French Barns for Renovation, a Bargain or a Bomb

Converting an old derelict barn into the perfect home is one of the most interesting challenges, and is guaranteed to test the limits of perseverance. On the other hand, French barns for renovation are plentiful, the lifestyle in France is more appealing, and with proper planning will provide a home for all the family not obtainable in the UK for the same price.

Buying the right property will make the renovation go so much more smoothly. Rebuilding a barn can be a difficult and time consuming process and if it has started to deteriorate from exposure to the elements then expect the cost of renovation to up considerably.

Finding a bargain isn't hard to do, real estate agents list them all the time, but making sure it isn't a bomb, well that's the hard part. Here are few things to look out for;

Water seeping into the walls is the quickest way to see your investment fall down. Make sure the roof is sound, especially parts of the roof that are directly above the walls. Water leaking onto the top of the wall will quickly run into the lime mix, weakening it, and resulting in decay from the inside out. Unsightly bulges in the walls are an indication that something isn't right.

Look for large cracks in the walls that run right through from the outside in. These may have been pointed or rendered making the cracks difficult to see, so look for windows or doors that don't seem to be straight or rough textured walls that make it difficult to see if the wall is straight. Iron bars that have been attached to the walls using metal pegs indicate the wall has been cracked in the past.

Many French barns are covered in ivy and other aesthetically pleasing climbers, unfortunately, these have a horrible tendency of growing into the walls. Look for the main trunk of the plant and gently try to pull it away from the wall. Is it gripping with anything more than just a hook?

Inside the barn, pay particular attention to wooden posts and beams looking out for signs of damage from wood eating insects, particularly termites. South and Western France are worst affected, although no province is immune. Termite infestations can be difficult to detect, they tend to like dark environments and eat the timber from the inside out. Hardwood timber is not immune from damage and weakened beams will not provide as much support to the structure of the building, in extreme cases, the timber becomes as soft as polystyrene and a hard jab with a fist or hammer will snap it.

Furniture beetle is also prevalent in France, characterized by many small pinprick holes in timber, and is really a major problem structurally, unlike borer infestations in other parts of the world.

Asbestos roofing has been quite common in France and cracked or damaged roofs require special handling. Typically if the roof is sound and in good condition, and if you don't plan to alter the roof-line, then leaving asbestos roofing in place is recommended by many architects and communes. Often, covering over the asbestos with new roof tiles is seen as a better solution since costly removal is avoided. Like the UK, it is illegal to remove asbestos yourself, this job must be done by registered asbestos removal firms.

Looking for a bargain and not a bomb by conducting a thorough inspection of any advertised French barn for renovation should be your first step before committing to any project of this magnitude, after all, you're looking for a new life and your home shouldn't fall apart around you.

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