Renovating a gite in Brittany.

Barn before conversion into two gites started in September 2004. Click for larger image. Proposed gites upstairs floorplan. Click for larger image. Latest picture of gite renovation. Click for larger image.
Proposed gites downstairs floorplan. Click for larger image.

Starting point of gite renovation and latest picture of progress with floorplans of each gite. Click on each image for a larger picture.

View a timelapse of the renovation in pictures. Broadband users only.

January 2005
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November 2006

 lundi 17 janvier 2005

Plastered

Tractor lifting plasterboard.We had a delivery today; a huge lorry load packed to the gunwales with stuff. It looked extremely daunting see it pull into the courtyard. We had ordered 140 sheets of plasterboard, 450 m2 of glassfiber insulation (various thicknesses), wood, metalwork etc. I'm not sure I appreciated quite how much stuff there was.

Ian and I shifted all the glassfibre inside (it's a lot heavier than you think) and we were already tired out by the end of it, and we hadn't even started on the plasterboard.

Fortunately Caroline had sweet talked our local friendly farmer, Yves, to come round with hist tractor and help us lift all the plasterboard upstairs. A little improvisation with a forked hay bale lifter a few pallets and the plasterboard balanced precariously on the front was just the job. After moving 70 sheets upstairs the four of us where dead on our feet. As luck would have it it was now 12:30 and time for lunch. With a Frenchman in our midst we felt obliged to have a three course leisurely lunch with Ricard and wine.

Rejuvenated and revitalised the second instalment didn't seem quite so bad, but it's possible the soporific effects of lunchtime were blurring our judgement and numbing the aches in our limbs.

The good news is we are all systems go to do nearly all the ceilings and walls in the two gites upstairs.

 


 7:36:03 PM   Plastered   

This page was last updated: 18/12/2006; 17:19:21
Copyright 2006 Ian Haycox
No advice that I give is qualified; always take professional advice before taking action.
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