This website will be built during winter 2011.

A few details in the meantime...

Who am I?  Patrick Head, La Fosse, 50150 Perriers-en-Beauficel, Manche.

Originally trained as a quantity surveyor which translated gradually into general building work for 25 years in the north Wiltshire / southern Gloucestershire and Avon area. Much of my work was in old and listed buildings in those areas so I am used to analysing and coping with the challenges that old buildings throw at us during their renovation and repair. I try to bring modern and sympathetic solutions to my work which gives the customer what they need in a style that is right for the house. Of course, I am also used to working with more recent buildings, updating and renovating as required. Materials used are often the same or similar but the approach and finished appearance can be varied according to the age and style of the property - and the owners' preferences.

What do I do?  Mostly interior finishings such as fitting and installing kitchens and bathroom (though not the plumbing), tiling - both walls and floors... and anything else you'd like tiled! - plasterboarding walls and ceilings, joinery and carpentry including architraves, skirting boards, installing doors and windows, pointing / re-pointing walls, installation of staircases... painting, decorating...

I take on big jobs but I am also happy to come and quote for smaller jobs such as installing a new flat-pack cupboard, making and installing a new window sill or putting up a few shelves. Not everyone wants to go through life equipped with spirit level and a cordless drill so I'm happy to quote for the smaller stuff in life too.

If you have other work in mind, phone me or send an email and we can discuss further.

Over the past 10 years, I have built up relationships with a number of roofers, plumbers, electricians and other trades here in France whom I would trust (and have trusted) to work on our house so am happy and confident to recommend them to you.

What I also do is try and advise the best route to achieving the right look. If you don't think that "sharp" edges to newly plaster-boarded rooms looks right in an old building (my wife doesn't think they do) I can, for example, achieve a softer look with rounded edges. If you are not living on site or nearby, I also undertake to give you regular updates with photos by phone, by email, by fax... whatever you prefer. When doing work for someone, it's vital to ensure that the picture of the finished work that they have in their mind is what I'm working towards. Understanding your mental picture is important and photographs as the work progresses helps ensure we stay on track to your project being finished as you expected it to be.

What area do I cover? In general, anywhere in a 50 kilometre radius of Sourdeval but if you are outside that area, I would simply charge a small extra for mileage. For example, this area covers Vire, Mortain, Tinchebray, Domfront, Villedieu-les-Pôeles, Percy, St Hilaire du Harcouët, Avranches, St James, Pontorson, Gorron...

Patrick Head Rénovations...  is a fully-registered French enterprise (SIRET 519 158 141 00019 RCS Coutances) with France's obligatory 10-year insurance (la garantie décennale) in place. References available, devis provided free of charge. I'm also happy to give you a verbal report pre-devis so that you have an indication of cost and can decide whether you want to go ahead immediately with a devis for the project or wait.

Contact details:  patrick.head50150 @ gmail.com  -  please remove the spaces before and after the @ to make the address work

Patrick Head, La Fosse, 50150 Perriers-en-Beauficel, Sourdeval, Manche

02.33.59.53.16 (in France) and 00.33.2.33.59.53.16 (from outside France)

References available.

Your enquiry matters to me. I never ignore any requests for information via email or phone. If you have emailed me or left a message on my answerphone and you don't hear back with at least an acknowledgement within 24 hours, check your spam filter hasn't eaten my reply to you.

More rarely, we don't receive answerphone messages so please try again - a good time is between 1pm and 2pm (French time) or between 6 and 9pm in the evenings. French time is an hour ahead of British time.