DIY in France
French windows and French doors in Oak - Lapeyre

 French Do It Yourself 

Lapeyre - Joinery - Doors and Windows

I know it's sad to admit it - but one of the places I enjoy visiting most in France, is a DIY store - but this place is special (honest).

Lapeyre is a joinery chain - they sell doors, windows and staircases. Hmmm, doesn't sound that special so far does it?

OK - so there are better places to go in France - but not if you want some new windows for your crumbly French hide-away. Lapeyre have a huge range of items made from French oak - just the job if you are renovating an older property. Oak - sounds expensive! In the UK DIY stores you will struggle to find anything in oak - and if they did stock it the price would make you wince (next time you are in B&Q I dare you to ask for an oak window!). At Lapeyre they have stacks and bizarrely enough, they are cheaper than the softwood equivalents in England. Perhaps another example of the French managing to keep a quality of life (or at least quality of windows) long after the rest of us have given up.

They have a large number of stores dotted all over France (one in Caen - conveniently close to the Brittany Ferries crossing from Portsmouth) another in Rennes (conveniently close to my little house in Dinan).

Get more details from their website:

Update - 3rd October 2000
Lapeyre have been in touch to say that there is an outlet in Calais with resident salesman - James, who speaks English fluently. There is also a catalogue containing everything in the current range - available in the shops or by phoning 00 33 148 33 84 61.