Escape to a French fishing port

The first of a planned series of videos about restoring a French townhouse and improving its energy performance. Before you start adding insulation to an old house, watch this!
Please tell me in the comments if you found this is too theoretical, or maybe you would prefer more detail about modern building products and their interaction with old buildings?

[@andypandy955]

I moved to France 7 years ago buying a modern architectural house in a small village. My wife is French so not exactly foreigners or my wife isn't. We live around 15 mins drive from the very large city of Niort. I think integration depends on your personality. I am the only English person ever to live in my village so I was told by the Marie. But my life has become very rich and I have many friends here. In fact I have played boule for my village team since I arrived. I see a France that many English people will never see, a very traditionally family based life with unwritten protocols in plenty. My advise to anyone who wants to live in France is simple embrace France and France will embrace you. Great Video Roger thanks for sharing your home and it's restoration ,very interesting.

[@clivejones1888]

couldnt agree more … NW Finistère Je suis l’anglais, soupçonné d’être 51 % breton

[@felipek6496]

Hear! Hear! Bravo!

[@Arfabiscuit]

Not in the south where i have lived for 11 years horrible people

[@captainoftheschnark3471]

@@Arfabiscuit Why did you stay 11 years?

[@richardmullins1883]

My brother lived in Annemasse for 7 yrs. I visited often and I met so many wonderful people who were very family oriented. I only make judgments based on my own experiences not someone else's opinions. Vive La France!

[@trixiepickle8779]

I moved to a tiny village in Old France 17 yrs ago. I am finding your video really interesting to watch. I had done various houses up in the UK and found an old granite house which had happily been future proofed by an architect. I look forward to seeing what you do, thank you for sharing.

[@italianbirdvideos6190]

So well presented. Timely for my wife and me as we just purchased an early 20th century stone cottage in Manche and are retiring there. Thank you.

[@philiporourke7896]

No sailing in this vid, this was fun to watch. Thanx.

[@paulstanwix522]

I bought a stone house, up a mountain in the middle of nowhere, in Portugal. 5 years later I realise that life would have been a trifle (extra large size) easier, if I had bought a house in a large village or town. I'm battling with the cement as well (why do they do it)? Funnily enough my son has built his own eco-house in the UK. Re-cycled foamed glass under the floor, wood fibre board, sprayed hemp-crete and hemp-crete block insulation form the walls, re-cycled pulped paper insulate the roof space. Lime plaster and mortar everywhere. He only uses the central heating once a year to test that it's still working! I'm looking forward to watching how you progress and also seeing if I can incorporate some of your ideas, in my house. Your films are tranquilly marvellous!

[@trosmeneth]

Thanks Roger. Now I understand my home a lot better. Built in the early 60's in a similar fashion to yours and only 23k away. We are very happy to have anchored here for the last 12 years.

[@colinwellman9480]

I believe allowing the walls to 'breath' comes at a cost of staining. I have a stone house with stone walls as you describe. The outside has a lime render , all in good condition. The interior stone hasn't been covered and you can see the discolouration up to a metre from the stone flags. I think today we are less tolerant of damp and minor visible traces it leaves. As the French have never used DPC's then other ways have been found to keep the damp out, dry lining being the favourite. I fully endorse living in a small town or village, use the bar and local businesses and be prepared to wait a while before you get accepted. It's worked for us.

[@krassfilms]

This is like a phd in restoring old houses. Thank you master. Watching, learning, and storing the info for a future time :)

[@aalove2010]

How could this amazing channel get any better? Renovation and building science! Looking forward to this series, thanks so much Roger.

[@kmilton1593]

As an old still active farmer from western Canada who built his own house himself, I found your vlog extremely interesting, and learned a great deal. (Was really shocked, though, when you chose oriented strand board: it may be strong, but it will be a heavy weight on your roof, and full of one to three types of glue. Some of that glue will slowly gas off over the years and perhaps not too good for one's lungs. Also, of the four types of OSB, google says one type is not great with moisture.) Your detailed explanations are perfect for an interesting video. Keep up the good work, and cheers to your carpenter as well.

[@davidharris4062]

What a good idea to do these videos, sympathetically restoring these traditionally constructed buildings, pre 1919 buildings were constructed using lime based products, building such as these need to breath

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

We get to see this architecture through the eyes of an architect. This series is a wonderful idea. Thanks so much.

[@stefanbattige7988]

Congratulations to Your new old House! Douarnenez is one of the most beautiful places for sailing in Brittany I know. With Chasse- Marée and Port Rhu just round the corner! Lucky man!

[@michaeloliver1038]

Man I’ve been waiting forever for a tour of your house. She’s just lovely. 🎉

[@martycasey8476]

I found this episode a wonderful deviation from the water world. I live in a colonial New England town in the USA and have been in building renovations and inspections for 50 years. Often when I start explaining ventilation, condensation, air and moisture movement, my clients look at me like I'm a witch doctor...which I am not! Very well explained. Thank you.

[@zwerdna35]

Looking forward to the next installment of the house renovation project....from another Englishman in an old stone house at the other end of Brittany!

[@BumblebumBear]

Great video, a realistic view of moving to France and the work that can come with it. Lovely house. You will restore it to a beautiful home.

[@brunsonr]

As a fellow architect (and sailor), I applaud your efforts to restore this lovely building. And I completely agree with your strategy to address the building science of the exterior walls and roof. These wonderful old stone buildings want to breath. Sail-on!

[@ljd8520]

Another Architect and Sailor here too. Great job Roger

[@davidharris4062]

Well a Carpenter and Joiner by trade and a Chartered Construction Manager by profession, with an interest in pre 1919 tradition construction, the problems associated with using OPC, Upvc Windows and doors cause me a lot of problems,

[@greglenoir7674]

Wanna be dinghy cruiser/finish carpenter and long time subscriber here, I enjoyed the building project and hope you will grace us with more. Congrats on that lovely house.

[@honumoorea873]

Insulating from the inside is a bad idea, far less thermal mass inside the insulated space.

[@ljd8520]

@honumoorea873 yes,but when there's no option to insulate outside.....

[@plymouthwelshboy]

Really interesting video Roger. Fascinating, an ambitious project but with such a clear rationale and explanation. Greatly enjoyed as always. Thank you 👍

[@MatthewTinker-au-pont-blanc]

I moved to France 44years ago, the first five years, I spent in the country in the south west of France! After the collapse of my marriage, my new partner wanted to live in Paris, so we moved, well, I've lived in and around Paris for nearly 40 years, I don't speak English often, as I've really adapted to the French culture! All the best, Matthew

[@davidangela6997]

We decided to live in rural brittany, and restored our old stone farmhouse which took five years. Limestone render and pointing inside on the meter thick walls. The outside pointing is the dreaded cement, but this will eventually be sorted. Now I have time on my hands I am building a 24ft sailing boat from plans by New Zealander John Welsford. See you on the water in about three years. Looking forward to the next episode.

[@louispoulain]

As a french used to our "traditional" techniques, I'm glad to see a new way of restauration for our old beautiful houses.

[@mschmidt62]

Just the other day I was thinking it was time for a new Roger Barnes video. I expected sailing, but I am very satisfied with this one. In fact, I have enjoyed building a boat more than I have enjoyed sailing it. I once wanted to be an architect, I briefly studied naval architecture by correspondence with McNaughton, I have done a lot of comparatively minor home renovation, and I am quite the environmentalist passionate about making houses more environmentally benign. I also love old stuff, especially things like stone houses, the like of which we have almost none here in the western United States. And then you get into the technical details, which speaks to the part of me that was a professional physical scientist for decades. So this video is an unexpected thrill!

[@danielbtwd]

I have lived in the languedoc since 2008. My boat is in Marseillan and I live in the foothills of the Caroux. My house is 16th century. I love it, a magnificent feat of engineering. Thanks for your post, its so important to upgrade these old homes properly.

[@philipwright7186]

Firstly, congratulations Roger on escaping Brexit. All the advice I had about moving and buying in France is neatly wrapped up in this video - be careful not to isolate yourself, involve yourself in the local community, and if you buy an old house, let it breathe! I think you'll be wonderfully happy there.

[@johnrolfe1823]

Excellent and timely, we've had 3 houses fall down in this area (Aude) because of using cement render. The "theory" is that the moisture raises naturally up into the wall (no damp course) and then evaporates, creating maybe a rudimentary fridge, certainly some level of cooling. When you prevent the evaporation it's believed that the clay fines get weakened and eventually the rubble wall looses structural integrity. One of the areas noted is that they would use, back in the day, a mortar with a very high proportion of chalk to install the series of roof tiles built out under the eves, the more the layers the more prosperous the house was though to be, and then had to pay taxes accordingly. This band around the top of the house was taking on moisture and evaporating creating a cold band right at the top of the house. I'll be pointing lots of would be house builders and restorers to your channel . thanks and good luck. Oh and the more tech detail the better.

[@RogerRoving]

That's fascinating. My background is as a conservation architect in the UK, so I am not very knowledgeable about traditional building construction in the sound of France.

[@johnrolfe1823]

We did some experiments in this area back in the UK, we had on site an old stone barn, and we built a modern steel shed of exactly the same size next to it, they checked the R value of the stone building and then adjusted the insulation on the new one to give an identical value. Over an 18 month period the Barn was always 8-10 % cooler and when we did tests with some heating the barn was substantially warmer - mainly we thought due to the thermal mass. I don't know why the barn was cooler though.

[@stephenhenion8304]

This is why I really like your channel! Congratulations on this wonderful project. You have certainly accomplished quite alot up to this point! Job well done! 🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸

[@MCP53]

As the son of an architect and a strong out-of-the-current-box thinker, I applaud your ideas. I used to live in Finland, where much modern housing incorporated this controlled living inside of a plastic bag logic. My former boss had such an apartment and her kids had lots of allergy problems, so they moved into a modern log-built house and the problems basically vanished. Log houses breath, and so do stone houses built in the old way. I'm looking forward to the next episode 🙂.

[@user-iu5tt2vo1w]

Houses don‘t breath, even not with controlled ventilation. It‘s amazing that people who should know better are talking about breathing. What permeable walls do is to exchange humidity with the surrounding air in both directions. So, iif the sin is shining and the wall becomes warm outside (warmer thsn inside) the humidity penetrstes from the outside to the inside. Usually in winter time it‘s vice versa. Therefote, in a well constructrd building you‘ll never have wet walls, dump and mold, because these processes canvel themself out. Cool stuff but most people know about it anymore nir understand the physics behind it. It‘s a shame for the profession.

[@TheRemcovanreems]

Very informative, common sense (bit of a rare commodity these days) and such a good vibe. Inspirational! Thank you! You made a big difference today. 💪❤️🙏

[@berkeleyfuller-lewis3442]

Roger, this is a MARVELOUS, thoughtful, intelligent and researched vlog. So amazing how so many people go on "auto-pilot" "believing in" "modern materials," whilst not understanding the buildings that they think they are "renovating." Fascinating. And, "ooops!" Thank you.

[@dickranmarsupialmusic3184]

Fascinating details about choices of building materials and strategies. It all makes sense to me. Sad that so many of us amateurs have been on the receiving end of bad advice (driven, presumably by suppliers just wanting to make maximum profit, and damn the consequences for the building itself). Thanks!

[@nathanwhite2129]

Hello Roger, I've just discovered you on KZbin. I'm a retired Master Carpenter (specialising in Period, Historic, & Ecclesiastical Building Conservation) and Construction Professional from England, now living in the south of Spain, your video is not over theoretical at all, you use plain language and describe things in a way most will understand and find interesting, I certainly did, your narrative has the perfect balance. Your boating videos too are captivating.

[@LizMcNamara47]

How much did you buy this property for and how much will you have to spend on the property to make it habitable?

[@nicolasstanley1392]

As a remodeling contractor in the US, I found this very informative. Thanks Roger!

[@peternash6206]

A perfect balance so far Roger. Just a suggestion if I may - When I restored my old finca in Spain I was persuaded to fit underfloor heating as the floors had to be ripped out anyway. It was the best decision ever as the winters can be quite long, cold and damp. I am a mean old bugger and I just get the system to tick-over in the winter months which keeps the floors warm but certainly not hot - great in the bathroom. Good luck with the project and please keep us posted.

[@rozinant1237]

As a building scientist and sailor in Canada, I am really looking forward to watching this project progress. Your plan seems quite sound to me.

[@colrodrick8784]

Thanks Roger. Pleased to hear your plans to go with sensible methods to reduce your carbon footprint mate.

[@donotwantahandle1111]

Recycling the hot air in an attic down to the colder lower floors is a great idea in cold climates. Duct work and a small fan is all that required.

[@a.m.d493]

Unfortunately most British people who move to France don't do so for the culture or integration with the locals. They simply go to France to get a cheap property and move away from Britain, which has now become overpopulated and expensive. Unfortunately not moving there for the love of France or the french culture. Love to see your fondness for the french way of life and integration with the locals etc. A breath of fresh air and best of luck to you in your adopted country

[@mariannekuijpers9298]

I am here for the renovation process, the more details the better!

[@michaelfoort2592]

Much, much better than your average "escape to ..." videos. Thanks

[@chrisbeeson1325]

Excellent Roger, thank you. As a Church of England priest, I've had (and unofficially still do have) some responsibility for Victorian churches, and your insights into insulation and damp are highly relevant, especially when modern reordering is proposed. I await future episodes eagerly.

[@barryconway]

Sir. That was fascinating, educational and enjoyable. Thank you for putting the effort into the making and the sharing of it. As much that I am no sailor, I also am nothing of an architect nor builder, but in both cases, your telling of it all puts me there, helps me to experience, to understand a little, and to enjoy. I thank you. Cheers, sir.

[@chrissd08]

Roger Im a sailor who works on houses(in the US) for my work. You’ve combined two of my interests! I have to repair alot of homes that develop moisture problems from the inside out, I enjoy watching your solutions.

[@tizme6105]

While my mother grew up in a stone house (2ft thick blocks) in Dunedin NZ, most homes here are built with timber throughout; so this video with its insight into yet another building technique made an interesting change from your usual sailing videos .

[@chriswilliams6568]

So much work and so much time. Thank goodness we moved to Canada from the UK and my hubby can, so much easier in wooden homes, do any renovation . Thx so much for video. Good wishes.

[@pnwesty7174]

We briefly visited Dourarnenz in June. Towns we visited in Brittany that size (and smaller) were lovely - beautiful houses, town centers, wonderful food, beautiful ports, and friendly people. I am very much looking forward to this new series of videos. We are hoping to do something similar in a few years.

[@marmac567]

The ship they launched looks beautiful,, good old fashioned craftsmanship

[@AndyJarman]

Here in Western Australia we have boats with a similar shaped hull. They were fishing boats, big capacity for the catch but once the boat is healing the wetted area of the hull reduces rapidly making they very fast with a full load. First back to port got the best price for their fish.

[@sumobear2031]

Excellent video and so informative. i am surprised you didnt have your friend mary chipping all the old plaster off the walls and throwing the rubble out.

[@paulliebenberg3410]

Very interesting! I never knew stone construction with clay bedding was a thing, here in California I've only seen it in the stone foundations and fireplaces of rural cabins considered to be "rudimentary" and likely built by poor European immigrants. With our earthquakes stone buildings don't do very well, but after 2 centuries some of those stone foundations are still around. Of course the famous California missions are built with clay bricks (adobe) and some are still standing. I want to hear your take on rain-proofing structures, especially the walls.

[@windsweptcoffee]

What a lovely surprise finding those windows. Let there be light.

[@tocboatman]

Thanks Roger, I'll enjoy this series. As someone who chose the French countryside as home I will argue it also has benefits. A big barn in which to build boats, peace and quiet, pool to cool off in, more outbuildings to store boats and motorbikes in. All features it would be hard to get in town. We have also resisted any urge to document our life and projects here for youtube. Having defended our decision, I also fully appreciate the attractions of a place near the harbour in Douarnenez. Within 300 metres of the beach one way, similar to the port the other and 500 metres from the Port Musee. I remember visiting the build of one of those wooden boats at the boat yard just up the Boulevard de Général de Gaulle. A great place with a thriving maritime tradition. Entirely approve of the steps you're taking to renovate your home, good to see someone with genuine professional expertise tackle this sort of project.

[@kevinharmon8885]

Delighted, the small towns of France, treasure around every corner.

[@kenjones2973]

Hi Roger, from Ken in South Australia. I have been a subscriber and admirer of your sailing adventures for a few years now and thoroughly appreciate your whole approach and philosophy toward life in general. This current offering seems to me a logical extension of pretty much everything I have come to expect from your hand. Thanks for your contribution to making my life that much better. And yes I do mess about in boats, preferably wooden ones. Cheers for now, Ken.

[@jeremyrowley1240]

Great video, just as good as your dinghy cruising videos., Can't wait to see more episodes.

[@jamiecleeves7921]

these videos is why i dont watch tv anymore fantastic and very lucky thanks roger

[@ja1a100]

Thanks for the island of calm and soothing vibe i get from all of your videos.

[@jimhennessy2928]

Super roger great to see solutions to damp old houses worth restoring, far more character too, look forward to seeing the progress

[@hedleyjackson5131]

Great video Roger as someone living in an old farm house it is very revealing.

[@user-qn8rk1fl5w]

Great stuff!!! I love boats and love architecture.Goes together well. Love to hear your thoughts.

[@davewaltersmusic]

Excellent work Roger. Timely, and a much needed insight into effective insulation processes in old stone buildings.

[@Helliconia54]

I have a "French connection". Looking forward to seeing the rest of your videos. Restorations have always fascinated me. I have worked in the building industry and currently assist a friend Renovating people's homes.

[@andrewcarr3650]

Good for you Roger. Save the planet by keeping your old things intact and in good order. A heater burning in the sitting room with cold air allowed to flow in will gradually absorb the moisture. Limewash and a slate damp course kept my ancient mud house dry and rigid.

[@kerryburns6041]

Regarding the siting of the house, I found there was a lot to think about moving to southern Andalucia, water supplies, amount of sunshine for the solar, quality of build and compliance with regulations. Over the years I've found there is much benefit in having a house built in a perfect spot by a local man who was a builder in Germany. He was also very fond of fruit trees so the garden was established with just about everything. This year I'm hoping to make oil from my olives and avocados. I put in a staircase to the storeroom on the upper floor and made a bedroom and bathroom, added a few windows, built a front porch and a few minor additions. Also had a garden room added nearby. I´m surrounded by trees in the Rio Lanjarón canyon, with fabulous mountain views, but I can walk to town in 15 minutes and enjoy the ancient streets and varied architecture. Mostly by luck I seem to have navigated a complicated journey, and having an agent in the next town who eases the path has been indispensable. Once people realise that you are sufficiently committed to the country to begin learning the language, the welcome is warm and friendly.

[@petercrossley1069]

Very wise counsel! We are restoring our house in London applying the same principles. Five years work so far and two more to go! Training workmen to follow old techniques takes dedication.

[@soupedujour]

So interesting….loved every minute….well done….it will be so comfortable and cosy when done…

[@harper5892]

Excellent! I almost prefer this line of enquiry (or lecture) to the sailing . Very interesting.

[@andrewfawcett-harper588]

Great video Rodger. You have given me a lot of ideas for my cottage in rural North Northumberland, damp is a major problem because of the type of construction. I have already opened up the old fire place (where the kitchen range was and replaced it with a log/solid fuel burner unit which also heats my water and radiators. They had smashed the range combustion chamber area and replaced it with a LPG boiler and a gas fire in front sometime in the 70's., the pipework was reconnected to my new (second hand recycled )boiler and I now heat the whole cottage by just keeping on my fire. I wholeheartedly agree with you that buildings need to breath. Insulation is my next challenge. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge. Cheers

[@presspound7358]

You sir… are a compelling “raconteur”. Enjoyed this tremendously because I’ve renovated two homes here in Atlantic Canada where winters are a tad colder than those along the coast of Brittany. 😂 You’ve purchased a most interesting property which is clearly benefiting from your expertise. Will be interesting to follow as your project unfolds. Glad you decided to chronicle this restoration/refurbishment. My ancestors are originally from the Poitou/Bretagne area of France. They crossed the pond in the 1720s/1730s or thereabouts. L’expression de mes salutations les plus cordiales. Merci à vous. Cheers 🥂 👍🇨🇦

[@GrahamRead101]

Interesting to see the different options for insulating an older building. Hope the processes for getting approval are reasonably efficiently

[@KelvinMeeks]

Enjoyed this video. Fascinating. I love your commentary and insights. The music, narration, pacing, cinematography - everything is just excellent.

[@robinengland5799]

You have the most interesting life!! You sure know how to squeeze everything out of it!! Sailing , a beautiful house and country and a great profession to boot! Thanks for sharing all this! I always look forward to your videos! I know your house will be amazing!

[@ivozag]

Your videos are a great source of inspiration for those who love boats and sailing but live far from the sea. I wish you success in your new renovation project. This is the lovely old house and I'm sure that you will done it well.

[@warp65]

Very interesting Roger , I've just finished my first new build passive house for a client and started the next, I like your retro solution having trained in the eightes on masonary rendered wooden structures using Murobond coloured washes to let them breathe, no rot , no leaks. Love your plans, layered CADor whatever working drawing feel like a corpse compared to hand drawn design's I used to work with.

[@ozzytorrential]

Roger, good to see you using the other half of your skill set! As we live in an old house that needs some upgrading (happily much less than yours!) I'm very interested in learning more of the latest techniques for insulating and finishing interior walls whilst maintaining the necessary breathability. I thought you achieved a good balance of theory within the content. Looking forward to the rest of the series. Good luck!

[@jontemple1038]

Well explained....I have always been rather sceptical of the supposed efficacy of vapour barriers and plasterboard stud walls etc. - the clay/hemp interior lining is a great improvement. It is strange that in many locations there is an abundance of clay and hemp grows without the need for fertilisers and other chemicals yet the invariable recourse is to energy-intensive manufactured materials. I too am a fan of untreated OSB as an interior wall/ceiling finish. Can't wait for the next video!...

[@user-xl3rc1nj7i]

Couldn't agree more about location....we have a small comfortable apartment (originally required some renovation) with a lsrge terrace and amazing sea view erght in the heart of an old Provence town....beautiful Provencal Market, 4 Supermarkets, Cafes, Restaurants galore, shops, buses (cheap) & train station to go further but we feel in the heart of French life daily and it's great.!

[@mairtinodiomasaigh2428]

Salut Rodger. Love the video and looking forward to the build series. My wife is French, I'm Irish and we've just settled in correze for the winter where we can search for a permanent home from. I really like the way you explain the building process in an easy to understand way. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to the series.

[@ButterflyMatt]

Thank you, Roger. I’ve enjoyed your architecture content in the past, and I appreciate you sharing your personal space as an example. I’ve been learning about building with natural materials in several different locations and climates, and your approach today is so similar with an old house and new nature-based materials.

[@S_Edward_Burns_ArtsEditor]

My thanks and as the owner of a wood year 1910 antique building in northern Maine, USA; my preservation project. -Seb!

[@hardystein114]

Lovely old house Roger. Your strategy to repair and insulate is excellent and will be effective . It may be expensive , but a very worth while project. Very much looking forward to any updates .

[@benwoolf1079]

Hi Roger, excellent video as usual despite not being about sailing. We did up an old house in Mayenne in the early noughties so all this v interesting; keep it coming. On the subject of sailing, we towed the wayfarer to Concarneau this summer and had some excellent sails around the bay. All the best and thank you!

[@iancampbell9351]

A lovely new slant on your blog. Hopefully you can run a new channel. The house looks lovely even in the raw state. The project looks fascinating and so good luck

[@brianmccusker3852]

I personally would like to see more about your work as an architect and the progress on the building restoration. Your knowledge introduces us to another interesting side of your expertise. Thank you for the great video, and cheers from the u.s.

[@andrewmezulis5448]

Very interesting and informative video Roger. I look forward to seeing the house progress. I also like the communal way of life. I am half Latvian and find the similar way of life.

[@user-lm8rs7gz1n]

Good luck on the house project Roger.we would not get away with any of that here in earth quake prone New Zealand.

[@geraldtrumpp2340]

You are absolutly right about the plastic-bag disease. We did build our house in southwest Germany about 30 years ago with gas concrete blocks and that was and is ok. Nowadays, my daughter and my young colleagues are building their passive houses out of strange chemical materials and they are even not allowed to pump the air of the extractor hood outside ... the damp is filtered and has to remain in the kitchen. The boiler rooms looks like star wars ... Maybe I also should emmigrate to Brittany ... Very inspiring to see how you restore the old city house. I'm curious what you will do especially with the small yard behind the house :-)

[@GoldStarFather]

God bless you Roger for bringing us lovely this video. When I was young and newly married to my French wife in the early '80s, we spent a summer vacation in Douarnenez. Camping near the beach, fishing off the cliffs and enjoying the Wooden Boat Festival. My wife's sister did export business with the local fisherman in salted fish, so I was able to get out on the water and enjoy the Bay of Douarnenez. My fondest memory was a sitting with locals in a pub called Le Pourquoi Pas, listing the musicians singing in their local Celtic language. We've retired in France now and even though I'm American, we too bought an old Chateau in the country side of the Vienne and living the farming life. But I still dream of living near the ocean and we are now looking seriously at Brittany. Wishing you all the best.

[@Sailor_McNemo]

Lots of these concepts with moisture and ventilation have direct applications with our boats, especially those with wooden hulls. It is great to see other applications of these practices on shore!

[@johnoflegend1529]

I have enjoyed very much your dinghy cruising videos however this departure has captivated me and I look forward to the series! My wife and I spend as much time as we can (being foreign) on a sailing boat in Europe but due to circumstance can only dream of what you are doing - if only… Cheers!

[@rickwhitehouse]

Sure you are busy with your house Roger. Would love a video. Adds peace to our lives. Many Happy returns.

[@stephenpwilson1930]

Thank you Roger, I really like your building philosophy , in not using an impermiable membrain in the house, thereby alowing it to breath. My home is owned by a housing assosiation, and a few years ago they took off my roof and cut down the chimney stack, then capped it off in the loft area. They then replaced the roof with modern materials. This has resusted in a very damp house because now the poor thing can't breath and im becoming unwell with Arthritis. I also enjoy your lovely boat and would love to own one just like it. However, I'm quite a bit older than you ( I'm retired from working)and fear my boating is going to stay limited to the plywood canoe I build in 2020. I am presently making a sail for this though , so soon I'll be sailing in the lake district and lochs of Scotland. Your friend, Steve Wilson

[@richardaber4299]

Roger, thank you so much for your insights on remodeling. I’m sure that this will help others deal with these problems. This looks like a wonderful project and place for you.

[@marcuskrugel6620]

What a nice little house! And what a huge amount of work 😀

[@timberyard3970]

What a fascinating and enjoyable video Roger. I visited Douarnenez in 2006 when I sailed there from Shoreham in an old wooden fishing boat. I was particularly taken with the town then and always wondered how good it would be to live there. Good for you! Really enjoy your videos.

[@stucooper8159]

Fantastic video , looking forward to the rest of the development

[@lucyb15]

Many of the thoughts I revisit as I fall into sleep each night...many of the reasons I resist the suggestions of handymen are justified here. This old house (approaching 200 yrs.) breathes! But it's chilly in winter, something must be done (many things have had to be undone.) "Future-proofing" is the challenge! Very interesting little video, thank-you Roger. Lately I'm very excited about masonry heating. Seems a good choice for a stone house although maybe not in a place where wood is scarce. One should really avoid burning anything I suppose.

[@kennethkuhl1188]

Beautiful project and setting. Quite an adventure. Your technical explanations were excellent. Thank you for sharing.

[@Seb30able]

Wonderful. I love your very English thoroughness. Welcome to France! (I'm French). Bonne continuation!

[@chriswarrington1455]

I watch for the sailing but that was really interesting, please continue with thanks.

[@aljo54]

Fully agree with the idea of moving to a town, which is what I did in order to escape brexshit Britain. Unfortunately the only house I could find at the time had already been 'renovated' by a British builder which I didn't know at the time. Oh well, it'll probably see me out.

[@learnfix5725]

I subscribed for the sailing but thoroughly enjoyed the current theme. From what I've read, traditional building materials & techniques require that walls are allowed to breath. Your take on how to achieve this whilst increasing energy efficiency was fascinating. Thanks.