IS DOUARNENEZ THE NEW SAINT-TROPEZ? Escape to a French Fishing Port - 4

The fourth of a series of videos about restoring a French townhouse in Douarnenez and improving its energy performance.
"Elle" magazine has published a feature article asking if Douarnenez is the new Saint-Tropez. This has created consternation in the old fishing town, which has a potent history of political dissent,
Meanwhile work continues on my new old house, fitting partitions and providing a new window with a view of the sea.
MUSIC
Moments Passing By - Wendy Marcini
Easy Now - Melanie Bell
both from Epidemic Sound
www.epidemicsound.com

[@alanwilliamson2259]

I just think the house looks superb. Love what your doing whether it be construction or messing about in boats. Thankyou for sharing with us.

[@Wedontwantnowarnomore]

I think that you found a very nice spot to live your life in/on. Absolute wonderful. The house turn out astonishing. This town looks amazing with the little harbour close by and the sea. What more to expect? So interesting to learn about the alternative building techniques when it comes to old house renovations. Thanks a lot. Hope to see you sone while in progress 🙏 Fredrik

[@GoldStarFather]

Thank you Roger for your fantastic insights and overviews of the town of Douarnenez in Brittany. We vacationed there for a week when the kids were small, enjoying the wooden boat festival and camping near the beach. My wife's sister had an import/export business in Italy and was a buyer of their salted fish. I got a chance to go out on one of the locals fishing boats for the day,. We got up close to some of the square rigger training vessels on short tacks inside the bay. It was blowing 20-30 naughts, so I'll never forget that experience. We are retired now and decided to move from the U.S. to France. We bought an old 12th century Chateau in the Loire Valley, so I can relate to your DIY experiences. However, I love sailing and the ocean and still dream of the wonderful time we had in Douarnenez. Life was simpler then, I remember having a beer and meal at a local pub called Le Pourquoi Pas (the why not). Hope it's still there. We are now looking at homes again, this time concentrating in Brittany. Cheers.

[@vempronordeste2841]

Good morning everyone and thank you Mr Roger⚓ for all the teachings and beautiful landscapes in your videos, a hug from Brazil.

[@eschleonardo]

Another hug from Brazil - this time South of Brazil! Thanks for this high quality and very pleasant video!

[@marktaskerlyngfarm7596]

Being born and bred North Norfolk, I know exactly how the the residents feel. The money started to pour in here along with the Range Rovers sometime in the Eighties/nineties. They came for the rural idyll, complained about the smell of manure, and instead they just replaced it with the stench of their money. We will always be sad here, for the loss of our homeland. Still, when all said and done, some of them are ok, and rather than bring rush with their outboard engines, even sail out the creeks to the Pit. Perhaps there is hope. Lovely film as always, Thank you Roger.🌞

[@RogerRoving]

I think it was a lot to do with a sub editor wanting a controversial headline.

[@marktaskerlyngfarm7596]

@@RogerRoving it worked!!😉

[@avisitorhere]

An architect says "I have an idea". An artisan says "I have a solution".

[@jamesbenjamin8078]

Mr Barnes………a breath of fresh air, thank you

[@jonathanlewis1352]

The perfect accompaniment to my morning coffee. Thanks Roger.

[@charleswatson5313]

Couldn’t agree more: living in the countryside is an isolating experience. A car for every journey. I live in the centre of a small ancient city in northern Brittany. I use my car once a week for my major shop.

[@JohnDoe-bq6wr]

Measure twice, cut once. Good advice from my grandfather.

[@spex357]

From Roscoff to Biarritz is full of places to visit. Finistere is just wow all the way. I was in Douarnenez for a Maritime festival in the 80's on my Bicycle-Camping, there is a good road down to Quimper, which is another super place.

[@fogwarning101]

Beautiful. Thank you for the calming videos.

[@michaelbradley-yorath9682]

I agree wholeheartedly. really enjoy the sailing and the renovation project equally.

[@daff.wallace2267]

Always good to see your videos , wether you cruising or building, great to watch.

[@the-trusteeship]

Thank you Roger for sharing your design skills; in particular, the intelligent vapor barrier and insulation strategies.

[@stevegillman1999]

That staircase is a work of art

[@rossbarnett3759]

Again you hit the nail on the head. Nice song take as well with the right meaning in the association of space.

[@lsoutherlandjennings9751]

so nice. the sea air must be wonderful

[@TomTremayne]

Keep going with things Roger, you're a legend!

[@IshCaudron]

That was a glorious article you're taking about, it will probably shape the next Carnival. But you should reeeeeeaally read the article on Elle if you haven't yet.

[@mikefriend7570]

Enchanting. I adore the coastal architecture of France. Your plans and ideas are wonderful

[@janheld8316]

Good afternoon from the Dutch waters. Love KZbin vlog again Roger. Douarnanes is a loveley Pearl. I pray its not ending up like st. Tropez and stays like it is nog, quiet and authentic. Watch out for your next vlog. Thnks

[@jamesjakubik4428]

Great video. It's interesting to see the difference between English, French and American building techniques. I only wondered why you don't want interior plaster walls. They seem fitting for such a home. Keep up the good work.

[@RogerRoving]

I don't like the hard acoustic of dry-lined plasterboarding. It also creates no structural strength.

[@nicholasbell9017]

It's going to be a great house. And with a Fawlty Towers view of the sea, for no extra charge!

[@mdazizurrahman2655]

for sure this is an impeccable channel, I have never watched a video that was not wonderful. You know what? I am a regular viewer of your KZbin channel. your content quality are very good. your channel has great quality content.

[@RogerRoving]

Ah! The is such a nice comment! Thank you.

[@RogerRoving]

Look spellcheck! I typed “that is such a nice comment”. Do pay attention!

[@bernardlash4169]

Like the first guy said i love your f. Ing channel. A real man! Doing real things! Brings a smile in my miserable day. Have a good day Sir.

[@jctothel]

Amen to that brother!

[@anthonyandersen2958]

Welcome back shippers. Trust alls well with you. Keep videos coming.

[@ianseddon9347]

Slight working class enthusiasm for a bit of capital gain! 🙈😂🤣😂…… a super little film, Douarnenez is my favourite place in France ( if Douarnenez is in France!!) Thank you for a bit of sunshine!

[@StevenSherlock]

Doing something similar , hemp board for ceiling, sheep's wool insulation, calcitherm and lime plaster to walls. Will be stayimg in Loncron in June, will take a wander over to Dournanez and take a look.

[@Lookup2Wakeup]

It's all coming together. Loved the introduction showing the town👌

[@normanboyes4983]

All your videos are delightful Roger.👍

[@jctothel]

Ah!! That’s made my fucking day! Love your local updates Roger!

[@richardsicard8890]

Good to see you again Roger, I’ve been looking forward to following your progress, roll on the next one!

[@tomcarr1358]

Thoroughly absorbing. Splendid elegant staircase. Useful history of local labour relations.

[@timweiler5866]

I would welcome a short explanation of the structural elements of that staircase.

[@tonychorley4936]

Its a very elegant staircase

[@Jim-vi4hh]

Thanks for sharing your video. This type of construction is very different from what I am used to for residential construction in the United States. I appreciate how you are interacting with the artisans in France and appreciating their knowledge and skill while still moving forward with your plan when appropriate. I loved seeing your Stanley Workmate being used as your portable workbench on the third floor. I always thought the bench was too small and more of a gimmick but finally bought one and am leaning how to effectively use it. It is much better than working on the floor!

[@simonRTJ]

to cut the insulation, use a Tajima blade too, extends to 6 inch, cuts beautifully, nice and clean just use a makeshift wooden ruler to compress and guid the cut. easyer than a blimming great electrical saw. nice to see you build for strength. looking forward to seeing more Roger.

[@simmonds3930]

lovely

[@WelshVilliageDad]

Magical.

[@jstokvis]

Excellent, look forward to your posts

[@robertseaman2254]

Really enjoy the video of your house restoration roger ,as much as the sailing see be good to see more it looks a wonderful place to live and enjoy that french lifestyle that we in England have lost ,but may be we had never really had it.best wishes robert.

[@youtischia]

Great channel. This is a fascinating vlog.

[@thetwohundred5213]

Just got back from a three pint apéro after work on Friday and you pop up. All is right with the world. Being an ancient resident de Nantes I appreciate the cannery connection. Vivre les Penn Sardines! ... Maybe three pints is a bit too much to be commenting in public 🙂 Keep up the restoration - and good luck with teaching old dogs new tricks - it's worth it.

[@rodneyparker8911]

Hello Roger… have enjoyed your videos for some time…are you aware of impact that Rick Stein has had on Cornwall…hoping that your input is not going down same path..!! Rodney.. Australia

[@michaelwoodbury1788]

I am jealous, you have a beautiful house. I spent 6 happy years restoring my own (1870's) home (which is old for the US).

[@neilhenderson5782]

Great video, loved your explanation of why you are now doing the partitions rather than the local artisans. I agree, sometimes it is better when you do it yourself. It's pouring with rain in NSW Australia!

[@evelynclifford2180]

Your house is coming along nicely Roger. Really enjoyed watching your progress.

[@terencefield3204]

Wll done Roger!@ Another lovely video from the Saint Tropez of the north!!!

[@williamvilesr2258]

its good to see you . tack care bill

[@andrewanastasovski1609]

Construction ASMR. Interesting.

[@surfrico]

Really enjoying this series. I'm so interested to see your progress. Best of luck with your endeavours Roger.

[@leedunham5997]

Glad to see your home coming along so beautifully. Thank you for sharing the progress with all of us. I wonder…has anyone brought up the housewarming party? I don’t know the custom in the UK or France but here in the States we celebrate a friend’s new home with a party. I think your subscribers would agree that we do see you as a friend and whether or not it happens, you definitely deserve one hell of a party. If I could I’d gladly sign up up for the wings and deviled eggs 😀

[@RogerRoving]

Need a kitchen and a legal loo first!

[@frank-waltervondervogelwar4909]

Lovely video once again. It helps keeping the spirit up counting the days until my next return to my little hous not far from your place. And the dinghy sleeping in my garden... I'm so much looking forward to this summer! As usual I seem to notice unnoticable things. This time: The artisan's chemise. I learnt to know it as the "Finkenwerder Fischerhemd" It's somehow the Hamburg-aequivalent to what Vareuses are to breton fishermen. I wonder if there is a little sidestory about the Artisan in the St. Tropez of the north wearing a dress which reminds much of the traditional fishermen's dress from the venice of the north. :) Lots of Love from coast to coast. :)

[@RowlandWITHERS]

GREAT , work and no metal stud work , keep going and enjoy your adventure .😉👍 ✌to those that dare . How does it feel to have ideas and have to pay for your own materials ?

[@andypennybrown6848]

Thats a beautiful staircase Roger! I would liked to have made that, this place of yours is going to be very lovely when it's finished 😀

[@richardkeen1996]

Off on a tour of Brittany in two weeks and looking forward to visiting Douarnenez before spending time with my cousin in her cottage at Carteret on our way back to Calais. Really enjoying your vlogs - on and off the water!

[@Qwairy]

Love your video,...makes me dream that maybe one day I'll be able to retire to some european seaside village

[@madisondeans5566]

The house is coming along nicely,thanks for sharing! Next vid will be Avel Dro spring comissioning,right?!🤣😉🤞👍

[@stevepettifer4896]

My wife has finally persuaded me to go abroad on holiday and it turns out the one area we can agree on is your new part of the world - in no small part thanks to your videos, on my account at least. I look forward to discovering it for myself in September!

[@RogerRoving]

Call in, if you're passing!

[@DominicNSX]

Love your videos! A miter saw would help.

[@RogerRoving]

I might buy one yet…

[@seanmcardle]

Time to discover the magic of a tick stick...ship builders use them all the time for fitting complex shapes. You can combine both your passions!.

[@RogerRoving]

You are probably right. It’s what Marion used for the ceiling panels.

[@34428]

Da iawn Roger. Laissez les venir.

[@eog0579]

I sailed into Douarnenez on a Brig in 2002, I wonder if it has changed much since then? The maritime museum there had some interesting boats.

[@presspound7358]

Magnificent views from that “naturally constructed double pane” window. (We don’t say double glazed in 🇨🇦. L’Expression de mes salutations les plus maritimes 😂 Canada’s Eastern seaboard 🇨🇦

[@RogerRoving]

"Double vitrage" in French.

[@canyonhaverfield2201]

Wendy Marcini's- Easy Now,is my Lullaby

[@daveroberts1]

As an owner of an old farmhouse in Normandy I am very grateful for the ideas on material usage. But, I would like to understand how you decided that there was enough strength in the house to support the extra weight you're putting "up top".

[@RogerRoving]

Not sure its much extra weight at all. Formerly there were solid boarded partitions, etc, and we are building in extra strength.

[@user-ti9ef7fv1v]

ЛАЙК !!! 😊👍

[@shroommcfanta2020]

Heraklith boards work well in these old stone houses..

[@yangtse55]

"avec vue mer" :)

[@louisaflemming3959]

It would interesting to discover if you are planning to leave the OSB in its raw state or will you be applying a surface finish to conceal it?? I agree with others who have posted their comments - the stairs are magnificent!

[@RogerRoving]

I'll add extra varnish.

[@maltabay]

Hemp.. great for buildings

[@katej3z715]

It must be my age. Years ago I held my breath when a roofer wandered about without a worry on my storm damaged roof. I guess the carpenter-fitter is used to working on what a fellow follower affectionately termed a Basil Fawlty window. Just out of interest, does it open😬

[@sarkybugger5009]

Time for a new saw, Roger!

[@RogerRoving]

It is new. And bloody sharp!

[@mikedeman5351]

Very interesting project. I always thought that plasterboard was used in stud partitions because it has fire insulation qualities. Does OSB fulfil these requirements?

[@RogerRoving]

Only if you have a fire door too!

[@delukxy]

First view from the new window shows the local dealer waiting for his customers............. Good work Roger, just keep the local artisans happy. They will learn from you as well. Are you open to commissions from the locals or would the French building regs be too much of a barrier?

[@eyemstillhear]

Having owned and restored 9 stone French houses and farmhouses Ive converted most of their roof spaces. Main trusses and joists and their solidity are essential before posing any secondary insulation and covering boards. The choice of material is individual. A French artisan and his 10 year works guarantee would, in 9 out of 10 cases opt for plasterboard. Ease and rapidity of installation, breaking any thermal bridges perhaps but the fire retardant properties of plaster to OSB bare no comparison. Applying 10mm plasterboard to the roof is more costly than 13mm but then you run into weight issues. In my last house/restaurant that Im currently selling up here in La Manche, I used Thuya or white ceder logs to reinforce the roof. Thuya is incredibaly light weight and strong. Once I sell here, its a 19m something or other gaff rig, so we might bump fenders in the not too distant future. 🙏🙏🙏⛵️⛵️⛵️🤣🤣🤣

[@RogerRoving]

My point is that an OSB ceiling can act as the bottom web of a deeper beam, massively increasing the strength of a roof. Plasterboard cannot do that. But yes OSB's fire resistance is lower. Not that fire resistance is an important issue in a roof structure.

[@AndyJarman]

​@@RogerRoving would OFB handle a leaky roof? No Tyvek moisture barrier to shed water behind the tiles? I suppose you have a pretty steep pitch so one or two cracked slates would be a problem? I would have bolted deeper rafters to the sides of the existing to increase the depth to strengthen the roof. That stair case's geometry is very pretty isn't it? I'm looking forward to seeing your plans for it, shame to lose those elliptical curves by boxing it in - suppose the building regs will insist on all sorts of safety concerns..

[@paulliebenberg3410]

I spent my formative years building houses in California, while you're doing a great job describing the British/French building techniques it only brings up more questions. Like is that hemp/cotton insulation flammable and if not what has it been treated with? Why OSB and not plywood? Must be cost? (OSB is considered second-rate where I'm from) What wood specie is that framing lumber and is it domestic to France? What is the "2x4" standard size in Europe? Bold of you to use a tape measure and not a folding rule. But why no "Skilsaw"? Love to see you do an episode on that staircase.

[@RogerRoving]

OSB uses otherwise waste timber and so is considered more "Green" than plywood. I am not seeking to make my top floor partitions fireproof. I just seek acoustic insulation. The framing is from a local timber yard and is sawn to 80x45. It's some sort of pine. France has lots of forests though and does not import a lot of timber.

[@stephenmundane]

"L’homme est un travailleur, c’est-à-dire un créateur et un poète." Pierre-Jospeh Proudhon

[@joncolman6412]

In Between the raindrops it could well be!

[@stewarthunter8793]

Hi Roger, I was wondering what had happened to your local douarnenez builder, are your methods different from french builders?

[@Christophe-pl5xu]

I think that for the partitions we will no longer use metal rails and plastoboard. osb will be used more for the floor of the upper floors or the ceiling of the attic. Not for partitions. Plasterboard requires coating and cutting work. And plan for consolidations if radiator or toilet fixings. There are also fixing systems where the insulation is plugged in, which helps avoid thermal bridges and the rails can be embedded in them.

[@pnwesty7174]

"Do you know the way to Douarnanez?" Question - why insulate interior walls? Sound?

[@RogerRoving]

Yes. Required in the British building regs to create acoustic privacy between rooms.

[@markbennett9787]

I was watching an old edition of the BBC programme “Pointless” and I’m sure you were a contestant. Am I right Roger ? I live in Billio, a small bourg in Central Morbihan and I used to keep my Albin Ballad on a pontoon in the Port de Vannes, sadly she is now sold.

[@RogerRoving]

Wasn’t me!

[@markbennett9787]

@@RogerRoving You have a doppelgänger !

[@andersholmstrom3571]

Would not an isulation knife work better for cutting your insulation than an electric saw? I use a large knife with a straight edge. It gives a clean cut in insulation.

[@RogerRoving]

I’ll try it!

[@svoctopus4888]

Good morning, Sir Roger. Perhaps an, Electric carving knife. The kind you would use to carve a turkey or a roast for dinner. Use that to cut your insulation with, not that huge chainsaw.

[@RogerRoving]

It’s a slow reciprocal saw.

[@ashleyhoward8926]

Great stuff Roger, but don't you think this sort of work experience would be a useful start to most architect's career's, rather than doing it for the first time nearer retirement ? Nice house, nice job,well done.

[@RogerRoving]

Actually we Newcastle architecture students did a period of training at the local technical college, learning bricklaying and carpentry. I've never build a standard dry wall partition before though, that's the thing.

[@focalplane3063]

More architects need to actually BUILD something before they start to practice their trade.

[@torisaengilbert8400]

Even better is living NEAR a small town and take your bicycle if you need anything. Preferably with a small harbour. Mmmm 😊

[@GavTatu]

Well, Dinard is the riviera of the north, so why not !

[@willwheeler3991]

OSB (Oriented Stranded Board). Not my first choice.

[@RogerRoving]

Why not?

[@willwheeler3991]

@RogerRoving It's used here (Canada) as sheathing, but it's susceptible to damp / mold. The glues might be formulated differently in France.

[@Christophe-pl5xu]

​@@willwheeler3991it depends. There are 4 classes of OSB and 2 are water repellent. it is often used as an upstairs floor in new house constructions to current standards and even in bathrooms. So it works. It all depends on the water-repellent coating behind it.

[@antoniocruz8083]

Those walls seem made of concrete and bricks. I have a question, where is the insulation for those walls? Will it be on the exterior or interior. Houses here in Portugal are all made of brick and the new ones have the insulation on the exterior. Unfortunately 99% of them have no insulation at all so the heating just goes out the walls, ceiling and floor. In short, most houses here are as cold as hell.

[@Christophe-pl5xu]

Its issue with old homes in brittany also. Because new laws of insulation is often hard to make correctly in the old building. Its a major reason which often old house are cheap and french prefer build new homes. Exterior insulation is more and more use. For a roof toop insulation must be 30 cm . One of 20 and one of 10 in other side. Impossible for a lot of old house whiout lose space.

[@RogerRoving]

I’ve added sprayed hemp insulation internally, which can be seen in earlier videos in this series

[@NRWorkbar]

Hello sir! how can i contact with you?

[@peterelwert5598]

I hope it didn't rain so much in Duarnenez. Regards

[@RogerRoving]

Oh it did!

[@peterelwert5598]

@@RogerRoving Are You fine?

[@curtbremner]

Wouldn't you have fewer particles thrown into the air with subsequent respiratory risk if you cut your insulation batt with a serated bread knife?

[@RogerRoving]

Atmospheric in that shot though!

[@curtbremner]

@@RogerRoving Yes. Very. But thinking about it again, I note the use of a hand saw to cut wood and an electric reciprocating saw to cut insulation. Huh?! And by a self-proclaimed traditionalist. : ) As my wife is constantly reminding me, "People are complicated". Anyway, I look forward to your getting past the house reno and back on the water, the viewing of which will be my way of escaping my own reno.

[@RogerRoving]

@@curtbremner Electric saw run on the lowest carbon electricity in Europe...!

[@scotttaggart71]

Boats are way more important than roofs.

[@RogerRoving]

Indeed they are!

[@catherinegair4155]

Bonjour Roger, je prie pour que Douarnenez ne devienne jamais St Tropez...

[@patrickjoneill5836]

Many years ago I walked around St Tropez, and compared with most towns in Brittanny it is an overpriced dump.

[@harleyjune1233]

So Roger - this is very confusing to me - the "process" - of designing and building residential .. is the "residential process so much different than the commercial structural process in France? Get an engineer - tell them what you want - have them produce drawings and the bid project to get what you want... ( or some "typical " design bid build variant) - and since you did not use or can not use the roofing joist decking as "diaphragm" for your roof movement / support system and they float the the interior wall top bracing members below roof structure... what forces are your "NEW" airplane wall supporting or how is it acting other than the cavity insulation partition function.... and how did the "Artisans" solve your roof movement issue? on the side note - when done and D does indeed become Saint Tropez - charge the moon for ABNB or sell to a Star for stupid money and do it again.... your young and have time... :)

[@RogerRoving]

Yes, a structural engineer would have resolved the disagreement. But I had not thought that it would be necessary. It seemed to me obvious what I wss wanting to do would strengthen the roof. The web effect of the internal partitions will not strengthen the roof structure, because they don't touch it. They will still strengthen the floor below though.

[@anthonyhulse1248]

IS DOUARNENEZ THE NEW SAINT-TROPEZ? I dunno, but I could murder a glass of nice cold lager.

[@janebaker966]

Love the music. If Douarnnez wasn't the coolest place in north-west France it probably is now you've gone to live there. Aren't French people wonderful,they take no shit eh. These films must be really useful for people who are doing it up their French property.

[@lukequinn6195]

Your saw is blunt

[@jwardroper]

Quick , the tides going out and you re in the junk room