Site Contents
The Renovate in France website is aimed at people who are contemplating, or are already, renovating or converting a property in France.
Drawn from experiences gained from our own, and others, projects it is a resource that will grow and provide relevant guidance and information. The category headings, all of which link directly to that section of the site, relate to specific areas and some will be more relevant than others. Each post offers an opportunity for comment. We hope you find it useful and enjoyable.
Our Barn Conversion
These posts are a diary, of our barn conversion in Poitou Charentes, in essence where it all began. From initial planning to big works, 
rooms, floors, glazing, plumbing and electrics. How we did, what we did and when we did it.
6. Layouts, rooms and open-plan living
8. Services. Electric, water & waste
9. Services. Water, electric & waste
Things that make you go Hmmmmm
The thought processes involved in renovating, converting properties require interaction with all sorts of information. Some bureaucratic, some just a series of ideas that need relating to specific issues of organisation. These posts require an understanding of what you want to achieve and what you can use to help you achieve it. Plans. planning, budgets and timings are just some of the topics covered here. Their aim to make you think about options that could help.
1 Planning. Forms & Permits. Certificate d’Urbanisme
2.Planning. Forms & Permits. Declaration Prealable
3. Planning. Forms & Permits. Permis Construire
Things you may need to know
Some things in this field are a matter of fact. The buying process is common and ways of understanding it and making it work to your advantage are explained here. TVs and Computer technology can be explored in this section. An explanation of the intricacies of SHOB/SHON can be found in this section.
And now for something completely different.
As the heading suggests this category will be looking at some of the alternate ways of building, living in France. Starting with a look at a growing trend for wooden homes and Log Cabins.
The good, the bad and the not so pretty.
This category is of other peoples stories. Their conversions, the way things worked out, or didn’t, and what befell them during their projects. As the title suggests they may not contain what you want to read, but do provide some interesting experiences and lessons for all. In no particular order, the aim is to give people a space where they can tell their own stories from within this field.
Correze Cottage, Peter & Lesley Wilson, First steps
Correze Cottage, Peter & Lesley Wilson, Buying the cottage
Renovation in “Pays de Gatine”, Ray & Jennie Smith, Intro’
Correze Cottage, Peter & Lesley Wilson, First moves & future plans
Mauleon Gite Complex, Ian & Caroline Roulstone. Intro’
Renovation in “Pays de Gatine”, Ray & Jennie Smith, The search
Correze Cottage, Peter & Lesley Wilson, Plan to build.
Got a story to tell ? Contact us.
Exteriors, Outdoor Spaces & Gardens
Looks at the management of land, outbuildings and landscaping. It goes way beyond gardening as, in general, the amount of space you have to play with is bigger compared to UK.
1. Outdoor spaces, Introduction
Suppliers and Agencies
Here we list the companies and agencies that we have used to either supply materials, tools and equipment. Or as providers of information and guidance related to our, or others renovations or conversions. Broken down into sections, they can be used in UK or France to find a specific supplier and compare “like for like” products and prices. The headings are directly linked to that company, agency and their websites provide a good source of advise and many provide on-line ordering services, as well as useful technical vocabulary. In some cases “how-to” guides are also on-line.