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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:
Arnoldthecat · 08/02/2020 19:21

Well first day on site id always have a chat,get to know people,agree rules etc. Im aware im about to decimate their home and it wont look good. Id keep mess to a minimum and try not to intrude too much. Communication is the key. Encourage client to speak up if they are not happy about something,always try and tidy as much as possible at end of day to try and make the place look as normal as poss.

PixieDustt · 08/02/2020 19:24

I think what made it cheeky is that fact he saw you playing with your son. In future just say he is welcome to pop the kettle on himself. Manual labour is hard work but she isn't their tea making little bitch.

Kirkman · 08/02/2020 19:27

stormciarathegale get over yourself. You are posting and I am responding and vice versa.

You have not explained how she is a victim. Just keep saying she fell over and then made them another drink. Theres no victim here.

You are taking this to ridiculous extremes and just making stuff up. I have no chip, heavy or otherwise. I am just posting on mn, like you.

FiremanSlam · 08/02/2020 19:30

I haven't read many of the replies because this thread is very long...

I personally don't mind making a tea or coffee once or twice a day but some workmen take the absolute piss. I had a fencer last year expecting me to make him a drink every bloody hour. And if I didn't take a drink out to him then he would be parading in front of the windows exclaiming to himself loudly how thirsty he was, or trying to catch my eye through the windows and then making drinking gestures. I ended up making him between 6 and 10 teas a day. He also had 4 sugars in each cup of tea so he completely went through our sugar.

I find it bizarre these people turning up expecting someone else to be responsible for their thirst. I always take a bottle of water with me when I'm working out and about, and don't expect or rely on anyone to provide with me drinks. My thirst is my business to sort out. Why are these workmen not taking flasks/bottles of drinks with them, or setting up their own facilities? What if the homeowner isn't in? Do they just go thirsty all day because they're unable to organise themselves to actually sort themselves out with a drink? It's weird.

stormciarathegale · 08/02/2020 19:30

You have not explained how she is a victim. Just keep saying she fell over and then made them another drink. Theres no victim here.

I said they victim blamed her by telling her she should have handed the drinks through the window. You continue to get personal and insulting to me. Instead of 'I disagree with you' it's are you drunk, get over yourself, you're talking rubbish, you're making stuff up. All of this, again, says more about you than me. I'm posting as well, but don't need to insult you to express any disagreement Hmm. Very mature there.

Hanywany · 08/02/2020 19:32

stormciarathegale am totally nodding my head agreeing with all your points! And if that would have been me tripping bringing tea etc, I would have been mortified and quite frankly pissed at the builders who clearly didn't give 2 shits about her welfare, more bothered about the sarcy comment afterwards! And as for people on here going on about fucking kindness, courtesy, humanity and bonding with your builder blah fucking blah, I've never heard so much crap in my life! one or two cups of tea fine or when your putting the kettle on but not pandering to every fucking whim especially when they interrupt precious mummy and baby bonding time by tapping on windows demanding refreshments! I'm not being funny but you dont know these people from Adam they are there because you are paying them heftily to do a job bloody hell, bonding with your builder, fred west was a builder (not that I'm saying all builders are raping murdering bastards) but still you dont know who the fuck they actually are to be waiting on them hand and bloody foot!!! Just leave poor OP alone!

PixieDustt · 08/02/2020 19:35

agree with stormciarathegale

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 08/02/2020 20:17

Do as others have suggested, show them where the tea, coffee and milk are and leave them to it. I did this when we had builders and I was home alone with a baby. They even asked me if I wanted something to drink too!

Igavebirthtoabanana · 08/02/2020 22:34

Popping back to say YES to Storm and Fireman

I actually don't mind making a cup or two if I have tradesmen in but the issue is when there is 7 or 8 of them, then it becomes a right PITA. I wonder if all of those who feel so strongly about builders hydration and feelings, that they just assume there's only 1-2 of them and that they only spend few days at your house.

We recently had an electrician doing a 1.5 days work. He was approx early forties, refused all the drinks (I saw him having his own re-usable coffee cup with him), got on with the job and tidied up as he went along. He was brilliant, will definitely use him again.

Tennesseewhiskey · 08/02/2020 22:42

I don't agree with storm.

Is that what this thread has become? All about storm.

Bluerussian · 08/02/2020 22:53

When I had builders in some years ago I offered tea and coffee when I was making for myself but showed them where kettle, sugar, tea, coffee (Horlicks for one of them), and biscuits were and told them to help themselves which they did quite happily. It's not your job to be waiting on them all the time, you have other things to do. However if you don't show them the facilities they aren't going to use them without your permission.

PixieDustt · 09/02/2020 00:27

Is that what this thread has become? All about storm.

712 replies so far and 3 people agreeing with storm. No I wouldn't say it's about them. Would you like some attention? 😂

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 09/02/2020 13:23

If this was the OPs dh that had been doing some gardening, not a load of builders, everyone would be telling her to ltb

Localocal · 09/02/2020 13:34

I hate the idea that I have to make tea and coffee for builders. I don't drink with myself and I am really have too much to do to be a waitress for people I am paying. If they are there for a couple of days I usually just show them where things are and let them get on with it. If they are there just for a couple of hours I don't offer them anything. I might offer if they were there all day but just for one day, but I would only offer once. They should supply their own refreshments.

The builder we have used for various home improvements always instructs his workmen to be respectful of the client's space, not come into any parts of the house unnecessarily, not to surprise you by appearing in a room they aren't working in, not to disturb you with requests for tea, etc., not to make a mess, etc. When we were having our loft done during a heatwave I had to beg the workmen to come down and eat their lunch at the table in the garden rather than sweltering in the loft. They flat refused to come and eat in the house.

It sounds to me like you have some very cheeky builders who are taking the piss with you and not respecting your space. I would set up the kettle on a stool or something near the bathroom and tell them they are welcome to use it to make their own tea and coffee. They are employees, not guests, and manage to get their own teas and coffees when they work in an empty house. They can do the same at yours.

Don't let them stress you out or spoil your days with your baby. Speak to the boss, put your foot down and be clear about your expectations.

FreakStar · 09/02/2020 13:35

FFS- the OP wasn't a victim- they didn't trip her up on purpose! In fact they didn't trip her up at all! It's the OP's fault she tripped over the rubble because she wasn't looking properly and rushing. The builders were just giving her advice.

MarshaBradyo · 09/02/2020 14:26

The best tradespeople are the ones that realise women aren’t there to provide on demand. I keep using the same team with a female lead because she gets that part of the service is ensuring minimum disruption. All the males in the team follow her lead which is great. I found her because her reviews were excellent. I left one too so you can get great results without being beholden to all this tea every 3 hours thing.

MarshaBradyo · 09/02/2020 14:27

So people with some outdated code will probably get worse reviews.

74NewStreet · 09/02/2020 15:58

I doubt their temerity in asking for a cup of tea would feature in any builder’s reviews at all, for good or ill 🤣🤣🤣

MarshaBradyo · 09/02/2020 16:03

If they do a poor job because they don’t one it will.

user1497207191 · 09/02/2020 16:09

It's the OP's fault she tripped over the rubble

Putting a load of rubble outside a door is pretty stupid. An accident is entirely foreseeable - they should have put it out of the way somewhere where it wasn't as likely to cause an accident, not in a thoroughfare.

Thewarrenerswife · 09/02/2020 16:18

And the tea thing is the big decider in recommending a company for a building job Confused

MarshaBradyo · 09/02/2020 16:20

Pp said if they didn’t get tea they would do a poor job. Sounds shortsighted to me, with reviews and recommendations.

MarshaBradyo · 09/02/2020 16:21

A decent professional tradesperson would do the best job regardless so probably best if that old code dies out with bad reviews.

mumsmas1 · 10/02/2020 13:37

I always make them drinks or if they are here for a while I supply kettle coffee/tea and sugar and mugs - you really want to stay on good terms with them dont you ?

Aridane · 10/02/2020 22:58

Goodness - never made the tea / coffee / food for workmen. They feed and water themselves. Last one, bless, brought his own kettle and supplies and asked if they could keep their milk in the fridge. Though to be fair, I tend not to be in and tend just to let the, crack on with it

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