Hi,
are there any big DIY stores such as B & Q in switzerland and any large companies selling building materials anyone can recommend. looking to cost for renovation/ build job and not sure whether should source materials in France or Switzerland. For project in lake Geneva region.
regards
Joan

The most similar thing to B & Q that I've found in Switzerland is OBI. In the Lake Geneva region, there are stores in Renens (5km west of Lausanne) and Aigle (10km south of Montreux) see their map here. I've been to the one in Renens a lot, they have everything that you might need for minor renovation work at a fair price, but I've no idea whether they'd have all the stuff that you'd need for a big job.

Thanks Chris,
i`ll have a look.
Joan

I'm after buying the following materials, and have no idea how to ask for it. I have been to Bauhaus Zurich, and it wasn't obvious where it was, or if they had it:

1) 25kg bag of Hydrated lime.
2) 5 litres of PVA adhesive (commonly used as a primer, stabiliser, etc).
3) 25kg bag of washed sand.

If anyone else buys this stuff from Bauhaus or similar, and can give me an idea what it is called (or a brand name), that would be appreciated.

Google & co came up with:
1. Hydrated lime : Löschkalk, gelöschter Kalk
2. PVA adhesive : Polyvinylazetatklebstoffe
3. Washed sand : Gewaschenem Sand.


good luck

I have bought PVA and the sand from Bauhaus this year - if you just write "sand" and "PVA" on some paper, then the assistants in Bauhaus next to Schlieren will easily escort you to this.
Note sure about the lime - I know they will have it there though.
Sand is also in Jumbo - depends what grade you need. 25 KG was about 6 CHF.

I saw the sand, and the assistant said they had hydrated lime (but after spending ages looking for PVA I was out of time).

The PVA was a problem. All they offered me was a small tube, or a tub of general purpose adhesive, which seemed obviously the wrong type. I found a 5L tub of Holtzleim and Fugenleim, normal wood glue and presumably waterproof (50 and 60chf resp). Fugenleim looked and smelt like the right stuff (the 100g had a screw top as wood glue does). I intend to make a typical stabilising solution of PVA and water, before plastering/rendering over crumbly stone.

Not sure if Fugenleim diluted in water is the right approach? I normally used diluted (B&Q) PVA, 15 quid for 5L, before plastering, as per most plastering guides and it always works a treat.

Hi,
sand you will get in all the Landi branches - think about Chf3.50/25kgs;
PVA - easy to find 1 litres @ Chf9.60 in jumbos/coop baucentres - sure you'll find 5litres.
Lime - not sure but you have the translation now,

Good luck,

Jerry

After a good search and talking to staff, Jumbo Affolten Am Albis, didn't have PVA adhesive (well, nothing with PVA written on the container), but they had some nice washed sand, along with special sand for children's sand pits. Bauhaus had pre-mixed sand cement calc, no calc on its own, although the word Calc clearly is lime.

I still need to find a proper local Baucentre, (something like Kluwe in Berlin, if anyone knows that), with detailing stuff like the little cast figures that hold the shutters back, new old style iron work for making shutters, reproduction old hinges, RSJ's, etc.