Builders Landes
By KiwiAdmin2016 Construction • News 0 Comments

Applying a great finishing touch to your French home

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.

The quality of the plaster work in your home is crucial. We undertake all aspects of plastering, including the skimming of walls and ceilings to make them paint ready. We also provide plaster boarding and dry-lining on stud walls or on a metal framework. From mixing up the plaster and preparing the surface to applying a smooth coat, our experienced and skilled team will create a finished product that you will love.

Achieving a superb finish using proper techniques and the right preparation is always essential. So if your home needs a fresh lick of paint in a specific room or area, or a complete re-decoration, we can advise on the best quality paints and materials to achieve the look and feel you are seeking, and within your budget. We are also able to provide services for both commercial and residential painting and decoration for internal and external work.

We are confident that with our quality of craftsmanship, experience and skill you will be able to enjoy your home for many years to come.

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 #painting #plastering

Builders Biarritz
By KiwiAdmin2016 Construction • News 0 Comments

Making your renovation project energy efficient

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

Builders Landes
By KiwiAdmin2016 Construction • News 0 Comments

Revitalising stonework to create impact

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.

One way of revitalising old stones and creating positive impact is by using sandblasting and repointing, either internally within the home or outside for example with an exterior building or a garden wall. This could be by creating a new feature wall or by renovating an existing structure. Sandblasting involves projecting fine particles of sand at a surface and is the most effective way of restoring stone work and removing years of grime and soot. It’s also important not to underestimate the value of repointing. Mortar can account for around 15% of the surface area of a wall and is vital for preventing leaks and damp.

We understand the need to pay careful attention to the original features of the property, providing you with sound advice and guidance on how to renovate your home in a way that is in-keeping with the local area but also meets the requirements of modern day living. Over the years we have managed many projects that can appear to be impossible – and delivered great results for our clients. If you have a property that is in need of some care and attention – contact us and we’ll be pleased to discuss it further.
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 #masonry

Cuisines Biarritz
By KiwiAdmin2016 Kitchens • News 0 Comments

Realise the new kitchen of your dreams in your French home

Do you remember that first moment when you saw the kitchen of your dreams? Perhaps you recall the stylish kitchen cabinets, the colourful and tasteful tiled splashbacks or the beautifully laid kitchen flooring. We all have our own favourite style of kitchens; traditional, country feel or those that have a more modern, contemporary appearance. Whichever suits your home, taste and budget we can help create a kitchen where you and your family will love to spend precious time together or enjoy the company of friends.

Contemporary kitchens are loved by many due to their streamlined, uncluttered look and often feature a multitude of materials, textures and patterns. Kitchen splashbacks can be of the more traditional tiles or you can use glass with different colours and designs to stunning effect, or maybe even stainless steel. Light fixtures can be particularly important to accentuate part of the kitchen for practical purposes as well as creating a great ambience. Great ideas for modern floor tiles include quartz or wood effect tiles.

Alternatively if you are seeking a more traditional finish you should be thinking natural materials, with raised or recessed cabinetry, tiled splashbacks, classic colours, decorative lighting and natural flooring (such as limestone or slate).

Whatever type of new kitchen you decide on, we can help. Kiwi Construction can undertake complex kitchen remodelling projects that suit your personal style and budget. We can assist you in making minor kitchen updates or performing entire renovations to produce a kitchen that you will love, including all kinds of tiling and flooring work.

Why not make 2017 the year for realising your dream kitchen?

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 #kitchens #flooring #tiling

Image may contain: kitchen and indoor
By KiwiAdmin2016 News 0 Comments

Creating a dream swimming pool in your French property

When you have found the French property you’ve been looking for but it does not have a swimming pool or the existing one doesn’t quite live up to your expectations it can be disappointing. But with the right advice, planning and construction you can have the swimming pool that you dream for… and what’s more you will add value to your house as well as making it more attractive as a holiday let.

Whatever the nature of the project – replacing an entire roof, installing a new kitchen or bathroom, re-wiring a property or plastering the walls and so on – it’s important to ensure that the build process is in keeping with its’ existing surroundings. Renovating or installing a new swimming pool is no different. That’s why even if you are seeking a pool and a terraced area which is modern and contemporary in design, we’ll work closely with you to ensure that the look and the feel is sympathetic to the setting. You can be confident that you will have a great finished product which is affordable and uses quality materials.

Kiwi Construction can attend to the groundworks, installation and plumbing as well as the deck area. We can offer a choice of reinforced concrete or fibreglass pools. In the photos you can see how we have approached a range of different swimming pool projects. These include a pool area where we are currently constructing a feature wall alongside the terrace using original stone from the property; another where we have installed new sleepers using high quality timber to provide a solid construction for the new terrace; and finally a project where you can see members of our team carefully providing the finishing touches to the tiles.

The final result will look fantastic and enable you or your guests to relax and enjoy a sunny day by the pool.

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/

#swimmingpools #renovation #France #artisans #buyingpropertyinfrance

By KiwiAdmin2016 Construction • News 0 Comments

Marrying the old with the new

What’s your preferred style of French property? A traditional farmhouse set in the countryside; an elegant town house or maybe a villa that’s perfect for a short trip to the beach…. Finding a dream in France is an exciting project and one full of possibilities. And if you’ve already bought your home, getting started with the renovation is the important next stage.

France has a rich and varied local heritage with different architectural styles evident in each part of the country. In the Landes and Pays Basques regions in south west France property construction similarly reflects the traditions and culture of these areas with a several distinctive building types.

The pretty red and white houses are typical of the Pays Basques region, generally rectangular in shape and constructed using stone; the Maisons Béarnaises identifiable from their steeply pitched tile or slate roofs; and half-timbered colombage farmhouses and houses which are popular in various parts of the Landes and Pays Basques.

In the Pays Basque the majority of colombage properties are farmhouses which have upper floors generally constructed in an oak timber frame. In the north Landes area – notable for the huge Forêt des Landes that covers two-thirds of the area, providing plenty of wood for local building trades – you will also find beach style houses and Oustaù properties notable for their wood pigeon wing-shaped roofs.

Once you’ve found your dream home in France and you’re planning your renovation project, deciding how to marry the old with the new is crucial: modernising your house whilst ensuring that the essential character of the building is sensitively retained.

We love these projects; working with you to create a home that has the look and feel that you’re seeking, whilst respecting the culture and traditional heritage of the local area. Often aspects of a build project can appear tricky, but with our know-how, experience and practical approach we will find a solution that works. And the finished article will be well worth the time and investment.

With us, we’ll make what may seem an impossible dream… possible.

Kiwi Construction delivers professional expertise, exceptional customer service and quality construction to all its’ clients covering the Biarritz and the Pays Basques 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 #colombage

By KiwiAdmin2016 News • Renovation 0 Comments

Transforming your French house into your dream holiday home

France is an attractive place to buy property and with idyllic countryside, pretty villages and towns plus a superb coastline so it’s not difficult to understand why people love the French
way of life.

With a good supply of houses available to purchase, there is no shortage of properties to invest in whether as a second home or for a permanent move. Your money will buy you more than is the case in the UK and in many other European countries, but once you’ve acquired your new French home choosing the right contractor is crucial. You will need people who understand your requirements with the right expertise and experience.

At Kiwi Construction our passion is creating beautiful houses and we love working with clients to make their vision a reality. Joint business owners Grant Norris who is a quantity surveyor by profession and his wife Joeline, an accountant, are skilled at project managing complex and large build projects. Together they have assembled an experienced in-house team of artisans that can take on any type of development: carpentry, masonry, tiling, electrics, plumbing, plastering and painting, kitchens and bathrooms… and more.

However w
e know that there are many other aspects to consider, especially for property owners who live abroad and want to work with a firm they can trust, confident in the knowledge that they will get on with the job. That’s why we can assist with build permits and all aspects of a project, making certain that when you arrive at your home in France you’ll find a quality finish, great attention to detail and superb workmanship: allowing you to relax and enjoy French life.

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