will start investigating the replacement in the new year.
Last post for the year. Christmas is calling so we have now downed tools. I have spent a little time tidying up and looking forward to a refreshing break.
In the 2nd bedroom we were going to have a metre high bottom panel running along the exposed stone wall. Electrics and light switch wiring were set down with his in mind. The main reason for it was the bottom part of the wall was covered in concrete so 6 months ago it was deemed easier to just cover it up. Now it isn’t and after an hour of chipping it off we have more pointing to do, but a better overall feel hopefully.
The light switch wiring has been re-routed but the power cable is too short by my estimation so we will have a word with Wilfrid when he starts back in the new year. I know how much he loves me playing with his wiring!
A quick trip in to St Jean today for the Christmas cheese supply.
Happy Christmas to everyone and we will start posting again in the new year.
Our place bathed in sunshine today.
In the 2nd bedroom we were going to have a metre high bottom panel running along the exposed stone wall. Electrics and light switch wiring were set down with his in mind. The main reason for it was the bottom part of the wall was covered in concrete so 6 months ago it was deemed easier to just cover it up. Now it isn’t and after an hour of chipping it off we have more pointing to do, but a better overall feel hopefully.
The light switch wiring has been re-routed but the power cable is too short by my estimation so we will have a word with Wilfrid when he starts back in the new year. I know how much he loves me playing with his wiring!
A quick trip in to St Jean today for the Christmas cheese supply.
Happy Christmas to everyone and we will start posting again in the new year.
Our place bathed in sunshine today.
We are back after a relaxing break and nearly ready to get going. Everything was where we left it so no problems there. We did make a slight improvement to the rather flimsy front door security.
Unfortunately I have the Christmas flu hanging on so don’t think we will start again in there until next week. So while feeling under the weather but itching to do something I started hanging some new lights in the kitchen. We found some lights that are perfect for the back barn to suspend 6 down the back wall. When we arrived to pick them up they had gone down to half price so we bought their remaining stock of 10.
So off we trot yesterday to Mr Bricolage to get switches and wire to power them. Like normal these were not cheap, but what was cheap was a three way remote control with 3 remote receivers that plug into power points. Bonus we will be able to sit on the sofa and play with the lights!
Unfortunately the big remote receivers won’t sit on the one 4 gang extension lead so one had to be wired up to another socket which meant the cable would need extending. Not a problem as the floor lamp we removed I had fitted a 4m long cable to it. Upstairs to where it was now standing to cut the cable. Measure the amount I need to cut and cut. BANG, I am thrown into darkness. I was stupid enough to cut the wire while it was plugged in. Now I am fully back into working mode. I come downstairs, reset the electrics and say to cargeekswife that we will never mention this! Needless to say, I have been shamed into publicising this act of sheer stupidity and carelessness. Thankfully my wire cutters are well insulated.
Now I have cleansed my soul with this admission I can move on and say the lights look great and the remote works like a dream.
After this I decided to hang a chair hammock in Millie’s room. Nice safe option that did go without a hitch.
Unfortunately I have the Christmas flu hanging on so don’t think we will start again in there until next week. So while feeling under the weather but itching to do something I started hanging some new lights in the kitchen. We found some lights that are perfect for the back barn to suspend 6 down the back wall. When we arrived to pick them up they had gone down to half price so we bought their remaining stock of 10.
So off we trot yesterday to Mr Bricolage to get switches and wire to power them. Like normal these were not cheap, but what was cheap was a three way remote control with 3 remote receivers that plug into power points. Bonus we will be able to sit on the sofa and play with the lights!
Unfortunately the big remote receivers won’t sit on the one 4 gang extension lead so one had to be wired up to another socket which meant the cable would need extending. Not a problem as the floor lamp we removed I had fitted a 4m long cable to it. Upstairs to where it was now standing to cut the cable. Measure the amount I need to cut and cut. BANG, I am thrown into darkness. I was stupid enough to cut the wire while it was plugged in. Now I am fully back into working mode. I come downstairs, reset the electrics and say to cargeekswife that we will never mention this! Needless to say, I have been shamed into publicising this act of sheer stupidity and carelessness. Thankfully my wire cutters are well insulated.
Now I have cleansed my soul with this admission I can move on and say the lights look great and the remote works like a dream.
After this I decided to hang a chair hammock in Millie’s room. Nice safe option that did go without a hitch.
5potTurbo said:
Hope you're feeling better. Man flu's a biatch!
Now, please be careful with basic things on electrics, like unplugging things before cutting their cables! To have achieved so much more complex stuff, then injure yourself in a silly manner. *tut, tut*
I know. I was still on easy street I think after being used to central heating, carpets, proper lights in every room and all those other creature comforts we don't have here. Fully grounded (expose the pun) now.Now, please be careful with basic things on electrics, like unplugging things before cutting their cables! To have achieved so much more complex stuff, then injure yourself in a silly manner. *tut, tut*
We’re back on it now! Stairs have been delivered and we are fine tuning the fit of them. This will be a lot of little cuts to get it just right. Precision parts are not my favourite as it takes a long time before you get to admire the fruits of your labour. Once they are in I still can’t use them until they are sealed.
While we were back in the UK I bought a dry pressure tester for plumbing. Got it back here and it is a standard UK 15mm. Our 2 sizes are 12mm and 16mm. It is now rigged up with a bit of hosepipe jubilee clipped on one end and the other is pushed onto the 16mm pipe to test. Have pressure tested our shower and can report no leaks. Really happy on the back of this and have celebrated by covering it up with a plasterboard. A few more boards have also gone up and I have reached the point where our UK sourced bathroom tap is supposed to be going. Unfortunately there is a metal rail upright in the way and as the spout is meant to protrude at that exact spot is isn’t going to work. Ho hum another lesson learned and they will just have to be used in the back barn instead! Now cargeekswife has to find a new style of tap that is horizontally mounted.
Carrying on in the bathroom theme, I have boarded out more of the first bathroom and made a start on the shower tap in the 2nd bathroom. This is where I have got to today, but we have a sick little girl so I don’t have any help and she will be off school again tomorrow at least. Lucky we have a plasterboard lifter so I can crank them up to the first floor.
A mouse has been spotted exiting the barn through a hole in the floor, so 1 of tomorrow’s jobs is to mix up some cement and fill the hole.
Wilfrid is fitting the interior air con units. We have a rather large one in the kitchen and one in the first bedroom is going up. Shame they won’t be operational for a while as the temperature is starting to drop.
Another problem that has surfaced after our trip to England is the rear of the BMW is sitting way too low. I am hoping it is just 2 busted springs but haven’t got around to looking at it yet. Until that point the Ranger is daily driver and school run machine.
While we were back in the UK I bought a dry pressure tester for plumbing. Got it back here and it is a standard UK 15mm. Our 2 sizes are 12mm and 16mm. It is now rigged up with a bit of hosepipe jubilee clipped on one end and the other is pushed onto the 16mm pipe to test. Have pressure tested our shower and can report no leaks. Really happy on the back of this and have celebrated by covering it up with a plasterboard. A few more boards have also gone up and I have reached the point where our UK sourced bathroom tap is supposed to be going. Unfortunately there is a metal rail upright in the way and as the spout is meant to protrude at that exact spot is isn’t going to work. Ho hum another lesson learned and they will just have to be used in the back barn instead! Now cargeekswife has to find a new style of tap that is horizontally mounted.
Carrying on in the bathroom theme, I have boarded out more of the first bathroom and made a start on the shower tap in the 2nd bathroom. This is where I have got to today, but we have a sick little girl so I don’t have any help and she will be off school again tomorrow at least. Lucky we have a plasterboard lifter so I can crank them up to the first floor.
A mouse has been spotted exiting the barn through a hole in the floor, so 1 of tomorrow’s jobs is to mix up some cement and fill the hole.
Wilfrid is fitting the interior air con units. We have a rather large one in the kitchen and one in the first bedroom is going up. Shame they won’t be operational for a while as the temperature is starting to drop.
Another problem that has surfaced after our trip to England is the rear of the BMW is sitting way too low. I am hoping it is just 2 busted springs but haven’t got around to looking at it yet. Until that point the Ranger is daily driver and school run machine.
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