TVA on renovation

can you help please , we have spent the last 3 years renovating a barn from cows to house, , we have been told by friends that as we have converted the barn if we sell before five years from completion it will be subject to 19.6% TVA,
1. is this the case if you have paid full TvA on everything as you went?
2 if you have not used artisans
3. if you have not changed the origional building structurely, new windows and doors but all in the existing holes,

thanks

The term TVA suggests that the property is in France. Is this correct?

yes we have lived in france for 6 years 2 in brittany and the last 4 here in the vendee

As this is an Irish site, i think that most of the posters here would be more familiar with the Irish tax laws than those applying in France. So this may not be the best place to get a reply. But I could be wrong.