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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:
Eminybob · 18/05/2025 05:00

Hocuspoc · 18/05/2025 02:36

I am not in while they are painting.
I also don't trust them respecting my wishes not to use the bathroom for storing tools or washing them. They will just do what they want and hope I don't notice.
This was my experience 5 out of 5 times.

Show quote history

If you don’t trust them why on earth have you employed them to work in your home alone?

Badbadbunny · 18/05/2025 04:36

IloveSootyandSweep · 18/05/2025 04:13

I agree and tbh
I find if you pander too much they take the p… and walk all over you.

A good professional will do a good job irrespective of whether you give them rich tea, chocolate hobnobs or nothing. I don’t provide a worse service because my clients don’t make me a sandwich
I would expect a toilet though of some sort anyway

Show quote history

Sadly there are a lot of Neanderthal knuckle dragging tradesmen who will deliberately take the piss when a woman tells them to do or not do something - they take it as an insult coming from a mere woman as it offends their “big man” attitude.

They like the tea and biscuits because that suits their narrative of woman’s work, ie a woman pandering to the men.

GoodWorkSally · 18/05/2025 04:28

I can't imagine denying any workmen on my property the use of toilet facilities.
There is a toilet but you're not allowed to piss in it? Weird controlling stuff.

IloveSootyandSweep · 18/05/2025 04:13

GarlicPile · 18/05/2025 04:01

That's my general principle, too, Bertha, but my experience of godawful workmen is that they're also the most demanding of creature comforts. Skill & efficiency seem positively correlated with adaptability & stoicism!

I suspect it's wiser to proceed as if you were letting a posse of primary school kids run amok in your home - thoughtful yet cautious.

Show quote history

I agree and tbh
I find if you pander too much they take the p… and walk all over you.

A good professional will do a good job irrespective of whether you give them rich tea, chocolate hobnobs or nothing. I don’t provide a worse service because my clients don’t make me a sandwich
I would expect a toilet though of some sort anyway

CoralCrow · 18/05/2025 04:12

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.

So if the guys who did the original bathroom renovation had nowhere to go for 10 days, where did you do your business?

Badbadbunny · 18/05/2025 04:09

Toddlerteaplease · 18/05/2025 03:54

Use your words and ask them not to wash things in the bathroom, could they please use the kitchen sink instead. Simples.

As if some tradesmen actually comply with what you ask them! Hilarious to think they all will just because you asked nicely.

IloveSootyandSweep · 18/05/2025 04:08

MillieMinx · 18/05/2025 03:56

You could do what we did and leave the door unlocked and toilet available. We put tons of cardboard over and around the new sink and bath and taped it down with masking tape then added big thick moving blankets over the top. We got that plastic floor covering and put it down with cardboard on top. Bucket on floor for hand washing with paper towels - men never wash their hands anyway! Buckets for brushes etc otherwise you’ll get paint stuck in the pipes. Plenty of tea/coffee with biscuits also did some pies or pizza for lunch. They respected our boundaries especially when they were fed!!

OP works

GarlicPile · 18/05/2025 04:01

BigHeadBertha · 18/05/2025 03:53

I don't know if you're being reasonable or unreasonable here but I'd probably go the other way with this and not only provide the restroom but also greet them when possible, provide cold drinks, etc. I don't live in an urban area but I always feel like you're more likely to get better treatment from people by giving it.

Edited

That's my general principle, too, Bertha, but my experience of godawful workmen is that they're also the most demanding of creature comforts. Skill & efficiency seem positively correlated with adaptability & stoicism!

I suspect it's wiser to proceed as if you were letting a posse of primary school kids run amok in your home - thoughtful yet cautious.

Welshwhales · 18/05/2025 03:59

Double fitted sheet over the sink and a big thick blanket over the bath tub , be honest and friendly and tell them you have just had a new bathroom and you're paranoid about it getting damaged . Sweeten them up with lots of tea and biscuits 😄

MillieMinx · 18/05/2025 03:56

You could do what we did and leave the door unlocked and toilet available. We put tons of cardboard over and around the new sink and bath and taped it down with masking tape then added big thick moving blankets over the top. We got that plastic floor covering and put it down with cardboard on top. Bucket on floor for hand washing with paper towels - men never wash their hands anyway! Buckets for brushes etc otherwise you’ll get paint stuck in the pipes. Plenty of tea/coffee with biscuits also did some pies or pizza for lunch. They respected our boundaries especially when they were fed!!

Toddlerteaplease · 18/05/2025 03:54

Use your words and ask them not to wash things in the bathroom, could they please use the kitchen sink instead. Simples.

BigHeadBertha · 18/05/2025 03:53

I don't know if you're being reasonable or unreasonable here but I'd probably go the other way with this and not only provide the restroom but also greet them when possible, provide cold drinks, etc. I don't live in an urban area but I always feel like you're more likely to get better treatment from people by giving it.

GarlicPile · 18/05/2025 03:52

Can you get to B&Q today? I'm thinking you could get some plywood cut to cover the bath, sink and maybe the floor. Wrap your shiny new taps in towels. Block & protect, basically. Tell the decorators you REALLY want to protect the bathroom as all new and hasn't "bedded down" properly yet. If you need to wash stuff, please use kitchen sink.

And good luck 😬 Hope it all goes perfectly!

knittasgonna · 18/05/2025 03:38

Honestly, I wouldn't trust them to respect my wishes, so I'd rather lock it. But I'd let them know that there will be no access so they know ahead of time what to expect.

TooGoodToGoto · 18/05/2025 03:25

CottonCandyLand · 18/05/2025 03:22

Our contractor hired a portaloo. Obviously we paid for it but it was an expected part of the Reno’s

As long as OP has factored that in, the builders have costed for it, that’s fine.

Just not sure this has been done.

CottonCandyLand · 18/05/2025 03:22

Our contractor hired a portaloo. Obviously we paid for it but it was an expected part of the Reno’s

TooGoodToGoto · 18/05/2025 02:53

TheHerboriste · 18/05/2025 02:51

Yes.

Show quote history

So unreasonable, I hope your workplace expects the same of you.

I also hope that OP has made the terms clear to their builder and they’ve added additional time and cost or the chance to say they don’t want the job.

TheHerboriste · 18/05/2025 02:51

TooGoodToGoto · 18/05/2025 02:42

Or expect OP to provide acceptable arrangements?

You want a workman going to the coffee shop for a piss regularly?

Show quote history

Yes.

Oilofeveningprimrose · 18/05/2025 02:47

Fill the bath with something so they can't use it. Piles of towels or something

TooGoodToGoto · 18/05/2025 02:42

TheHerboriste · 18/05/2025 02:29

They can go to a coffee shop for the toilet or furnish their own portaloo.

Or expect OP to provide acceptable arrangements?

You want a workman going to the coffee shop for a piss regularly?

IloveSootyandSweep · 18/05/2025 02:36

Hocuspoc · 18/05/2025 02:34

I once had contractors fitting a window and they were explicitly told not to step on decorative beams on the wall - I caught them standing on these 3 times and the next day the beams came crashing down. Luckily noone got hurt.
But in my experience people don't respect what you ask them to do or not to do.
Sadly you need to physically prevent access - hence this awkward thread.

Show quote history

I do agree with this.
I deal with builders all the time and when you’re not around not everyone takes notice of the rules.
There’s no point in asking nicely.

Original poster
Hocuspoc · 18/05/2025 02:36

GildedRage · 18/05/2025 02:28

i've never seen workmen use the tub for tools, how many days are they in for painting? will you not be in and out of your own home?
i just came on to say the more inconvenient you make things, the longer it will take for them to get the work finished and it will cost you more.

I would would think telling them (no tools in the tub, no washing brushes in the bathroom sink) would suffice.

I am not in while they are painting.
I also don't trust them respecting my wishes not to use the bathroom for storing tools or washing them. They will just do what they want and hope I don't notice.
This was my experience 5 out of 5 times.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hocuspoc · 18/05/2025 02:34

GildedRage · 18/05/2025 02:28

i've never seen workmen use the tub for tools, how many days are they in for painting? will you not be in and out of your own home?
i just came on to say the more inconvenient you make things, the longer it will take for them to get the work finished and it will cost you more.

I would would think telling them (no tools in the tub, no washing brushes in the bathroom sink) would suffice.

I once had contractors fitting a window and they were explicitly told not to step on decorative beams on the wall - I caught them standing on these 3 times and the next day the beams came crashing down. Luckily noone got hurt.
But in my experience people don't respect what you ask them to do or not to do.
Sadly you need to physically prevent access - hence this awkward thread.

OP posts:
NattyTurtle59 · 18/05/2025 02:31

TheHerboriste · 18/05/2025 02:29

They can go to a coffee shop for the toilet or furnish their own portaloo.

And hopefully charge OP extra for the inconvenience and time wasting.

Ankther · 18/05/2025 02:29

Hocuspoc · 18/05/2025 02:24

Agreed, but the guys who renovated my bathroom had no toilet access for 10 days (because they took everything out first day).

Show quote history

But they’re bathroom guys. They’re (presumably) used to working in properties with one bathroom that is out of commission until they complete a job. They’ll have strategies to manage it. They are the one exception.