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.

Have you actually seen how much tea builders drink!!

Yes and ? If they don’t have someone willing to provide it they will have to drink less or bring more then one thermo container full. They can also provide themselves with a big bottle of water if they get that dehydrated.

When we first moved in here, we had myriad small but important jobs that needed doing and a couple of really big jobs - tie bars installed, that sort of thing.

I made drinks all day because I made drinks for myself. I did that for months. The guys who were doing the tie bars (involved taking up carpet and floorboards from front to back, drilling massive holes in the front and back walls, putting an enormous iron bar right through the house.....).They preferred to make their own, so I showed them where everything was. However I always asked if they wanted drinks when I was making somethingt for me.

it is also v hard having a new baby. To the point where putting the kettle on for a cuppa is an insurmountable ordeal? Don’t think so.

Where's the garage in relation to the extension

DH and DS both builders.
Regular drinks are always well received and biscuits a much appreciated extra.
Mid-morning, lunchtime and mid afternoon is fine.
Access to a kettle if you are busy/out.

I mean why wouldn't you? It's freezing outside today and flask tea is revolting

No you don't have to provide drinks for them.

We had an extension built recently it took 9 months, do people really suggest I should have been catering for builders for 9 months?

When we met with builder companies for quotes, they all told me not to make drinks for them, and that they would provide them with a breakout facility. They had a fold out table and chairs, kettle etc to sort themselves out. I did offer use of a fridge but they declined. I offered them some cake once, they declined. I think they were under instruction not to impinge on us. OP you are not a cafe, you are paying them a lot of money, they can sort themselves out.

such a non issue!!

MN have a dislike for traders and workmen. its so odd!

I wonder would female builders demand drinks in the same way...

Did anyone "demand" a drink?

I make drinks if people are here for a day or two. If it was going to be 4 months I'd def set up a kettle, cups, coffee etc out in the garage or utility or something.It's hard work and either hot or cold!

And baby can manage 5 minutes without coming to any harm!

Why can't you just show them where the kettle is and tell them to help themselves?

I think it's fine to set the tea things somewhere accessible and let them make their own, especially if you are busy. I tend to do this if I'm working from home.

Set up refreshments facilities in the garage. They're working. A lot of working people have a canteen/room with a kettle & fridge. They don't get waited on. These shouldn't be either.

Oh and I had twins - yet never seemed unable to make a drink.

@SoupDragon no they didn’t they politely asked, same as nobody is suggesting she “caters” for the builders ho early, how ridiculously stuck up some of MN are. Agrees with PP people really have it in for tradespeople! Snobs!!

I was taught it was best to keep the workers topped up with tea & biscuits, lunch, cakes or whatever. After all you want the best out of them & they will be more likely to do extras or go the extra mile with no bother if you keep them happy.

And I was taught that you do the best job you can in return for the remuneration you're paid by the employer. I can't believe some people feel entitled to food and cakes on top of being paid or they'll do a shitty or not as good job. Fucking hell. Money's not enough? Can't imagine expecting my client to wait on me multiple times a day and make me meals or I'll not do as good a job as the one I'm being paid to do.

Fail to see why not providing water, tea, coffee, kettle and milk and telling them to help themselves is being snobby or condescending or 'Lady of the Manor' or treating them like a sub-species. Or that they'll need to disappear off every hour for a hot drink if you don't play the waitress.

@ColaFreezePop Contractors here don't take breaks every hour. They show up with their own coffee in the morning, break for lunch then maybe a brief break in the afternoon. There is always a site supervisor or crew boss present to assign work, inspect work and otherwise run the proceedings. The contractor is paid a fixed sum for the project so the usual approach is to get in, get the job done and get out and onto the next job.

If I put out of tub of ice with 500ml bottles of water the workers can grab one whenever they like without interrupting what they're doing.

It’s nice that you have the luxury of having your child lying on you all the time but it’s hardly practical. If you had other children etc you wouldn’t be able to do that so taking 2 min to make tea is nothing. You hadn’t even offered a facility for them to make it themselves so if course they asked. On top of that you sound like you think you’re better than them outdoors. I am not surprised they have said they will bring their own I bet they sensed the attitude. People here working in offices etc comparing it to making their own drinks are missing the point. You make a cup with a kettle provided or fridge, washing up facilities, in a heated building. They are doing a physically hard job, in the cold, with none of those facilities. As one human to another I couldn’t watch them freezing out in my garden and not offer! Some people are so self-centred!

For builders doing bigger jobs that take weeks or more, like extensions, either they should bring their own tea/coffee/kettle etc, or they should accept that drinks are only offered when convenient. It was rude of them to ask. You're not a cafe and you do already offer drinks and food occasionally which is nice. So YANBU in that situation.

If it was people working actually in the house such as plumbers or electricians who work for shorter lengths of time then I'd offer fairly regularly, I wouldn't expect them to bring their own kettle etc.

YABU, I’ve got 3 young children and would offer builders/visitors drinks regularly! Unless you’re going to drip feed some PND or something?

I just couldn't get worked up about this. Honestly, some people are so precious.

How dare they kindly ask for a cup of tea/coffee. Your poor son must have been devastated.

YABVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVU

I'm sorry you fell over but I don't think his request for a hot drink was unreasonable. I always offer drinks a couple of times to anyone working in my house, or offer once and say let me know if you need anything or show them where to help themselves. I agree to setting up something for them to help themselves as they will be there for a few months.

I don't usually offer food though. I'm not a big eater in the daytime and it doesn't occur to me. I might start getting biscuits in for future.

i think you are being precious. having a 3 month old does not make you incapable. presumably you eat and drink? i have a three week old and a toddler so do understand that it's somewhat challenging at times but don't be a martyr.. if you aren't going to offer then you should let them know where they can get their own/plug in their kettle (i recall our last builders brought their own kettle etc is this not a common thing?)

Oh and there are female trades- we have a female decorator in our family, I know of several local female plumbers and an electrician. And they appreciate a drink too.

Of course there are always some customers who neither offer or allow anyone to use their kettle. In that case, my lot take flasks.
There are miserable people in all walks of life, unfortunately

Bubmle, it's not a 'luxury' I know people who've had babies that will only sleep/settle lying on them, and it's a bind and a bore.

We had our garage converted and I offered tea/coffee/biscuits every couple of hours. They even worked through heavy snow so I offered even more frequently! They did comment that they don't normally get so well looked after, I just appreciated them making the effort to come whatever the weather