By KiwiAdmin2016 General Information 0 Comments

3 things to check before winter catches you out

We love the wintertime: the days when the air is incredibly clear and fresh, the snowfall, and the cold winter nights spent by the fire.

However, although there are many reasons to love winter, as we all know there is a less romantic side. Every winter we have our fair share of wind, rain and frost so it is important to start preparing your home for the colder weather to come. Here are a few tips:-

  1. Look after your chimney

During the winter there’s nothing to beat a wood burner or open fire to create a cosy and warm atmosphere in the home – but equally it’s crucial that your chimney flue pipes or ventilation pipe is swept a minimum of once a year by a qualified chimney sweep. They will provide you with a certificat de ramonage – and if the wood burner is your main source of heat and used regularly, we advise that twice a year is best. This reduces the chances of a potentially damaging chimney fire and will give you peace of mind.

  1. Check and clean your guttering

During the autumn leaves and other debris can accumulate in your gutters. And if they become blocked, the water can spill over the side causing other problems such as mould or even damage to the foundations. So it is wise to check and clean your guttering now before it is too late.

  1. Check your heating system

If you have an oil or gas central heating system, don’t forget to have this serviced annually to ensure it stays well maintained and runs as efficiently as possible.

These are just a few tips to get your property ready for winter.

One final tip. The French government has recently extended the criteria for its Maprimerenov’ grant scheme, which means that more homeowners are eligible to apply for the financial assistance for energy efficiency and insulation type work. Please get in touch if you wish to discuss 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 (o) 6 11 80 21 86

 

grant.norris@wanadoo.fr

https://www.kiwiconstruction.fr/         

 

#renovation #France #artisans #buyingpropertyinfrance #landes #paysbasque #holidayhomes #bearn #landes #multidisciplined #inhouse

By Simon Frost Construction • General Information • Region 0 Comments

Summer and autumn festivals in Les Landes and Pays Basque

During the late summer and autumn, the days are gradually shortening but there is still plenty to enjoy in Les Landes and the Pays Basque with its many fêtes and musical events.

The warmth of the summer sun and the cooler evenings is a positive invitation to everyone to enjoy a good party, the streets rich in colour with the local celebrations.

Many villages and small towns continue with the tradition of a summer festival and it is a good way to meet people as well as sample the delicious food and drink. Indeed, there are at least 40 events in Les Landes during the first 3 weeks of August, ranging from our own community of Tihl (2 – 5 August) to the larger festival in Capbreton (9 – 11 August). There are sadly too many to name individually!

La Fête Du Sel is a 4 day festival (12, 13, 14 & 15 September) in the town of Salies-de-Béarn.   The name “Salies” derives from the French word “sel”(salt) to describe the saline water content in the surrounding area. Salt is recognised historically for its beneficial properties resulting in Salies-de-Béarn becoming a popular Spa town.  The festival programme includes concerts, street markets, dancing, parades and lots of other activities. It is not to be missed!

Another of our favourites is the La Fête du Piment à Espelette in the Pays Basque. The annual event takes place at the end of October (26 & 27) when the town is transformed into a riot of ruby red, spicy peppers (piments in French), which you can see displayed all around the town. The festival attracts 20,000 people and is now in its 51st year.

We hope you enjoy the rest of the summer.

If you would like to discover more about our services, please click on the Facebook Messenger link https://m.me/KiwiConstructionFrance?ref=w6184123.

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)6 03 18 53 31

grant.norris@wanadoo.fr

https://www.kiwiconstruction.fr/         

By Simon Frost Construction • General Information • News 0 Comments

3 fabulous festivals 🎊 not to miss this summer 🌞

We love to party – and the summer is the perfect time to do this in the Landes and the Pays Basque. We have selected three of the very best summer festivals; full of colour, music, dancing, street theatre and of course plenty of delicious food and drink.

  1. Fêtes de la Madeleine – Mont-de-Marsan

For five nights in July, the capital town of Les Landes celebrates the traditional festival of Madeleine with concerts, events, shows, meals and other entertainment.  You will see thousands of people enjoying the festival in blue and white outfits. Plenty of animations for all the family to enjoy! 17 to 21 July 2019.

  1. Fêtes de Bayonne

Bayonne is a captivating little city of timber-framed houses set on the confluence of two rivers. Every July a 5 day festival is held which is the largest in France. Like other festivals, people will dress up in red and white (matching the colours of the Spanish city, Pamplona) and enjoy the music, street theatre and parades. 24 July to 28 July 2019.

  1. Dax, La Feria

Each year in mid-August, the town of Dax holds its feria, a gathering mixing bullfighting – bloodless – and popular celebrations for all the generations. During the five days and five nights of this festival, there are hundreds of thousands of visitors dressed in red and white, singing and dancing to the sound of bandas orchestras and musicians. 14 – 18 August 2019.

Enjoy the summer – and hope you have an opportunity to visit our beautiful region and wonderful festivals.

If you would like to discover more about our services, please click on the Facebook Messenger link https://m.me/KiwiConstructionFrance?ref=w6184123.

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)6 03 18 53 31

By Simon Frost General Information • News • Region 0 Comments

Exploring the delightful great lakes and coastline of the Landes

Spectacularly beautiful coastline, glorious sandy beaches, great lakes and pine forests…. Welcome to the Les Landes in South West France.

This stunningly attractive region has been our home for 30 years.  We love the people, the lifestyle, the delicious food and drink and also the exceptional heritage and history… and for us it is the sheer natural beauty which Les Landes offers that makes this a great place to live.

If you are someone who enjoys the outdoors and the natural landscape, this part of France is a treat and is a perfect choice to go biking, hiking, horse riding and – of course – the fantastic opportunities for surfing and all kinds of water sports.

The area known as the Côte Nature et Grands Lacs stretches from Léon in the south to Sanguinet to the north, a land of open space, beaches and luxuriant vegetation, with the vast pine forests edging the sandy beaches.  Between these two points there are impressive lakes which are ideal for fishing and water activities, small ports and marinas offering superb sailing experiences and plenty of flora and fauna. All-in-all, Les Landes is an oasis of nature providing a close connection with the wildlife and natural world that we share our planet with.

Whenever we have the chance, we love to take the bikes and cycle around the region, taking the time to stop, relax and appreciate the magnificent countryside and coastline.

In truth, it is difficult to say which part of the region we love the most, as the choice is so varied. However, if you live in Les Landes or come here as a visitor, we would love to know what your favourite place is… click on the Facebook Messenger link https://m.me/KiwiConstructionFrance?ref=w6184123

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)6 03 18 53 31

grant.norris@wanadoo.fr

https://www.kiwiconstruction.fr/