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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Pardonwhat · 07/02/2020 20:43

PatellarTendonitis

You quoted me.... Hmm

Igavebirthtoabanana · 07/02/2020 20:46

@Bumblesbumbles Once again, OP had offered the builders a tea station but they declined. Then started to rap at the window and ask for drinks. But everyone piles in to call OP horrible.

PatellarTendonitis · 07/02/2020 20:56

To be honest they probably requested it to make a point.

That their clients need to serve them hot drinks Confused Hmm. They are incapable of filling a flask with hot water and packing a few bags of tea and UHT sachets of milk and their own food? We do put out a station, but any expectation that the client is also supposed to be serving up brews because they happen to be in the home, wouldn't want to do business with someone like this. Talk about being precious and a snob. Cannot imagine where asking your boss to make you a hot drink would be met well. 'Well, you were in there sitting, surely it just takes you a minute to make me a coffee!' Ha! 'You didn't exceed your targets, what is hindering your performance?' 'Well, there's an unwritten code. No teas and I just do the bare minimum, never mind that you're paying me. Make me x teas and I go the extra mile for our clients. Make me food and I'll bother my arse to please our clients who are paying our bills and keeping us in business and whose positive reviews mean we get more business to keep us afloat. Don't and I'll go down the pub and slag off the client, too.' See how far you'd get with that in any other profession. Seriously.

bigdogspompoms · 07/02/2020 20:58

I'm with the OP on this, it would really irritate me to be making tea all day for grown adults who can easily make their own. I'd give them access to either the kitchen or a tea making station and let them get on with it but would provide some decent biscuits and the odd bag of donuts.

I drink max one hot drink a day so apart from anything, I'd forget to offer.

We're having work done soon and even though they won't be here that long, I'm dreading having strangers in my house and won't plan to be home much.

Lovely13 · 07/02/2020 21:10

Well I think it’s rude of him. If someone I’m paying for a job comes to my house, I do not expect them to demand teas and coffees. If I offer, fine. But if I choose not to, they can bring their own supplies. Or go to a local cafe. I always have offered to give builders tea etc, btw. They always brought their own.

MacBlank · 07/02/2020 21:12

Not a wind up, it's how I was taught in the 70s

EngagedAgain · 07/02/2020 21:20

I suppose it depends on how long the builders are in and best to start off how you mean to go on. Think it's too much to expect someone to make tea all day for months on end. Expect that sort of job would be for people who live in large houses so likely to have a utility, so they don't have to encroach into rest of house. Although most people would have a garage with electric supply so can set up an area. There's got to be a line or next thing is they be expecting to have a shower before they go home! 😂

PatellarTendonitis · 07/02/2020 21:23

It is now 2020. I remember the 70s. It was now many years ago. I'm still a bit shocked that 1990 is now 30 years ago. My father remembers WWII, he was born in the mid-1930s. But even he knows that times have changed.

Igavebirthtoabanana · 07/02/2020 21:24

Engaged. Or a cheeky wank too. You know, just to be kind. It only takes a minute!

JTTWC · 07/02/2020 21:25

Jesus OP some of the replies are just pure nasty.

The one from @FelicisNox was just rude. I mean how many times do they have to emphasise that you are doing literally NOTHING ELSE all day. You've got a baby, probably loads of washing to do, probably just need some time to chill but come on OP you've aren't doing anything really?

What happens if you wanted to go out for the day? Suppose you couldn't could you what would the builders do die of thirst? No couldn't have that.

Bobbybobbins · 07/02/2020 21:26

We had two guys in plastering for a day. I gave them drinks when they arrived then went out with my 4 month old and 2 year old. Came back and had to feed 4 month old. They asked me if my kettle was broken while I had my boob out feeding baby.

Needless to say I said they would have to wait 10 minutes!!!

Ferret27 · 07/02/2020 21:31

Maybe a tired ..new mum guys !.. give her a break....and then some friendly advice... eg good builders... then keep them sweet as they are hard to find

keffie12 · 07/02/2020 21:31

No it isn't cheeky! Its standard practice with anyone in the building trade. The ex is a joiner, my late husband a joiner and 2nd son a joiner. Saying that cos i know how it works.

If you don't want to make drinks in the day show them where the kettle and beverages are so they can help themselves

Toomuchtrouble4me · 07/02/2020 21:31

Your son keeps you so busy that you can’t even make a tea? Wow!
What will you do when you have more?
I always show them where tea/coffe is and tell them to help themselves. I also get cold drinks in esp for builders if they are working in the heat. Most of us get access to hot drinks at work - you’d be pretty pissed off if they downed tools to get a drink.
Do you also have a wall that toddlers can’t walk on with their granny’s?

MarshaBradyo · 07/02/2020 21:33

They can have a break from work. At the same time as making tea / having lunch. They don’t have to go all day.

R1R2 · 07/02/2020 21:34

As a tradesman im not really fussed if drinks are offered or not half the time i turn them down anyway, but on a long project we would usually set up a brew zone ourselves to save bothering the client anymore than we have to.

RainbowFlowers · 07/02/2020 21:34

I think theres a lot of harsh comments on here. I hope your arm is OK. It's your house so do it the way you want.

EngagedAgain · 07/02/2020 21:36

@Igavebirth, I wouldn't be surprised. Perhaps we shouldn't lower the tone! I am however surprised at the fact this thread has reached the 600 mark. A pp mentioned it at 400. I love these light-hearted debates, especially the tradesmen toilet stories.

MacBlank · 07/02/2020 21:38

@PatellarTendonitis

I'm glad you like stale half cold coffee with uht milk, oh no I almost forgot your Martyrdom 😜

When I said minimum, I didn't say or want it implied that I referred to substandard work, I said minimum.

Minimum is to do just the job, but no extras. So when you ask... If you can just.????? Then it's no, you can't be arsed to make me a brew, so I'm not gonna do you any free favours.

Do you work for free? I doubt it, I bet you make your clients a cuppa, or meet in a coffee shop, and get them a drink.... How is it any different making your contractor a drink?

Builders (all varieties) work down to a price, and obvs do as many "jobs" as possible to give their family a quality of life.

So what if they ask for a brew?

I know my "code" seems to some really harsh, but think about it.... What incentives do you get at work? If the boss rewards you with a bonus, don't you work harder.

Do you go that extra mile to catch a client?

So if you go on-site to do a job, you don't get a bonus, the only "perk" is a brew and biscuits or butty if lucky.

Your expected to go all day without needing a piss, and I'd they go off site n return with coffees, you go.... Oi, I'm paying you to do a job not go get drinks!

How about you go and work out of a garden shed, in someone else's garden and then get shouted at for wanting some water, or a go for a piss. Cos that's what you and the rest on here are doing.

So stop with the hollier than thou bollox, and respect you contractors.

They're there to make a living, and potentially return or get recommend .. the good ones.

....

Anyone want to tell me, they don't work harder n smarter if they're given incentives or bonuses.

ohwellherewegoagain · 07/02/2020 21:39

Sorry, YABU I think. I always make tradesmen drinks - not frequently, but at least 2/3 times a day - it's the least you can do. They are always grateful, and trust me, they always do a better job. Put it this way, would you want to feel you were imposing on someone in their home? Seriously , why wouldn't you offer this common human courtesy? It takes 5 minutes max, and is a win win for everyone. I would refer you to the time my husband (who doesn't take sugar in his coffee) wrongly put salt instead of sugar in the carpet fitters' coffee. There were three of them. It was an innocent mistake, but good grief, they did not hang around, did an extremely quick job and were out of there, so traumatised that one left a hoodie behind. That was, admittedly, some years ago when carpets were still a thing.

PatellarTendonitis · 07/02/2020 21:42

It's not stale, Mac, if I'm out I bring a flask with hot water and then make a fresh cuppa. Not hard.

ClaudiaNaughton · 07/02/2020 21:45

Having an extension built and they get tea or coffee 10.00am and 3 pm. We’ve got a quooker so it’s no trouble.

Scrump21 · 07/02/2020 21:48

I think it may be the Yorkshire girl in me, but I am actually incapable of offering a brew to anyone that steps foot in to me home Grin

Lipperfromchipper · 07/02/2020 21:49

That was, admittedly, some years ago when carpets were still a thing.

Hmmas far as I know carpets are still a thing...and funnily enough I have never known a carpet fitter to “hang around”, they usually work quick so they can move on to another job!!

Iamnotaroboteither · 07/02/2020 22:20

As a rule I offer our builders the following:

Upon arrival at 7am they are welcomed with a selection of cheeses and breads from around the globe accompanied by freshly squeezed juices.

I check on them every 5-10 minutes and offer tea and coffee with baked goods (croissants, pain au chocolat, macarons, that sort of thing, all homemade of course)

For lunch they feast on suckling pig and steak tartare.

Afternoon tea is served at 2.30 with a selection of plain, fruit and cheese scones, home churned butter and jam made from locally grown fruit that I pick myself.

Once my children and husband are home, they will eat McDonald's while I prepare a three course meal for the builders and start on their meals for the following day.

I know it's not much but they are in your home so I feel you have to do a little bit for them.

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