Builders requesting drinks

[crazydiamond222]

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.

I don't do running around after men any more.

What if they are female tradespeople?

Some of the people who've done work for me bring a flask, but I always offer to make them a drink and would happily give them the kettle, teabags, milk etc to help themselves if it was a longer job.

However it's ridiculous to imply they'll die of dehydration if they're not offered drinks. Surely they can bring a bottle of water at least.

I wouldn't expect someone to build my extension in the winter months to work without hot drinks-

There is this wonderful invention called a thermos. Also, there seems to be numerous coffeshops everywhere.
I’m sure they can manage.

YANBU - they were cheeky. Expecting you to make regular brews for four months is ridiculous. What will they do on days you go out?

By all means set up a tea station but that’s it.

This is one of the reasons why I made sure we moved out when we renovated.

Hmm IDK. We are about to have builders in for a few weeks and I don't think I'm going to be offering them cups of tea and coffee multiple times a day. But I probably will set them up with the means to make their own whenever they want and just keep them supplied in milk and biscuits.

They need access to hot drinks one way or another, so a kettle, or flasks.

I think they're very U to expect waitress service on demand, yes.

But, you should have established your approach on the first day. So, made them a welcome drink, then said 'you're welcome to use the kettle', or 'will you be able to set up a kettle in the garage?' or whatever.

We have built/renovated many times and we always keep the builders/tradies fed and watered. Tea, coffee and buns/biscuits. Often in the evenings we will order takeaway, even just a chip with gravy etc. Its tough old work, and they are always so happy for a hot drink and some food.
We have built good rapport with a few, any as anyone will tell you, good tradies are hard to find!

"Are they unable to bring enough drinks to last a day"

😂😂😂 Have you actually seen how much tea builders drink!!

@MissConductUS if you want them to waste time going for breaks every hour then don't provide them stuff to make their own tea and coffee.

I bought a basics kettle, some cheap mugs and left everything on a tray when we had builders and were living elsewhere, they were doing a hard job and I'd rather they got stuck in than took breaks to go to Costa!

You're too busy with one three month old baby? If you want the builders to do a good job make them drinks
I made lots of teas when we had building work on our last house and when I was out I left access to the kettle etc. Dd1 was 3 and dtds 5 months.

Get a grip

Oh, I know how you feel, we moved when I was heavily pregnant and had some landscapers remove some conifers. It was hot, I felt sorry for them and gave them lemonade with ice cubes and then before you knew it they were, or so it seemed in my heavily pregnant state, wanting drinks all the time and disturbing my chill out times.

How horrible you fell over. I hope you are ok. I know manual work is hard but so is being a new mum so dont feel bad, they are very likely to have you running round after them if you are not careful, but you need this special time to yourself for a reason because it is also v hard having a new baby.

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.

DP's BIL has a building company and he does that. As long as the customer has some suitable space, he also hires a portaloo so they don't have to use the clients lav!

I'm of the belief that if you want a good job done, you look after your builders well. Anyone doing work in my house gets offered hot or cold drinks, biscuits and even bacon sandwiches.

I usually make them one on arrival then another towards the end of the day.
Dh works outside and takes a flask with coffee in,theres nothing to stop them doing that if want drinks more often.

I'm finding some of these comments really odd. A "skivvy"? "Running around after men"? And why is making regular brews for four months "ridiculous"?

No one is asking anyone to be a domestic servant or some sort of waitress catering to every whim. Just offer the odd hot drink when you're having one or plug in a kettle in the garage.

It's basic manners.

We had builders in for 6 months. Hot drinks on arrival in the morning, mid morning and then in the mid afternoon. It wasn't difficult - it's showing some basic hospitality. IME the worse you treat people working for you, the less enthusiastic they are about taking care over the job.

I keep a collection of old mugs for traders use because it doesn't matter if they get chipped or broken. They can also use the downstairs loo as I don't share the MN horror of a stranger shitting into a device designed for that exact function So far the loo has been fine - there's a brush and loo cleaner in there and I presume they have been used when needed.

If it bothers you that much then tell them that you are setting up a tea station for them to make their own drinks.

One word of friendly advice - try not to get too uptight, otherwise you will be a nervous wreck by the time this is over. I know it's hard having strangers in your private space, but you need to try and relax and not sweat the small stuff.

It's just good manners and kind to offer hot drinks to people working on your house. It's not like they can make their own in the garden is it? Of course, they should bring a flask if they want it guaranteed as the homeowner might not always be in all day. However, if you are home I'd offer drinks at regular intervals and probably a biscuit or two as well.

Having a baby is no excuse.

It's polite for you to offer and it's rude for them to request. I have had a lot of work done and had builders and tradespeople around for months on end. I always offered to make a drink if I was getting one and told them to help themselves to cold drinks in the fridge. But I was buggered if I was going to stop working to make them cups of tea, I'm not a bloody waitress.

You really can't put your baby down for a few minutes? He'll be fine I'm sure!! Common decency to offer drinks regularly - maybe when they arrive, mid morning, lunch time and mid afternoon. They are human beings too you know!! (God forbid they ask to use the loo!!!)

My dh is a roofer, he's on site for varying lengths of time from a couple of hours to months.

He has no expectation of tea or coffee etc being provided. When it is, it's lovely and he definitely sees it as a benefit. He often grabs a coffee on his way to a job, or sometimes takes a flask.

Op, please don't stress about it. I'd take a round of drinks out, cheerily remark that you won't have time to do this all day and provide a cheap kettle etc in the garage. Ignore their comments of they don't need it, just do it, it's less hassle in the long run. Set your ground rules now!

I hope you're ok after your fall, sounds like a nasty shock.

@Hepsibar you sound even more precious than the op queen of the castle!

A couple to three times a day offering a hot or cold drink is not hard OP. I've coped with three young children at one point and managed to make hot drinks for several people including workmen. It is just bad manners.

As a builder, it's always nice when customers provide drinks. I don't think I have worked anywhere where we haven't.

Started at a new loft conversion and I asked if it was ok if I made a cuppa and I was pointed in the direction of cups, tea bags, coffee etc.

One customer used to bake the most amazing cakes and another made bacon sandwiches, some leave the odd packet of biscuits out for us, never expect any of the food though.

I wonder would the builder have asked if he’d seen your husband at the window instead? I wonder would female builders demand drinks in the same way...