No Spanish holiday.

[gwaithcoed]

71 years old,never been abroad or owned a passport and just been invited to spend a week in Spain.

No holiday though. My daughter and son in law are about to take possession of an apartment at Polaris world and this is where DIY dad comes into the equation.

There's furniture to buy and put together. Shelves, towel rails, curtain rails and probably dozens of other jobs that will need to be done.


Weight wise I think I shall be able to take sufficient tools with me, after all I shan't need any going out clothes in my luggage. The problem is I know nothing about the way building are constructed out there.
Are the walls ok for rawplug type fixings? will I need to put up a timber rail for the curtain rails to be screwed to? do they use concrete lintels? and many other things I want to know.
Any information would be appreciated.


Alan. :shock: :shock:

 

[wizer]

Can't comment on construction, except that I am surprised (and glad) that your daughter hasn't had a nightmare with Polaris World. I have heard really bad reports about that company from both people I know and TV/News.

I hope you enjoy spain. I have spent probably in the region of 20 holidays in Spanish territory (i.e inc ibiza and the canary islands) and simply love the people and the food (and the sunshine). The brits get a bad press over there, but those are the ones who set up in (and take over) whole towns. I hope to conquer Italy next

 

[Paul Chapman]

In my experience, the Spanish tend to use bricks or other building blocks, sand, cement and concrete, ceramic tiled floors - never seen much plasterboard out there. I'd take an SDS drill if I were you.

If you are going this time of year it will be very hot for DIY type jobs, so I hope they have air conditioning.

Try to visit a few of the Spanish places where the Brits don't go - it can be very nice :wink:

Where abouts will you be?

Cheers :wink:

Paul

PS There are usually plenty of hardware shops about in the towns and villages if you need to buy any wall plugs and other fittings, tools, drill bits, etc., so if there is anything that you haven't anticipated, you won't get stuck. If you need to make yourself understood in the shops, just shout louder - that's what my Mum used to do :shock: :lol:

PPS If you are taking any power tools, you will need a plug adaptor. You can usually buy one at the airport. They use 2-pin plugs in Spain, but the different European countries all use slightly different patterns, so get the universal-type adaptor.

 

[woodbloke]

...as long as you don't want to go in for a swim - Rob

 

[gwaithcoed]

Paul wrote

Where abouts will you be?

Murcia I think.

Thanks for reminding me about an adaptor, totally forgot about that.

I do hope that we are near to shops as I always forget something.

Alan.

 

[Smudger]

Adaptors can be a bit iffy with power tools, especially the ones sold in airports. Better idea is to take a couple of UK extension cables and buy and put on continental plugs when you get there. That works fine.

 

[gwaithcoed]

Point taken Smudger

Thanks Alan.

 

[Bodrighy]

Ewyllysi angen at chyfnewid 'ch enwa chan allt 'Gwaithcoed' at maderaje

Pete

 

[gwaithcoed]

Pete wrote

Ewyllysi angen at chyfnewid 'ch enwa chan allt 'Gwaithcoed' at maderaje

Sorry Pete, I got the gist of it but neither myself or my Welsh tutor can translate, could I have it in English please.

Alan

 

[dunbarhamlin]

Note that, rather confusingly, Spanish iron mongers neither sell nor serve ferrets.

 

[lurker]

Note that, rather confusingly, Spanish iron mongers neither sell nor serve ferrets.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[beech1948]

I don't know much about Spanish construction practices but I recall that they use a brick which is about = to three Uk bricks in size, has numerous air holes through them. The core is moulded in as a series of tubes.

I would image its hard to fix to. Crumbly as hell. How would you fix in without destroying the bricks structure I wonder.

regards

alan

 

[gwaithcoed]

dunbarhamlin wrote

Note that, rather confusingly, Spanish iron mongers neither sell nor serve ferrets.

But I can still go and ferret around in their shops can't I ??

Alan.