Materials and tools restoring and renovating your property in France

Materials - sand, cement, lime and plaster

After the builders have left you will probably still find lots of small things that need doing, or need finishing off. You may also be tackling a room or two yourself, where the work involved is not enormous, if only you knew the best approach to use, and the appropriate materials to use...

This section looks at different types of sand, lime, cement and plaster and the usual ways in which they are employed. Most of these products are available in small quantities at your local bricolage store, so you can avoid the need to purchase a 35kg sack of plaster just to fill a small hole or two. Many of the materials mentioned throughout this section are available in the SB Mercier range of products, and are available in DIY stores across France.

General Advice when Using these Products

Even for small jobs you should follow the same basic rules:

1) Work in a clean dust free space if possible

2) Use clean tools

3) Use clean water

4) Use clean dry materials

5) Mix your products in a clean, usually rubber or plastic, tray or bucket

5) After use, clean your tools and put them somewhere they can be found again easily

6) Clean up after you! - it makes work much more efficient, and of a higher quality, if you always start with a clear clean work area around you, rather than stamping through piles of dust every time you move.

You will have spotted a theme in each of these rules - 'clean'. Completely obvious, and often ignored. I know, I do the same myself. I have twice uncovered dead rabbits who had attempted to burrow into a sand pile. But this is not recommended or funny.