Touraine

I will try not to be unkind with my comments.

If it is the original tiles (tomettes) and they are in good condition you have to keen them. You can't dig them up or cover them. They are feature and it is not the done thing in France. As said, just put rugs down.

If they are not original then put your under floor heating down with a nice parquet.

In terms of heating, oil and electricity is a nonsense. Really, I don't know why people support it. But as said, insulation, insulation, insulation, insulation......and more insulation.

Why not think about pompe à chaleur (PAC) ? A bit more expensive but it will pay itself back. Furthermore, when your dream is shattered and you want to sell up.....you are more likely to sell with a PAC.

Alternatively, you could just put fluffy carpets down and paint all your walls magnolia.

Chatter Static

Personally I don't think its that horrific it's a lifestyle that suits some and quite clearly doesn't suit others, problem is the ones having fun don't shout out about it whereas the one that are not enjoying it here complain bitterly. We have had quite a few over the years but there have still been more members join that are enjoying it here

BEVS

Y'know.

I thought I was heading for France from SW England but I seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in New Zealand

Not that anyone cares but central heating is rare here. We have one wood burner for the whole house. We regulate the temperature by opening and shutting doors.
I use oil filled radiators to take the edge off the bedrooms. We have thought of a ducted system to circulate the warm air when the wood burner is going.

JWL

Oh, yeah??

Touraine

Well I could be unkind and say what your are doing/planning (IMHO) is a great idea or I could be kind and tell you that you are heading for a complete disaster.

Take your pick.

JWL

I thought carefully about your advice for 0.5 seconds and have decided to give it the weight it merits in determining my final decision. Does space have weight?

Touraine

Not if it is empty.......

I think most expats don't take advice from forums. I see UK reg removal vans heading SW on the A10 everyday.

JWL

Maybe most expats just don't take advice from some people on forums. Can't imagine why, but there must be a reason...

Touraine

Possibly because they don't give them the answers they want to hear.

JWL

Well, the answer I think at least some aspiring expats would like to hear is that it is or may be possible with due caution and planning.

This always somehow seems more appealing to me than the default Victor Meldrew approach.

Or perhaps we should just close the site down. I mean, what's the point...?

Touraine

'caution & planning'

What have you learnt so far ?

JWL

That you are very arrogant.

Ras0888

'When' the dream is shattered? Not if? I bet that shattered dreams and expats that have houses they can't sell, please you no end. The tone of condescension in your posts are an insult. They so wreak of 'I've moved to France, you haven't, therefore I know best'. I wouldn't even consider a move without taking into account that it could go wrong and the financial implications this would have. We have small children to think of too and the affect on them, but how would you know this? Better to think of everyone as idiots and remain a negative and prejudiced poster. Fluffy carpets my arse!!

audio

We have forage vertical geothermie (google for a thorough explanation). It came with the house but we paid about 5,000€ extra to have a double forage vertical.
It is relatively cheap to run but the initial outlay is expensive, around 23,000€
The installation floor depth as I think CS mentioned needs to be considered, ours was about 20cm above a concrete base.
A neighbour has underfloor electric; he reckons it is reasonable in cost running with his solid fuel insert.
Have a look at this: (use google translate if you need)


Quel investissement pour une pompe à chaleur géothermique? | Quelle Energie : Le magazine

Touraine

Or very helpful. There is a difference.