We are now just over 2 months post move, heading into the fériés month of May when there will be no hope of getting back on timetable. Deep calming breaths…we do at least have a functional shower.
I really thought that this time with the experience we have had we could crack the art of the French Artisan. The minute we signed the compromis way back last year we started seeking out the different trades we would need and building a network. We discussed what needed to be done, and with a 6 month lead-in and devis’ signed we hoped the minute we bought the house they could get going.
The plan was that all the dusty demolition would be done before we moved in, and then kitchen and bathroom quickly afterwards. Then we could move in for decorating and then finally unpacking.
It started well.
The hideous plastic parquet flottant was ripped up before Christmas and the beautiful original oak underneath sanded, waxed and buffed. Blocked up chimneys were unblocked and fireplaces restored. The house was a dust bowl.
Work then started on the kitchen in January which uncovered horrific rising damp. The plan was just to replace the floor, but we ended up taking out walls back to stone, which meant removing vast amounts of hidden concrete tanking, and excavating the floor, so the ceiling had to come down. Our main maçon is an ultra-perfectionist so no way could we take any shortcuts. But it meant bringing in extra trades.
Tempête Goretti took out our electricity for a week which didn’t help, and a 3 week project turned into 3 months. However Jour-J arrived and we moved in; no kitchen, impossible bathroom, dust and builders everywhere. The noise of drills and radios at full blast in an uninsulated house was just what we needed after an exhausting 750km move in mid-February.
Then the plaquist had a premature baby, so 3 months turned into 4 (the baby is fine now). And the line of vans parked in front grew longer as trades started overlapping. Since we had selected all local artisans luckily they knew each other and everything remained good natured.
And of course once the slot they had programmed for our work came to an end we were into the juggling workmen who appear and disappear at will, so we went into herding cats mode. And then another baby took out a menuiser. But not the 86 year old one who is doing the kitchen cupboards in his own sweet time. Having been diagnosed with prostate cancer he is taking every day as a gift but thankfully likes his work!
So here we are. 1st May when everything was due to be well finished. We can use the bathroom (firm delivered wrong shower screen so now a delay to get correct one), but not the kitchen yet. Every room is still stacked with boxes, my clothes have yet even to be unpacked and we have cooker, fridge, freezer, table and chairs blocking hallway.
And on the fête de travail we will have to spend rest of weekend cleaning and sealing kitchen floor before electrician returns on tuesday. Happy holiday everyone!
