Old FRENCH HOUSE RENOVATION surprises | How to renovate an abandoned house in rural France

Shocking renovation surprises faced after our roof renovation. Being one year away during the covid lockdown left us facing some surprises on our return back to our French house.
We are Robert and Jyrki - two artists living in Helsinki, Finland. With no renovation experience, but lots of enthusiasm and passion we take on the big challenge of renovating a property abroad.
Follow us also on our Instagram @charenteliving
Music by KZbin:
Artist name: Joel Cummins
Song name: Sonatina No 2 in F Major Allegro
Artist name: Beethoven
Song name: Moonlight Sonata (by Beethoven)
#house #renovation #housetransformation #france #charente #diy #oldhouse #beforeandafter #interiordesign #frenchhouse #frenchlife

[@charenteliving]

Thank you all for the comments with concern over the roof tiles being laid the wrong way. We believe our camera angle has misguided as it shows the tiles coming at a steep gradient, when actually that section lies completely horizontal. We appreciate all the help and guidance. Thank you all.

[@francoisleyrat8659]

Hello guys, you have my sympathy! Buying a village house in a foreign country and finding all these problems...I sincerely hope things are going to get better.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Francois. Slowly getting through all the problems, so the big ones are hopefully behind us now!

[@Lilly-iy3ob]

Excited to see what y'all do with the house, I know it's going to be beautiful!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much for the lovely message!

[@TheImanuelita]

A reliable builder is hard to come by. You guys are lucky!

[@charenteliving]

Yes we are so lucky!

[@TheFiown]

Restoring a property these days is really a labor of love and not an investement as with the costs of materials and labour going up, it's nearly impossible to make a profit on a house purchase with lots of work. You seem to be on the right track and love your taste !

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Stephanie. Yes building materials have definitely gone up. We were so lucky to get a lot of the major work done before the increase so we are now very careful what and when we buy. Glad you like what we are doing so far!

[@deannehuizenga4845]

Hello and Happy New Year 2023! I love your new roof and guaranteed restorations. Sadly, there always appears to be surprises when renovating. I loved the peek of the wallpaper! All the best!

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much. Dining room make over coming soon when all the wallpaper will be revealed. That part of the renovation we absolutely loved.

[@bernadettehooper4318]

I hope that going forward that the big, expensive, structural "events" are behind you. Here's to a happy and healthy 2023.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Bernadette! Happy New Year to you.

[@Redbuzzcut]

Moonlight Sonata was apropos for this video! I'm glad to see you guys are through the worst of the major water issues. Can't wait to see you move in and fill your basement with bordeaux! 🍀🍷🍷🍀

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much, we looking forward to fill the basement too haha

[@Jane-3229]

Oh my goodness you must have been so stressed! So glad you are all sorted now and the builder is so fantastic! 😊

[@charenteliving]

Yes we are so lucky. Hoping all big surprises are over now!

[@albertpeckham8708]

Happy New Year to you both. Restoring an old house is not for the faint of heart! I've lived in my 185 year old house for almost 50 years and some problems get solved and others keep haunting me. I wouldn't change anything. The pleasure of living in this old place is my reward. Good luck to both of you on your journey. Thank you for posting your adventures.

[@charenteliving]

Thank you Albert for the words of encouragment! We are sure your old house is very beautiful and it must have been a very special 50 years there. All the best to you too and glad to have you with us!

[@idaslpdhr]

Oh Guys I'm so sorry you had to deal with that wall and still you have to sort out the other leak at the back !!!!! I have subbed to your channel love your vlogs (Make them a bit longer) 😆😆😆

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much for your support! We are very glad to hear you like our videos! We certainly will start making the videos longer from now on🙂

[@michaelarguellodesigner2087]

Looking forward to seeing your journey ahead! It’s a pity all of the issues you had but the silver lining is that you won’t have to worry about them in the future.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Michael. Glad to have you with us!

[@michaelw.8614]

All the best with your renovation and may you two have a wonderful 2023.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Michael!! All the best to you too for 2023.

[@leighevans1489]

Oh man!!!!! Hopefully no more big surprises

[@charenteliving]

I think that's the main surprises dealt with, touch wood!

[@williamfahey6066]

How horrible to go through that. I hope you have been able to get the leak fixed, that could lead to other problems with your house. Jeff❤

[@charenteliving]

Thankfully through the worst of it now!

[@susannesingh5929]

You are doing an amazing job! I just love your garden...

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much Susanne! Very happy you like it.

[@fredscott1199]

Hello and happy new year from Nashville, Tennessee! I am so sorry that so much has hit you guys so quickly! It gets very expensive! I hope and pray that all the water and wall trouble is over for now! Thank you both for another video on your progress! All my best for a wonderful 2023 for you both! 🎉🎉🎉

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Fred. Getting there slowly but surely. Thanks for the kind words as always!

[@petebartlett2229]

Hope things get better for you both x

[@charenteliving]

Getting there slowly but surely. x

[@jrousku]

You are winning ❤ slowly but surely you'll get all the challenges completed 💪

[@charenteliving]

Getting there bit by bit for sure. :-) Will call you for the next big construction work in the summer!!! haha

[@ilduarita09]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🌷🌷🌷🌷 You are amazing

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much!!

[@christianeblanchard1486]

Ouf quel pépin navrée vraiment pour vous. J'espère que vous avez trouvé une solution avec les assurances. Toute ma sympathie

[@charenteliving]

Merci Christiane. Tout va mieux maintenant, heureusement!!

[@ivysavage5569]

Hi there I was so sad for you with all the house problems. I hope it’s alot better now

[@charenteliving]

Getting there slowly now!!

[@tobiasneko]

Hola Chicos, Happy New Year. It is just amazong how little tings can create such a horrible mess. All gets better,,, he he, Take care. Saludos from far far south away, Santiago Chile. 🥰

[@charenteliving]

Happy New Year to you too Francisco!! Thanks for your message.

[@thechatelaine]

💙💙

[@charenteliving]

Thank you. x

[@christine2014]

Keeping your nerve must have been very hard during that period, made worse by travel restrictions. I take my hat off to you both!

[@charenteliving]

It was a difficult time for sure, and not being there made it all the harder as you're forced to make decisions often when not being there in person. Thankfully most of that time is behind us now!

[@Slidingwardrobedirect]

looks like the ridge tiles at 3.18 are layed the wrong way.

[@charenteliving]

Hi Andy, it seems our camera may have misguided our viewers as that particular part on the roof is completely horizontal and has no gradient like it shows in the video. The other ridge tiles on the roof with gradients are laid correctly but this particular part lies flat so they would interlock like that I'm guessing either one way or the other.

[@Slidingwardrobedirect]

@@charenteliving ah ok that explains it.

[@OurFrenchHouseRenovation]

hi just discovered your channel and subscribed, you've certainly had a few problems .? look forward to seeing more vids... cheers

[@charenteliving]

Thanks for the comment! Lots of problems and hoping they were all the big ones. Haha!! Look forward to seeing your channel now too.

[@charmees6637]

Oh that is so heartbreaking to come home to leaks and house damage. I hope it’s all sorted for you now

[@charenteliving]

I think we are on the other side of it now, thankfully!!

[@lucialieskovska6182]

Hello guys. I saw your channel today and have to say that you took a huge responsibility to restore that old house to it's former glory. Please consider to star to "moneytise" your vlogs...it will bring you some money when we will watch it.🍀🍀🍀🤗👍

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Lucia for your lovely message.

[@lawrencebaker2318]

Whoah! You really got hit with major problems right from the beginning! I hope you found a solution to the between buildings water problem.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Lawrence. Getting there bit by bit.

[@trusting3lind946]

Désolé pour la mésaventure : restez positif et souriant c’est le plus important ! . En France nous disons après la pluie vient le beau temps

[@charenteliving]

Merci beaucoup. Nous accueillons le beau temps, mais maintenant nous espérons le grand travaux, c'est fini!

[@tjbren576]

Oh my gosh! Who did your roof tiles? They're all backwards! The way they're arranged will catch water, not help water slide off. Was that inspected and approved? If so, someone needs to go back through inspection training.

[@charenteliving]

Hi TJ, it seems our camera may have misguided our viewers as that particular part on the roof is completely horizontal and has no gradient like it shows in the video. The other ridge tiles on the roof with gradients are laid correctly but this particular part lies flat so they would interlock like that I'm guessing either one way or the other.

[@jasonkriegler1471]

Hello. thank you for great information and insight into your amazing home.......My question is : do you have information once the house became yours, how did you find / and what was the hiring process like to find Companies to assist you in the renovation? Roofers, Plumbers, Electricians etc. Thank you!!!!

[@charenteliving]

Hi Jason. We got very lucky to find a multi skilled builder, and we have solely worked with him, not needing to find thus far any other tradesmen. We found his details online and went from there. He thankfully speaks English and French so the process has been very easy.

[@audreybuckleywoodroffe2812]

GoodMorning., have you any recommendations for a roof contractor in the Saint-Savinien , Charente Maritime area. We need our roof redone, kind regards Audrey

[@charenteliving]

Hi Audrey. We unfortunately do not know any builder from the Maritime region. Our builder is from Limouges, so he might be a bit far away.

[@nativetexson]

Happy New Year! As mentioned already, the ridge tiles are installed incorrectly. Thanks for the update-

[@charenteliving]

Hi Glen, it seems our camera may have misguided our viewers as that particular part on the roof is completely horizontal and has no gradient like it shows in the video. The other ridge tiles on the roof with gradients are laid correctly but this particular part lies flat so they would interlock like that I'm guessing either one way or the other.

[@nativetexson]

@@charenteliving It is definitely an optical illusion. I will be in France to sign the Acte de Vente for the property I'm buying in the Aude. Fingers crossed.

[@charenteliving]

@@nativetexson Congratulations Glen. Thats great news and very exciting. Best of luck with the process. Are you moving full time to France?

[@nativetexson]

@@charenteliving Thank you. Yes, I'm planning to relocate from the US to France full-time. I'm excited and look forward to doing so. Maybe our paths will cross. Cheers-

[@charenteliving]

@@nativetexson Sounds great. Best of luck with everything and welcome to France!

[@emilspec1227]

Who did the roof? Tiles are wrong way around.

[@charenteliving]

Hi Emil, it seems our camera may have misguided our viewers as that particular part on the roof is completely horizontal and has no gradient like it shows in the video. The other ridge tiles on the roof with gradients are laid correctly but this particular part lies flat so they would interlock like that I'm guessing either one way or the other.

[@emilspec1227]

@@charenteliving ah, I see. Wishing you all the best in your renovation efforts!

[@jelsner5077]

I wonder if you couldn't find out who owns the neighboring house. Even though the house is vacant, somebody owns it, and should be held liable for its upkeep.

[@charenteliving]

Yes we recently got their information so we will contact them to see how to further with sharing the wall!