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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Builder and back door - who is BU?

66 replies

CollieFIower · 27/05/2026 10:41

There's a builder working on a room in downstairs of the house. It's a hot day. The house is old and has thick stone walls so stays quite cool in summer.

The builder wants to prop the back door open as he is coming in and out every few minutes with wheelbarrows/tools/buckets etc.

Person A wants the builder to open and shut the door behind him every time he needs to go in or out to keep the house cool. This is not without merit, as the house does stay a bit cooler with the door shut.

Person B thinks the builder should be allowed to leave the door open because it makes his work much easier and if he is doing manual labour on a day like this then his clients should be doing everything they can to make his work easier, including putting up with the house being a bit warmer than it would be otherwise.

Who is BU?

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 27/05/2026 11:32

Could your husband sit by the back door opening and closing it for the builder all day?

I mean I sort of get his point but I also think it makes the builder’s life disproportionately difficult.

So I’m with you (person B)

Stoicandhappy · 27/05/2026 11:28

A is BU

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 27/05/2026 11:24

Person A needs to stand by the back door and open/close it for the builder each time he goes through.

Person A could also help builder to swap outside shoes for slippers at the same time

Original poster
CollieFIower · 27/05/2026 11:23

Sparrowsandbudgies · 27/05/2026 11:15

You’re person A aren’t you?

Show quote history

I am not Person A!

Person A is my dad, who has a builder in doing work ATM. I'm staying to help out while there's ongoing building-work-related disruption as my mum is recovering from surgery and my dad is quite...inflexible and easily stressed out...

OP posts:
Dollymylove · 27/05/2026 11:23

A is unreasonable. Builder makes note, dont take on anymore work for them, they are a bloody nightmare 😳

Twooclockrock · 27/05/2026 11:21

A is being vwry unreasonable. Expect another days labour added for creating unnecessary time and effort to the job if you go with option A.

Sparrowsandbudgies · 27/05/2026 11:15

CollieFIower · 27/05/2026 11:00

Those aren't the builder's words, they're Person B's words. The builder just said he would do his best when Person A asked him to keep the door shut. He is a very nice respectful builder and will oblige I'm sure.

Show quote history

You’re person A aren’t you?

HedgehogsOnTheWall · 27/05/2026 11:11

Person A's an idiot.

toottoot3 · 27/05/2026 11:10

B could stand by the door opening and closing it as required, builder gets to get on with his work, B gets to keep house cool. If it then becomes too much bother for B they might understand how difficult it can be trying to get through doors hands full whilst also being observant of walls, decorations builder will be trying not to touch too. B could also help get materials inside and out, cutting down on door opening times

ohyesido · 27/05/2026 11:08

Both have valid points, I think I would prefer the door closed to prevent flying creatures from getting in.

ElleShapiro · 27/05/2026 11:03

A is BU

LakieLady · 27/05/2026 11:03

Person A is BU.

And given the difficulty of finding a half-decent builder these days, pissing them off might not be a good idea.

Original poster
CollieFIower · 27/05/2026 11:00

Krevlornswath · 27/05/2026 10:55

Person A just needs to suck it up really. Whilst I don't necessarily agree a person should be 'doing everything they can to make his work easier' and I wouldn't be thrilled if someone working on my property spoke to me in those exact words- in this case insisting on the door closed is making the job much harder than it needs to be, which is unnecessary.

Those aren't the builder's words, they're Person B's words. The builder just said he would do his best when Person A asked him to keep the door shut. He is a very nice respectful builder and will oblige I'm sure.

OP posts:
BrownTroutBluesAgain · 27/05/2026 10:59

I would need to know more about why he needs to go in and out so often

is there a reason why he’s going in and out for tools
wheelbarrows ? Is he mixing cement ? He can’t be doing that all the time

I think you could make a compromise

Give him space to store his equipment each day so he just needs to offload once when he arrives then pack up when he goes

Allow the door to stay open if he’s mixing anything that needs to be done outside

Otherwise the door stays shut which will benefit you all including the builder as it’s hard work doing manual Labour in this heat

Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 27/05/2026 10:55

A

Krevlornswath · 27/05/2026 10:55

Person A just needs to suck it up really. Whilst I don't necessarily agree a person should be 'doing everything they can to make his work easier' and I wouldn't be thrilled if someone working on my property spoke to me in those exact words- in this case insisting on the door closed is making the job much harder than it needs to be, which is unnecessary.

Millindugu · 27/05/2026 10:55

MrsOni · 27/05/2026 10:50

Just relax and let the builder in the back door.

🤣🤣

Octavia64 · 27/05/2026 10:54

Shut the other doors. So only the room he is working in has the back door open to it.

yeah it’s really hard going doing manual labour in this heat

DisplayPurposesOnly · 27/05/2026 10:53

Person A is obviously unreasonable but it's not really something I would question the builder about. I'd explain and leave it up to him to do his best.

Eg, why cant the builder get his stuff in then shut the door, as you would hope they do on a cold day, to reduce temperature fluctuations? Appreciate he might still need to go in and out a couple of times but hopefully not every few mins.

BoredZelda · 27/05/2026 10:50

TheStepboardisfullofbitteroddos · 27/05/2026 10:49

A being a knob.

Even middle of winter with toddlers running around i let workmen keep the doors open.

Yep. I even put my dog somewhere she won’t get out.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 27/05/2026 10:50

How's the builder supposed to keep opening and shutting the door when he's likely to be carrying stuff?

Person A is a tool

MrsOni · 27/05/2026 10:50

Just relax and let the builder in the back door.

TheStepboardisfullofbitteroddos · 27/05/2026 10:49

A being a knob.

Even middle of winter with toddlers running around i let workmen keep the doors open.

Backedoffhackedoff · 27/05/2026 10:49

The builder wins everytime he won’t give a shit what A or B think and will do whatever he wants

Megifer · 27/05/2026 10:48

A