Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 29 30

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:

Porcupineinwaiting · 06/02/2020 15:12

When we had builders in I set up and stocked a tea/coffee/biscuit station and left them to it. Occasionally offered if I was in the house.

Strugglingtodomybest · 06/02/2020 15:13

I always make anyone who has come to help me in any way a drink. If they were going to be there was 4 months, I'd tell them to help themselves.

PasswordPatroller · 06/02/2020 15:13

If I'm at home I'd offer to make drinks. If not, I leave the cups, spoons, tea, coffee, biscuits out and tell them to help themselves to the milk in the fridge. It was freezing last week, so we made the window cleaners a coffee.

I thought it's standard practice to offer drinks anyone doing work in your home if they'll be there for at least half an hour.

Sausagewrole · 06/02/2020 15:14

Last time we had gardeners in for a week I bought a kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, sugar etc especially for them, to use in the garage, as we had to keep the door to the house locked because of our dog.

None of them drank hot drinks! All they asked for was water.

They did like the cakes and biscuits though!

CuriousaboutSamphire · 06/02/2020 15:14

I'm another that leaves cups, tea, coffee, biscuits etc.

I told the landscape gardeners that I had bought mugs for them from the charity shop, my cups were a matching set and brand new (and Denby) . They laughed and said thanks, they usually worried over cups outside.

A couple of weeks later there was an embarrassed hush when I got home. One of their site supervisors had visited and made a round of tea, choosing one of my cups to use for himself. Yes, he dropped it!

They laughed their socks off when told them I'd have to go back to the factory shop... he'd ordered a replacement already, full price! They asked me not to tell him, they'd let the boss know I was OK about it. They even set the broken pieces around a drain

Belindabelle · 06/02/2020 15:14

When we had our extension built I was all set with the tray, extra mugs and spoons , sugar, biscuits etc and the builders refused the lot.

The foreman said they always bring there own supplies. They used the outside tap for water and had a little camping stove thing to boil water for drinks and make their lunch.

I didn’t know wether to be impressed or disappointed. I did insist that they let me treat them to a cake or ice cream every now and then.

justpulledinalldirections · 06/02/2020 15:14

I feel your pain. We had them in for months and I hated all the waiting on them. I don't see why it's different to any other profession. I take my own food and drinks to work. Not sure why builders are any different but it seems they are

Wineislifex · 06/02/2020 15:16

You sound a bit precious tbh! Of course you should offer them drinks but when it’s convenient for you, if your busy and they ask tell them you’ll do it when your finished..not difficult really!

notangelinajolie · 06/02/2020 15:18

First rule of having builders on the premises is to keep them refreshed.

Kettle and teabags should always be there for them to make their own but in addition I would offer:

First brew of the day when they arrive.
Second about 11.
Third and last at lunch.

If they are anything like my builders they will be finished by school picking up time so need for an afternoon cuppa. My advice is be nice to them - you don't want relationships breaking down before they've even started. And especially so since they are going to be with you for 4 months.

So yes, YABU.

Abouttimemum · 06/02/2020 15:18

I offer on arrival and then whenever I’m making one myself, or leave the stuff out and say they can help themselves, especially if I’m off out/ busy.
Otherwise they can bring a flask. No one offers me drinks all day.

campion · 06/02/2020 15:20

On a 3 month job (rather than the odd day or a week) just leave them to sort themselves out. Yes to a kettle in the garage and maybe some mugs. I'm sure they're capable of making a hot drink.

You're employing them to do a job,at great expense, not make refreshments. You can have a perfectly friendly relationship without having them think you're on call for drinks.
I hope you've got a portaloo installed too!

WarmSausageTea · 06/02/2020 15:20

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

I feel it’s reasonable - and kind - to offer drinks first thing, mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Maybe lunchtime, too.

Seriously, wouldn’t the whole thing me more pleasant and relaxing if you were just, you know, nice to the builders? Call me cynical, but I’d guess that the kinder the customer, the better the work.

And really, OP, you haven’t been particularly kind. You don’t have to be, of course, but I suspect that you and the builders would all be happier if you were.

Musicalstatues · 06/02/2020 15:21

We’ve just finished nearly 6 months of builders here. I’m a sahm so saw them every day, and I don’t even drink tea or coffee myself. I really hated having people in and around my house for so so long but nonetheless I still made them all at least 2 cups of tea a day and had a ready supply of biscuits. It IS annoying but really it’s part and parcel of having builders I’m afraid. It’s blinking hard work and it’s only decent to offer them refreshment during the day.

WarmSausageTea · 06/02/2020 15:22

And yes to providing a kettle, tea and coffee so the builders can sort themselves out and you can all get on with your day.

KirstyJC · 06/02/2020 15:23

I would and have made drinks once or twice a day for builders who are doing a small job for a few days but I would not expect to be doing it every day for the next few months.

You haven't taken mat leave to be a waitress you have taken it for your baby.

Also, I get thirsty at work and guess what? I make myself a drink. With the cup I provide and tea/milk I pay into the kitty for. I don't go interrupting other people and expect them to make a drink for me for free.

So I think providing them with access to a kettle (and toilet etc) is perfectly reasonable. The rest they can do for themselves the same as everyone else.

Redlocks28 · 06/02/2020 15:23

How hard is looking after a 3 month old?! It doesn’t stop you making drinks!!

I’d offer when they arrived, mid morning, lunchtime and mid afternoon. If I was going to be out, I’d offer them free use of the stuff in the kitchen.

drinkygin · 06/02/2020 15:23

You are absolutely being unreasonable. You sound totally precious in every way. Your baby will be fine for five minutes while you make a brew, if you didn’t have builders there would you honestly sit staring at the baby all day and he’d get upset if you didn’t? I actually thinks it’s quite rude of you not to offer them a brew. Manual labour is hard.
Also it wasn’t their fault you didn’t look where you were going and scratched your arm

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 06/02/2020 15:23

I made my window cleaner and his mate a cup of tea the other day, they're only here for 20 minutes or so but it took a matter of minutes to do. it's not a hardship really.

UndertheCedartree · 06/02/2020 15:24

I think it's pretty normal to provide drinks. I'd expect to at least make them a morning, lunch and afternoon drink. If you haven't got time I'd leave it all out for them to help themselves.

Pineappletree33 · 06/02/2020 15:24

Yabu. I always offer drinks to tradesmen, if I’m not there or I’m busy I tell them they are welcome to help themselves. Fancy having to work the next 4 months with only one hot drink a day.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 06/02/2020 15:26

@justpulledinalldirections - most workplaces have somewhere where people can make a hot drink - I’d consider that the bare minimum - but tradespeople working in other people’s homes don’t have that facility, so I think it would be unreasonable not to either offer hot drinks or the facilities for them to make their own, when you have tradespeople in your home.

I wouldn’t expect to offer lunch - though I am sure the odd bacon sandwich would be very gratefully received.

LilyPinkNoah · 06/02/2020 15:26

It’s hard with a small baby! We started 7 months of building work when I had a little 5 month old.

I put out a tray - on it I put a kettle (bought a cheap one from Argos as I knew they would be around a while) - some mugs - tea - coffee - sugar and bought them tea/cakes everyday

Killerqueen2244 · 06/02/2020 15:27

I offer our builders drinks every 2-ish hours, it’s bloody freezing out there at the moment! Other trades are often working in dusty conditions so I can imagine a drink is a nice relief every so often.

Stop being so precious

underneaththeash · 06/02/2020 15:27

I set up a tea/coffee station in the garage - as you've suggested. I don't have time to run around making drinks for someone!

Original poster

crazydiamond222 · 06/02/2020 15:28

I suspect a lot of people replying are not having builders for long term projects, is this the case?

When we have had builders in the past for a couple of weeks I have made a few drinks a day but for months I am not sure if this is normal. They have a portaloo and are purely working outside. I have offered a tea station in the garage which they refused.

I do have a sling but I am very glad I was not wearing it walking over rubble as when I had fallen baby would have been badly injured.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 29 30