Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To lock my bathroom during renovations in the flat

187 replies

Hocuspoc · 18/05/2025 01:58

The flat has just one bathroom/toilet which has just been refurbished. Considering this is in London, the price of the renovation was extortionate.

Now we have painters and decorators coming in to paint the walls, skirting boards etc.
I really don't want them to use the bath or sink for keeping the tools and washing up.
It still bothers me how much the bathroom renovation has set us back and if someone was now to scratch the bathtub or break a tile I think I'd have a mental breakdown.
I want them to use the kitchen sink instead, or to set up some buckets on the kitchen floor - whatever they can come up with - just to stay away from the bloody bathroom.
I am tempted to lock the bathroom to prevent any damage or soiling.

And I feel this is horrible - it is as if I don't want them to use the loo or something (and it is not about that at all).
But then, the guys who did the bathroom had nowhere to go for 10 days while renovating it - so this is not an impossible set up.

I feel I am being unreasonable but honestly with the prices the contractors are charging at the moment I could not care less - they can certainly afford a quick coffee in a nearby cafe and use the loo there.
Thoughts.

OP posts:
TortolaParadise · 19/05/2025 23:36

Yep, some people are just disrespectful!

HiRen · 19/05/2025 23:21

God this brings back awful memories of me telling our builders not to use the master suite while they did their stuff. I would come home regularly to poo stains in both toilets, and I don’t know what in DCs’ bathtub. I would now rather move house than undergo renovations.

Communitywebbing · 19/05/2025 22:10

DeskJotter · 19/05/2025 19:47

What on Earth? You are talking to normal people, not training dogs.

Show quote history

I was joking, but I have found that on the whole builders don't like to upset the woman of the house, and will take note if you say clearly that a particular area is important to you so please keep anything messy well away from it. Anyway, I doubt that they would think of using the bathroom for cleaning brushes and so on if a kitchen sink is available, or better still an outside tap.

Ilovechocolatelimesandsherbertlemons · 19/05/2025 22:01

I would say be careful how you treat your workmen. Skilled painters and decorators, carpenters,etc etc are very hard to come by now. There's plenty of work out there, and they might decide not to do yours if you are unreasonable. We have had loads of work done on our house, and they have always been lovely, friendly, reasonable people.

Justhere65 · 19/05/2025 21:39

You can’t leave them without a loo. That is very unkind. Just ask them to wash their brushes etc in the kitchen or utility room? I have found if you treat builders nicely they will respect your house more.

Communitywebbing · 19/05/2025 21:32

DeskJotter · 19/05/2025 19:47

What on Earth? You are talking to normal people, not training dogs.

Show quote history

I was joking!

Laura95167 · 19/05/2025 21:31

Just close the door, tell them they're welcome to use the loo but don't want any tools or tidy up done in the bathroom.

Tell the boss/head guy that, that's what you want and that if they damage the bathroom in any way you will deduct the cost of repairing it from the balancing payment because it's only just finished so you want all tools kept out of it.

It's hardly unreasonable to say you can't take tools in the loo.

Or as others have said, get a portaloo and lock the bathroom

SwingTheMonkey · 19/05/2025 21:29

M2B19 · 19/05/2025 19:00

You can buy a camping toilet on Amazon for £20. Lock your bathroom. Ask them to use that and then empty down an outside drain before they leave?

Where are they supposed to use the camping loo?!

Dawnb19 · 19/05/2025 21:09

My partner is a painter and decorator and I wouldn't want him to be treated like that. What would you expect them to do pee in the sink? If they are good reputable painters then they would leave the house in a good clean condition. My partner washes his paint brushes at home, we've actually got a hot tap fitted in the shed for him to do it. He takes plenty of equipment with him so he doesn't need to use the customers sink.

BoundaryGirl3939 · 19/05/2025 21:09

If I were you, I'd tell them that I had paid an absolute fortune to have the bathroom done, and that they were welcome to use it but that they had to be extra careful. No tools allowed. I would tell them this individually. I would remind them that if anything was damaged or scratched, that you would loose the plot.

catlover123456789 · 19/05/2025 20:54

They are human beings, just ask them. Say "please use the kitchen sink to wash brushes" if you have an outside tap they'll probably use that! You can't lock the bathroom!

AJLOAL · 19/05/2025 20:52

Just make it abundantly clear that they may use the toilet but for cleaning materials, they have to use the kitchen.

H0210zero · 19/05/2025 20:46

Hocuspoc · 18/05/2025 01:58

The flat has just one bathroom/toilet which has just been refurbished. Considering this is in London, the price of the renovation was extortionate.

Now we have painters and decorators coming in to paint the walls, skirting boards etc.
I really don't want them to use the bath or sink for keeping the tools and washing up.
It still bothers me how much the bathroom renovation has set us back and if someone was now to scratch the bathtub or break a tile I think I'd have a mental breakdown.
I want them to use the kitchen sink instead, or to set up some buckets on the kitchen floor - whatever they can come up with - just to stay away from the bloody bathroom.
I am tempted to lock the bathroom to prevent any damage or soiling.

And I feel this is horrible - it is as if I don't want them to use the loo or something (and it is not about that at all).
But then, the guys who did the bathroom had nowhere to go for 10 days while renovating it - so this is not an impossible set up.

I feel I am being unreasonable but honestly with the prices the contractors are charging at the moment I could not care less - they can certainly afford a quick coffee in a nearby cafe and use the loo there.
Thoughts.

I'm sorry but would you work without toilet facilities. Not acceptable. Just calmly ask that they don't put tools painting stuff in the bathroom and only use it as a bathroom please. But you can't seriously expect them to work there without having access to a toilet. Do you really want them peeing in your kitchen sink which is what will happen if you do.

TortolaParadise · 19/05/2025 20:26

Well...
You are being very reasonable IME. Just explain the situation up front so they can make a choice. Lock the bathroom door. Put a camera in your kitchen, if they pee in the sink, deduct from their pay. (Offering Tena pants might be a bridge too far). 🙄
I hope it all works out for you OP.

Emonade · 19/05/2025 20:19

Hocuspoc · 18/05/2025 02:08

Would you believe me that I care less about that at this point then them scratching a brand new bathtub 😞
I will happily change the kitchen sink after they are done, sigh...

Show quote history

Just ask them to use the kitchen sink

tommyhoundmum · 19/05/2025 20:17

Hocuspoc · 18/05/2025 02:08

Would you believe me that I care less about that at this point then them scratching a brand new bathtub 😞
I will happily change the kitchen sink after they are done, sigh...

Show quote history

Put something protective down in the bath, a tarp or old towels

DeskJotter · 19/05/2025 19:47

Communitywebbing · 19/05/2025 18:37

Be one of those women who scare builders. Say that they can use your loo then wash hands in the kitchen sink but only on the understanding that if they date to use your bathroom for anything else, they will be banned from it and charged for any damage. Look fierce. They’ll
do as you ask.

What on Earth? You are talking to normal people, not training dogs.

BizzyLizzyandLittleMo · 19/05/2025 19:17

This is what portaloo’s are for!

ChocolateGanache · 19/05/2025 19:12

FalseSpring · 18/05/2025 21:14

Portaloos are cheap to hire and worth every penny spent (sorry!). I always hire one as no way do I want builders or decorators using my bathroom.

Wow.

ChocolateGanache · 19/05/2025 19:10

They are fucking extortionate and it’s really stressful.
But you will need to pay for a portaloo.

M2B19 · 19/05/2025 19:00

You can buy a camping toilet on Amazon for £20. Lock your bathroom. Ask them to use that and then empty down an outside drain before they leave?

caringcarer · 19/05/2025 19:00

If you lock them out of using the toilet they will wee in your sink. Is this what you want OP? Don't be so ridiculous they will need to use the loo. Tell them to use sink for brushes and rollers.

Braygirlnow · 19/05/2025 18:59

JMSA · 18/05/2025 06:09

Simple: “use the bathroom for a pee but kindly do NOT wash your paintbrushes in there.”

Iv had painters plenty of times and not one ever washes brushes in a sink they throw them into a bucket and wash them of site or most use disposable now.

Communitywebbing · 19/05/2025 18:37

Be one of those women who scare builders. Say that they can use your loo then wash hands in the kitchen sink but only on the understanding that if they date to use your bathroom for anything else, they will be banned from it and charged for any damage. Look fierce. They’ll
do as you ask.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/05/2025 18:33

A quick google suggests that hiring a portaloo would cost £25-£50 per week, @Hocuspoc - then you can lock the bathroom. It would not be reasonable to lock,it, and to expect them to go to the nearby cafe every time they need the loo - though I suspect they’d be seeing in the garden. 🤢