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AIBU?

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Original poster

Builders requesting drinks

733 replies

crazydiamond222 · 06/02/2020 14:54

We are having an extension built whilst I am on maternity leave. I have a 3 month old. We have 2 builders on site laying foundations who started on monday. I have been making them a drink first thing and on one occasion made them a bacon sandwich. I don't offer drinks all day because my son keeps me very busy and only naps on me and it is a 4 month job so I don't want to have to do drinks all day for this period.

This afternoon whilst I was playing with my son in the living room one of the builders walked past the window and requested a coffee and tea. I thought the request to be a bit cheeky as a) he shouldn't have been looking in the living room and b) he shouldn't been requesting. I made him the drinks anyway leaving my son on the playmat getting upset. I rushed outside as my son was upset and I wanted to get back to him. When I took the drinks outside I tripped over rubble breaking a cup and scratching my arm. The builders reply was you should have passed it through the window. I remade the drinks but suggested in future setting up a kettle in the garage for them but they said they can just bring their own drinks. I am now feeling pretty upset with them.

Just needed to vent really but what do people feel is reasonable regarding builders and drinks.

OP posts:
Mycatwontstopstaring · 06/02/2020 20:00

Yanbu. If they’re doing big building work like an extension then I would have expected them to bring their own kettle, I’ve seen others do that.

It’s never ok to ask a mum of a 3 month old to make drinks for you!

Louise0701 · 06/02/2020 20:00

@Lipperfromchipper
It’s extremely hard to believe. I just told DH someones having an extension that’s taking 4 months and he laughed. Our own 40sqm extension took a fortnight for comparison for you...
I’m assuming these builders are old and not that quick hence the job taking such a long time or they are just taking the piss.

Ontheboardwalk · 06/02/2020 20:01

A carpet fitter told me a story how he'd been passed a brew in a jam jar at a fitting. He was told it was because they didn’t want any broken cups. The fitter was not impressed

He burnt his fingers on the jam jar saying 'ow that’s hot' and spilt the coffee all over the new carpet they were fitting. The lady of the house was not impressed

They replaced and refitted the carpet although he said it took them a fair few days to fit her back in.

I don’t give tradespeople my best china (prob cos I haven’t got any) but I’d never give the a brew in a jam jar

EntropyRising · 06/02/2020 20:02

You sound knackered, OP. Sorry you're having a bad day.

It's always best to maintain a friendly relationship with builders and get them used to making their own coffee/tea. Packets of biscuits always!

There is absolutely no reason that you should be making it for them, I suppose the exception being if you have a very big house and they're doing complicated work far away from the kitchen.

Louise0701 · 06/02/2020 20:02

@Justaboy that’s a pain! Yes can see if they have various trades in it could drag out. Just seemed such a long time to be living on a building site. It’s not pleasant at the best of times, never mind with a young baby!

EntropyRising · 06/02/2020 20:02

A carpet fitter told me a story how he'd been passed a brew in a jam jar at a fitting. He was told it was because they didn’t want any broken cups. The fitter was not impressed

This makes me weirdly sad. How could you treat someone like this?

TulipsTulipsTulips · 06/02/2020 20:03

OP they should bring their own kettle!

BlackForestCake · 06/02/2020 20:04

Has anyone ever met a vegan builder? I just had a vision of someone
taking tea out to the builders and them going "Sorry luv, don't suppose you got any almond milk??"

I suppose there must be some.

EntropyRising · 06/02/2020 20:04

^It’s extremely hard to believe. I just told DH someones having an extension that’s taking 4 months and he laughed. Our own 40sqm extension took a fortnight for comparison for you...
I’m assuming these builders are old and not that quick hence the job taking such a long time or they are just taking the piss.^

Surely it depends on the extension.

MadamFlutterby · 06/02/2020 20:07

We are having a conservatory built at the moment

it's not raining so I've run an extension cord to outdoors, put up a camping table with kettle and biscuit tin, pint of milk, mugs sugar tea coffee etc - they just crack on

username58788 · 06/02/2020 20:08

A double extension takes approx 12 weeks mine went on for longer . Kept shirking off to other jobs near the end maybe they got tea and cakes there Grin.

PatellarTendonitis · 06/02/2020 20:08

Has anyone ever met a vegan builder?

I've met more than one who don't drink hot drinks at all but instead those nasty energy drinks.

strawberry2017 · 06/02/2020 20:09

You should make more then one drink a day.
These are the people doing work on your house, you keep them sweet and it's the polite thing to do!
Your 3 month old does need that much attention a day that you only have time to make 1 drink for them.

midsomermurderess · 06/02/2020 20:09

You sound entirely ridiculous.

mellicauli · 06/02/2020 20:12

So you have entrusted many thousands of pounds to them and the improvement of your biggest asset. They can do the job well, they can do it badly, you don't have much control really. They can prioritise you. they can prioritise other people. The choice is theirs. Again not much you can do other than complain. Under those circumstances, I would be being very very nice to them.

Pollaidh · 06/02/2020 20:16

I think we had a vegan decorator. We also offered him a cup of tea and he said "no thank you, I only drink organic green tea." We said, well obviously help yourself to hot water etc..". He said "It's all right thank you, I bring my own filtered water!!!"

Isithometimeyet0987 · 06/02/2020 20:16

I had builders in over the summer and as I was in and out with work and as was dh, I showed them where the kettle was and left out tea, coffee, sugar and biscuits. I also left juice out and told them the milk was in the fridge and to work away and make drinks when they wanted them. I offered them a drink if I was in and getting one myself aswell. You’d really be offend by the one man who asked if he could use the microwave to heat up his lunch a few times (of course I said yes and he didn’t need to ask again to use it).

Barbararara · 06/02/2020 20:16

Fascinated by all the bacon sarnies and fish n chips on this thread. Are tradesmen immune to cholesterol? Any I’ve had have moaned about the biscuit tin because they’re supposed to be on a diet.

Bluntness100 · 06/02/2020 20:19

I'm also a bit concerned op that you can't make a coffee with your baby. That's not quite usual. If you just couldn't be arsed fair enough, but if you genuinely can't maybe you should speak to your health visitor?

As for the builders, do the drinks station in the interim until you get yourself sorted.

Good luck with your baby..

MissConductUS · 06/02/2020 20:21

Any I’ve had have moaned about the biscuit tin because they’re supposed to be on a diet.

When I was having a massive, two year dental reconstruction done I used to bring my famous homemade Death by Chocolate brownies when I went in for appointments. I eventually had to reduce the frequency as everyone complained I was making them fat.

Fr0g · 06/02/2020 20:21

I don't go as far as offering bacon sandwiches, but greet first thing on arrival with a cup of tea/coffee, and thereafter make sure they know where tea/coffee//kettle and biscuits are.
If I'm going out after the first day, I won't always bother making drinks on arrival, but they know where stuff is by then.
I rarely use sugar for myself - last time I had workmen here they'd obviously used up whatever was there, so I inherited half a huge bag that will probably last for years.
Always offer drinks to workmen even on a short job that's only going to take an hour or so.

Lipperfromchipper · 06/02/2020 20:23

@Louise0701Confused
did your dh ask the what size/type of room(s) What spec her extension is??
Is it double height? Etc etc
I’m surprised your dh didn’t ask you those questions to gauge why it could take so long?!!Confused I would expect any decent builder to ask those questions

Oh and by the way if you do a simple google you will find AMPLE building sites that give time frames of extensions....the average being 3months from start to finish!! 40sqm is a largish room...and 2 weeks!!!!🤣🤣🤣please let us know when it falls down...

ALHanes2 · 06/02/2020 20:24

I’m an architect and know a lot of builders. I also worked as a labourer myself for a period. Builders are there do to a job they’re not there to judge your hosting skills. If you want to make them a cuppa with a biscuit then do (good way to keep checking up on what they’re doing). Otherwise, it’s totally reasonable to set them up with a kettle and milk etc near where they are working and tell them to help themselves. If you want to treat workmen well you don’t have to provide snacks. Just pay their bills on time and don’t make any last minute design changes! Smile

DianaT1969 · 06/02/2020 20:26

Could there be more going on OP? Are you feeling overwhelmed with the baby, being at home all day, or the building work?
Of course you can't be at their beck and call all day. Most people would have set them up with a kettle, biscuits and tea, coffee etc at the start of the work and made them one or two a day. According to the weather forecast, it's going to be freezing cold in the UK next week. They have no doubt picked up on your reluctance to make them a hot drink, so I'd set up a really good drinks table for them if you want them to work through the cold spell on your property.

Fr0g · 06/02/2020 20:27

A carpet fitter told me a story how he'd been passed a brew in a jam jar at a fitting. He was told it was because they didn’t want any broken cups.
I confess I do leave out a selection of sturdier mugs and ones I don't like, rather than the nice thin bone china ones. Wouldn't dream of a jam jar, but feeling guilty now.

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