Letters
French plumbing fittings are more expensive
They can cost twice as much as UK equivalents, reader says
To the Editor,
I must disagree with Nick Inman about plumbing.
French plumbing fittings are considerably more expensive than their UK equivalents, often costing more than twice as much.
Pipe sizes also differ. French pipes are generally 16mm and 22mm, whereas UK sizes are 15mm and 22mm. Smaller sizes, such as 8mm, 10mm and 12mm, are common to both.
I had a lot of fittings left over from a major refurbishment in the UK, so I brought these to France, along with a few coils of 22mm and 15mm plastic pipe, as well as some copper pipe.
I still have plenty of fittings left in case of failures. As most taps are connected either with 1/2-inch BSP fittings or 10mm tails for mixers, both in the UK and France, this should not create any problems.
Electrical installations are completely different, however, as they have to comply with French standards, whereas plumbing does not.
French circuit breakers are double-pole, whereas UK ones are generally single-pole. There are also other considerations, such as lightning protection, which is required in many areas, and different cable specifications. In France, all the cores are the same size and insulated.
So, when it comes to electrical supplies, you have to bite the bullet and cough up.
M. B., by email
Have you brought DIY supplies with you from the UK? Share your experience at letters@connexionfrance.com
