bobbert Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Hi all, Just found this forum and had to join. Got a small renovation project in Normandy we picked up during lockdown. A 150 year old cottage we want to raise the roof on. Attached a picture below. My background , many years in excavators and groundworks, changed direction a few years back and studies engineering so more software based now. Really keen to pick up peoples knowledge and experience on roofing and loft conversions as I've not too much experience that far above ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Hi and welcome to THE forum fir self builders. Looking forward to hearing about your project, looks lovely (jealous emoji). Just remember there is no such thing as a stupid question, stupid is not asking. We have all been there and done that so bring on the questions and don’t forget to post pics of your progress 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Think one of my mate's places is in Normandy, his first French place. It was basically a stone build animal shed with a high front and very low back wall he raised. His other place is further south...begins with C... I'm seeing him this week for a beer hopefully as he's over he on family business. Welcome anyway. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 That looks nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Well, you at least will understand when I say : "How do I know what a Gallic Shrug is....?" 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilly Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 That looks like a lovely roof. Are you planning for it to go back on and look the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonner Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 5 hours ago, Jilly said: That looks like a lovely roof. Are you planning for it to go back on and look the same? Unless they are asbestos tiles of course 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jimbo Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 23 minutes ago, Bonner said: Unless they are asbestos tiles of course 🤔 Looks very much like they could be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 (edited) 42 minutes ago, Bonner said: Unless they are asbestos tiles of course 🤔 That was my first thought judging by their look. Edited October 16, 2022 by joe90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbert Posted October 16, 2022 Author Share Posted October 16, 2022 Hi all thanks for the responses. So the roof does look good yes but in short it's not in great condition(not terrible either). A lot of the tiles are broken, brittle or have holes in them. So of the wood work underneath is beyond repair from water damage. Lead flashing has worn through in many places too. The houses last update was in 1989. The roof is older though. All that said, the leaks were managed so damage is localised. Roof could be repaired but my wife and I are looking to gut and redesign it into our family home so repairs are only to get us to that point. We do plan to stay in keeping with the area. The tiles are not asbestos. We've had an asbestos survey done so all clear there. We do have asbestos on another building but that will be another story in this saga. The plan is to completly remove the roof, add 1m to the walls and install 3 dormer windows on the front with us south facing. This is so we can put in 2.5 bedrooms upstairs. Roof will either be raised in its entirety or opt for a lower truss angle(hence higher walls). It will be an new roof going back on in both cases. I'll perhaps be making a few posts with pictures soon enough. Looking for some opinions on some of the more granular aspects. Cheers all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radian Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Very atractive stonework there! I wonder how far away it was originally quarried? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbert Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share Posted October 17, 2022 At a guess I'd say it's of the region. The house was built in 1879 and is very much a workers house of its time. The stone work is similar to most houses in the wider area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 As France has very different rules on planning and building control are you aware of what is required to make those alterations. A friend who moved to France found that as long as the local Mayor was happy it was allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbert Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share Posted October 17, 2022 Yeah,it's surprisingly different. We have made contact with a relatively local building project manager who is giving us guidance on the ins and outs of planning and formalities. We're modelling the house on a close neighbour from the outside at least. This will hopefully head off any problems with it not fitting with local designs. In terms of regs, I'm aware that there is a broad spectrum of standards. If we get a registered builder in we'll get a 10 year state underwritten guarantee, if we do it ourselves then that could have its own consequences. Our plan is to do as much are we can but anything structural, electric or plumbing to use a registered tradie. We're planning a visit to the mayor on our next trip to the house to give him a run down of what our plans are for the house and property. My hope is there will be some positives from our desire to bring this vacant house back to life and also get the land back into some production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 8 minutes ago, bobbert said: if we do it ourselves then that could have its own consequences. Namely the VAT, iF a builder does it no VAT, if you do it 25% VAT (note, this is what I remember but check). I know one family who took a lot of their UK purchased stuff over to fit in their France property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 1 hour ago, bobbert said: We're planning a visit to the mayor on our next trip to the house to give him a run down of what our plans are for the house and property. Et un bung? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 43 minutes ago, Onoff said: Et un bung? My mate took the mayor to his favourite restaurant and wined and dined him, worked a treat 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbert Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share Posted October 17, 2022 3 hours ago, Onoff said: Et un bung? Maybe a few bottles of Scottish or Irish whiskey and a Cotswolds gin might oil that and many more gears. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted October 18, 2022 Share Posted October 18, 2022 15 hours ago, bobbert said: If we get a registered builder in we'll get a 10 year state underwritten guarantee, That sounds like a good idea. I do wonder how many claims are successful and what hoops have to be jumped though to make a claim. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbert Posted October 18, 2022 Author Share Posted October 18, 2022 1 hour ago, SteamyTea said: That sounds like a good idea. I do wonder how many claims are successful and what hoops have to be jumped though to make a claim. Finger crossed we never have to find out. From what I understand though, we would be covered even if the company went into administration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbert Posted October 19, 2022 Author Share Posted October 19, 2022 I've started my first thread on the roof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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