For property details:

A
� am�nager - for conversion; improvement
� brancher - to be connected
abat-vent - chimney cowl
accol� - adjoining
affaissement - subsidence of ground
agglom�r� - chipboard
aluminium  - aluminium
am�nageable - convertable
am�nag�(e) - fitted; equipped; converted
ancien(e) - former
appentis - lean-to
appui de fen�tre - window sill
ardoises � slates
ar�te (de croup) � hip
ar�tier � hip rafter
� refaire � needs redoing
� restaurer � for renovation
arri�re-cuisine � utility room/scullery
atelier � workshop
au clou � nailed
avant-toit � eaves

B

Baignoire � bath
Balcon � balcony
Balustrade � balustrade
Bande de recouvrement � flashing
B�timent � building
Balatum � linoleum
Belle vue � lovely view
B�ton � concrete
Bloc � block (building unit)
Bloc de b�ton coul� (pr�fabriqu�) � precast concrete block
Bois � wood
Bois feuillu � hardwood
Bois impr�gn� � impregnated wood
Bois pourri � wood rot
Bois r�sineux � softwood
Bon � good
Boug � village
Brique � brick
Bronze � bronze
Buanderie � utility room/laundry
B�cher � woodshed
Bureau � office

C

Cable � electricity cable
Campagne � country
Carreau � floor tile
Carrelage � tiled floor
Carreleur � tiler � floors and walls
Cave � wine/cider store or cellar
Cellier � store room
Chambre � bedroom
Chape � creed
Charpente � roof timbers
Charpentier � carpenter
Ch�ssis � window frame
Chaudi�re � boiler
Chauffage central � central heating
Chauffage central fuel � oil-fired central heating
Chauffagiste � heating engineer
Chauffe-eau � water heater
Chaufferie � boiler room
Chaux � lime
Chemin�e � chimney or fireplace
Ch�ne � oak
Ch�neau encaiss� � box gutter
Chevron � rafter
Citerne � fuel � oil tank
Clou - nail
Combles � roof space
Commer�ants � shops
Compteur � meter
Condensation � condensation
Couche isolante � damp-proof course
Couloir � corridor
Cour � yard
Couverture � roof
Couvreur � roofer, roof tiler, slater
Cr�pi � rendering
Cuisine � kitchen
Cuivre � copper
Cuvette de descente � rainwater head

D
Dallage � tiling
Dalle � floor tile
D�barras � boxroom
Dependence � outbuilding
D�penses chauffage � heating costs
Double vitrage � double glazing
Douche � shower
Douille � electrical socket
Droit de passage � right of way

E
Eau de la ville � mains water
Eau de puits � well water
�chafaudage � scaffolding
�clairage � electric lighting
�curie � stable
�gout � sewer
Electrician � electrician
�lectricit� � electricity
Enduit � rendering
Enduit int�rieur � plaster (internal wall finish)
Entr�e � hall
Envillagement � group of buildings, farm, hamlet
Escallier � staircase
Est � east
�table � cowshed
�tage � floor, storey
�tag�re � shelf
�tat � condition
�vier � sink

F
Fa�ence � wall tiling
Fa�te � ridge
Fen�tres � windows
Fen�tre � battants � casement window
Fen�tre � guillotine � sash window
Ferme � farm
Fermette � small farm
Fiche (�lectricit�) � electrical plug
Fil (�lectrique) � electrical wire
Fissure, l�zarde � crack
Fl�chissement � deflection
Foundation � foundation
Fosse �tanche � cesspit
Fosse septique � septic tank
Four � pain � bread oven
Fournil � bakehouse
Frisette � tongue and groove panelling
Fuel � domestic heating oil
Fuite � leakage

G
Gazini�re � gas cooker
Goutti�re � roof gutter
Grange � barn (stone + slate/tiles)
Grenier � loft, attic
Gros oeuvre � basic structure

H
Hameau � hamlet
Hangar � barn (corrugated iron + wood)
Hotte � cooker hood
Huisserie � door frame
Humidit� � dampness

I
Insect xylophage � woodworm
Insert � enclosed, glass fronted fireplace
Isolation thermique � thermal insulation

J
Jardin � garden
Joli cadre � attractive setting
Jontoiement � pointing

K

L
Lambris � wood panelling
Lavabo � washbasin
Lave-mains � handbasin
L�zarde � crack
Linteau � lintel
Lucarne � dormer window or skylight

M
Ma�on � bricklayer
Ma�onnerie � brickwork, masonry
Maison � house
Malfa�on � defective work/job
Marteau - hammer
Menuisier � carpenter and joiner
Meubles � furniture
Mitoyennet� � attached to another property
Mitoyennet� (non) � detached
Mitre � chimney pot
Mobilier � furniture
Moquette � fitted carpet
Mortier � mortar
Moyen � fair
Murs � walls
Mur (limite de propri�t�) � boundary wall
Mur � double paroi � cavity wall
Mur mitoyen � party wall

N
Neuf/neuve � new
Nord � north
Novopan � chipboard

O
Orientation � facing
Oust � west

P
Panne � purlin
Parpaings � concrete blocks
Parquet � floorboards
Peintre � painter
Peinture � paint
Persiennes � shutters
Pi�ces � rooms
Pierre � stone
Pignon � gable
Placard � cupboard
Placopl�tre � plasterboard
Plafond � ceiling
Planche fa�ti�re � ridge board
Plancher � structural floor
Platelage � floor timber, decking
Pl�tre � plaster
Paltrier � plasterer
Pince - pliers
Plomb � lead
Plombier � plumber
Poign�e � door handle
Porte � door
Porte � panneaux � panelled door
Porte-fen�tre � French door, French window
Pourriture � rot
Pourriture humide � wet rot
Pourriture s�che � dry rot
Pouters � beams
Pouters apparentes � exposed beams
Prise (�lectricit�) electrical socket
Prix TTC � all inclusive price
Proche � close

Q
R
Radiateur � radiator
Rayon � shelf
Rayonnage � shelving
Remise � large shed
Reparation, reprise � repair
Reserve � storeroom
Reservoir (d�eau) � cold water storage cistern
Restaur�e � renovated
Restaur�e en partie � partially renovated
Rev�tement de sol � floor covering
Rez-de-chauss�e � ground floor
Rive (toit) � verge
Robinet � tap
Robinet mitiguer � mixer tap

S
Salle � manger � dining room
Salle de bains � bathroom
Salle d�eau � shower room
S�jour � living room
Serrure � lock
Seuil � threshold and doorsill
Site � location
Sol � floor
Sol ciment � concrete floor
Solive de plancher � timber floor joist
Souche de chenin�e � chimney stack
Sous-sol � basement
Sud � south
Survitrage � secondary double glazing

T
Tapisserie � wallpaper
Tassement � settlement (foundations)
Taxe Fonci�re + Taxe d�Habiation � French equivalent to Council Tax
Terrain (superficie) � land area
Terre battue � earth floor
Toit � roof
T�le � corrugated iron
Tout � l��gout � mains sewerage
Tout proche, tout pr�s � nearby
Tuiles � roof tiles
Tuile ar�ti�re � hip tile
Tuile fa�ti�re � ridge tile
Tuile plate � embo�tement � flat interlocking roof tile
Tuyau de descente � rainwater downpipe

U
V
Vasistas � fanlight
V�lux � rooflight
Vernis � varnish
Verre � glass
Verre polit � plate glass
Ville � town
Vis � screw
Vitre, vitrage � glazing, glass, pane of glass
Vitrier � glazier
Voisins � neighbours
Volet � external shutter

W
X
Y

Z
Zinc - zinc

See also our French Legal Terms page and our article on the French Buying Process.

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