Welcome to the Minervois Maintenance website and thank you for your interest.

We specialise in taking the hassle out of looking after your French home and the other possessions you have.

We aim to provide reliable, trustworthy, friendly service at a reasonable price.

If you own a house, car, bike, motorbike, pool or garden, then the chances are we can look after it for you.

We speak English and French fluently, so are probably able to resolve any issues you have, from dealing with French administration to simply buying or making what you want!

Please feel free to browse the site to find out more about who we are and how we might help you.

Telephone: 0468 320762

Email:

I have spent much of my life repairing and restoring bicycles, motorbikes and cars. I have built 2 cars from scratch, rebuilt about 7 Land-Rovers and a few motorbikes and maintained every car I have ever owned. My current modern car has now done 240,000 miles and still runs perfectly.

On cars and motorbikes I can:

• Perform oil and filter changes
• Replace worn brake pads
• Replace worn suspension components
• Replace wheel bearings
• Convert headlights to / from left hand drive
• Identify faults and locate / fit parts
• Balance, strip and clean carburettors
• Adjust valve clearances

On bicycles I can:

• Repair punctures
• Replace or repair any part
• Adjust brakes, gears or bearings

I have restored my own house in La Livinière, doing almost every job myself, from installing all the plumbing and drainage to making a new kitchen from scratch.

I can:

• Install windows
• Make and restore shutters
• Make ironwork
• Plumb almost anything, including electric boilers, toilets etc.
• Repair plasterwork
• Repair lighting and power circuits
• Tile and grout
• Put up shelves etc

We can:

• Check your house when you are away and resolve issues at your request.
• Prepare your house for your arrival and clean and tidy when you have left.

I have my own plunge pool and have learnt how to deal with many issues associated with pool maintenance and design. I have the facilities to sharpen most tools, repair most garden equipment and make obsolete parts.

I can:

• Calculate and administer the right chlorine dose
• Check and resolve pH problems
• Get rid of the dreaded green pool
• Clean and maintain your pool as you desire
• Repair your lawnmower, hedge cutter, strimmer or rotavator
• Sharpen your shears, secateurs or lawnmower blades
• Water plants and check / maintain watering systems.
• Tend to your garden / help with jobs you feel unable to do.

Admin:

• We have experience in resolving administrative issues within the French system. We can help you understand your phone or medical bill and help you with how to respond to unexpected letters!
• We can provide French or English lessons and translations.

Wood:

• Although not carpenters, we can make most things in wood: simple doors, door frames, shelves, decking, lean-tos, sheds etc.

Metal:

• We have folding, cutting, welding and bending facilities.
• We have lathes, milling machines and grinding machines, allowing us to make virtually anything of any shape.
• We can make ironwork like grills or gates and missing parts for your tractor or lawnmower.
• We can sharpen knives, shears, lawnmower blades or chainsaws.
• We have full tool and cutter grinder facilities for sharpening virtually any machine tool cutter.

Repairs:

• We can repair most things, bar electronics and computers.

Transport:

• We can transport large and heavy objects and tow up to 3.5 tonnes.

We are a small family who have owned property in La Livinière for the last 15 years.

We are trying to build up a business in the area so we can live here and help you.

Ian is native English and married to Marie. He is fluent in English and French. He is a degree qualified mechanical engineer and a secondary science teacher. He loves fixing or making anything and is especially happy when playing with metal or spending time with the family.

Marie is native French who grew up in this area. She is fluent in French, English and Spanish and a qualified secondary languages teacher with experience to A level in both French and Spanish. She trained as a translator at Universities in France, Spain and Ireland. She is familiar with most aspects of French administration and has family in the area who know anything she does not! She loves travelling, cooking, gardening and spending time with Ian and Ben. She hates photos!

Ben is not sure which country he is native to, but thinks he's French! He is fluent in both English and French and currently attends primary school. He loves mud.