3 reasons to love Christmas in South West France

Spécifiques au Sud de la Gironde et au Nord des Landes de Gascogne, les cercles font partie de l’histoire d’hier comme de la vie culturelle et sociale d’aujourd’hui.
On peut y parler gascon, écouter du rock, y voir une exposition, participer à un tournoi de belote ou de fléchettes ou simplement y boire un verre entre concitoyens… Les Cercles des villages des Landes font partie du patrimoine vivant, même si leurs statuts et leurs règlements ne sont plus ce qu’ils étaient vraiment autrefois.

De « cercles républicains » fondés en 1830 à « cafés associatifs » au 3e millénaire, ces lieux typiques remplissent une mission primordiale au sein des communes rurales. Bien moins nombreux qu’antan, ils sont au centre de toutes les attentions de la Fédération des cercles de Gascogne pour que perdure leur rôle rassembleur.

Des lieux en vie

Nés dans la première moitié du XIXe siècle à l’initiative de notables réunis autour d’idées communes (le plus souvent politiques), les cercles reflètent les affinités de leurs membres avec des appellations éloquentes : de l’Union, Républicain, des Démocrates, des Citoyens, Ouvrier, des Travailleurs, de la Concorde, de la Paix, de la Fraternité, de l’Avenir, etc. Leur existence est légalisée avec la Loi de 1901 sur les associations mais leurs principes restent pendant quelques décennies inchangées…

Pas de membres mineurs, pas de femmes (par ordre du Préfet !) et des lieux strictement réservés aux hommes qui y viennent deviser, s’informer, boire du vin… Depuis, les mutations de la société ont inscrit les Cercles dans l’ouverture. D’ailleurs, les institutions départementales et régionales travaillent même sur leur pérennisation au travers de pistes articulées autour de l’animation, de promotion des productions locales, voire d’informations touristiques.

Avec 25 ans d’expérience et de savoir-faire mis au service de ses clients, l’entreprise générale de bâtiment Kiwi Construction cultive de grandes valeurs éthiques : honnêteté, intégrité et professionnalisme. Grâce à une équipe d’experts et à l’utilisation de matériaux de qualité ainsi que des dernières technologies, Kiwi réalise tous les projets de rénovation et de construction, quel que soit leur dimension. Sa devise ? « Rendre l’impossible possible » ! Contact : Kiwi Construction – 460 chemin de Pedoucasse, 40360 Tilh. Tél. 05 58 55 35 22. www.kiwi-maconnerie.com

The sun is shining against a bright blue sky, the temperature is lovely and hot – perfect conditions for a dip in the cool, blue water of your own swimming pool. If you are looking to build a pool for your home, or maybe you are seeking to renovate an existing one, below are a few things to think about.

We have years of experience in building pools and we will be delighted to help you consider all the different issues required to ensure that the final result will look and feel fantastic. The addition of a swimming pool will generally increase the value of a property so it can be a good long-term investment.

Firstly, what type of pool would you like? The choices are many… do you prefer an outdoor pool or an indoor pool where you can enjoy a swim whatever the weather; a pool house, spa facilities, hot tubs… not forgetting terracing, covers to reduce evaporation and security fencing. With water being a precious supply, it’s also worth thinking about recycling water for your pool, reducing the impact on the environment and your bills by installing a below the ground reservoir which will collect rainwater for use during the long summer months.
Finally it’s also important to factor in the necessary time for planning permission. For example, a swimming pool sized between 10m²- 60m² will require a Déclaration Préalable which can take around one month to be approved, plus you will need to allow some time for preparing the documentation.

We hope that this has given you some ideas on the things to consider when planning a pool project for your home in France.

Kiwi Construction delivers professional expertise, exceptional customer service and quality construction to all its’ clients covering the Biarritz, the Pays Basque and Landes departments.

When it comes to renovating your property in France, applying a great finishing touch will give your project a ‘wow factor’, impressing both family and friends. Once the plumbing, electrics, joinery and other work is complete, this is the time to start looking forward to completing the remaining work for your fully renovated French home. And with our 25 years’ experience in France we will ensure that the investment you make will deliver great results.

Renovating an older property in France can have a number of benefits. It can restore a building that has become derelict or is in extremely poor condition; perhaps improve the overall living environment or result in a home that is more thermally efficient. Whatever the objective of your renovation project – and perhaps it is all of these – it’s important to consider a number of factors and plan accordingly, including the re-design, materials and of course your budget.

Energy efficiency is crucial in many ways. Even in south-west France, during the winter months the weather can be cold at times which means that without good levels of insulation, you could lose a considerable amount of heat. This will result in potentially higher energy bills than is necessary – and a colder house.

Ensuring that the roof structure is sound, structurally robust and water-tight should be one of your first priorities. We have 25 years’ experience in constructing, renovating and repairing all manner of different roof types and we are able to advise you on the best and most appropriate form of insulation. We use insulation called “Super 12” which has the highest energy rating and is often used in older roof structures; it’s ideal when you want to retain an older aspect of a roof truss, for example. We only use insulation and other materials that are fully compliant with French regulations.

It’s also important to think about the efficiency of any boiler, central heating system or wood burner to ensure that they are well-maintained, appropriate to the size of your property and remain fit for use.

You may also not be aware that there are some financial incentives available to permanent French residents with regard to energy efficiency. This includes being able to offset some of your income tax liability against the cost of materials and equipment and a reduced level of TVA. To find out more concerning eligibility, we recommend you discuss this with a qualified French-based accountancy firm.

Warmer weather may now be on its’ way – but springtime is the perfect time to plan ahead and ensure that your home is warm and thermally efficient for next winter.

Kiwi Construction delivers professional expertise, exceptional customer service and quality construction to all its’ clients covering the Biarritz, the Pays Basque and Landes departments.

Contact:
Grant & Joeline Norris
+33 (0)5 58 55 35 22 / +33 (0)6 03 15 53 31
grant.norris@wanadoo.fr
https://www.kiwiconstruction.fr/

#renovation #France #artisans#buyingpropertyinfrance #landes #paysbasque#energyefficiency

When you find the French property of your dreams, but realise that the stone work is looking tired and not making the most of its’ beautiful features then we can help.

Original stonework is an important feature of many properties across France and is often one of the reasons we fall in love with a house. Restoring it to its former glory is not as difficult as you may think, as we have an experienced team of qualified masons who can restore or build with the following materials: brick, building stones (including marble, granite and travertine), limestone, cast stone, concrete blocks, glass blocks and cob. They use only the best materials and with our extensive knowledge of the local area, we can ensure that the newly renovated property reflects the heritage of the region and will be somewhere which you will enjoy living in. In the photos you can see how one of our current projects is progressing and is near to completion.