AIBU to still have new windows installed next week?

[Dimblebimble]

We arranged to have the majority of the windows in our home replaced prior to coronavirus outbreak and paid half up front (over £1,500). One of the main reasons we're having it done is that we're expecting a baby at the end of April and the window in our bedroom let's in a draft and is causing damp, which we wanted to resolve before the baby arrives.

I would be okay with waiting until all of this over, but I'm worried the company may go under and we'll lose our deposit. Company is still working.

One of the rooms isn't being done so me and dh would go in there whilst the work is being done, meaning we can stick to social distancing. Obviously we're taking all precautions due to my pregnancy and will wipe everything down once they've left.

Would you go ahead with it? Do you think this is allowed, since it isn't 'essential' work? Surely if everyone cancels on them the company will go under?

YABU.

Jesus Christ the message is not getting through is it???

What is wrong with you? This is not in any way essential

I’d be surprised if they’re still operating. A relative owns a window company and they’re carrying on because they’re working on lots of new builds and commercial properties which are completely empty, so business as usual for them at the moment, but they’ve ceased all domestic work completely.

Only way to know is to phone them.

No. That would not be ok.

What would you do, in our position? Cancel indefinitely and lose the huge deposit? Ask to postpone to a set date (if so, when?)

It's really unclear whether workers in this type of role are allowed to keep working. We spoke to them last week and they were planning to still come, though this was Thursday before the lockdown was announced. I've still seen their vans out and about though. If they are still working and we cancel, surely we lose our deposit?

We're having our roof done at the moment. Current position is we MAY be made watertight but no chance of windows being done and the gaps will just be boarded up. And there's still a good chance we will be left without a roof at all.

Obviously not.

If you had to be in the same rooms as the builders for the duration of the work, would you still want to go ahead? No? Because you wouldn’t want to put yourself at risk? So why are you happy for others to put themselves at risk for your benefit? You’re not special.

If the company is still working you can go ahead with this. This counts as necessary work for the company (under Boris's list of reasons for leaving the house).

Should be fine - just keep 2 m apart from the workers.

If you can stay away from them?

We’re having new windows. We have to because half of the back of the house doesn’t have any windows right now! Also I am genuinely worried that if we don’t do it now, the company might go bust and then we’ll lose the money and have no windrows.

It’ll be fine. They’ll be working outside. Stay 2m away from them and it will be okay.

If you are able to stay 2m away from them, and they are willing to do it and able to travel/ work safely, then there isn't a problem.

Roofing company is coming today to fix a leaking roof on our house.

They will turn up, do the work and leave.

We are inside the house and will talk to them by phone.

Gardener is also still working.

Same applies. No contact with him whatsoever. He's outside, we're inside.

You can’t hope to keep yourself and the workers safe in this situation. They’ll be more than one day there - sharing your kitchen and bathroom.

This is NOT essential. People still aren’t getting this.

I had an email from my small local window firm yesterday telling me they were closing for the duration. One and a half people who’ll have no income in this time but are doing WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD WE MUST DO.

You’ll just have to wait. We need a pretty urgent bit of building work doing which means we are getting water in, but there’s no way we are trying to argue it’s something which should be happening at the moment. People’s lives are at risk because of this sort of nonsense.

Windows can’t be fully installed from outside - they need to work indoors too.

Doesn’t anyone understand how serious this situation is?

Thanks for the replies. It's not a case that we're not concerned for their safety, but it they have chosen to work as normal and are allowed to by the government then we can't be held responsible for their own social distancing, only our own. They've been told that I'm pregnant and would be extra careful.

My preference would be to postpone until the lockdown has been lifted, especially since I am pregnant, but I'm worried that a) they will treat this as us cancelling and keep the deposit or b) the company will agree to postpone but then go under, losing our deposit. It's quite a big chunk of money for us.

Depends if the window companies operatives are all corona free or in self isolation as they are all at risk of being ill along with the rest of the population, your windows are not as important as other's health anyway
This is a National Emergency so take heed and don't expect others to be fit to accommodate you

People are still misunderstanding Boris's final point about working.

If you are unable to work from home, and if your work does not involve large gatherings of people (pub, restaurant etc), then you should keep going to work. This is clear on the BBC website. Not just essential key workers but anyone. This is in line with other countries. Otherwise, literally every small business will go bust.

You can only go on the information available to you today. These are highly exceptional circumstances and you are not cancelling because you’ve changed your mind; you’re postponing until a time when social isolation isn’t in place.

If you are unable to work from home, and if your work does not involve large gatherings of people (pub, restaurant etc), then you should keep going to work. This is clear on the BBC website. Not just essential key workers but anyone. This is in line with other countries. Otherwise, literally every small business will go bust.

This is not in line with all other countries. Unless you are an essential service in New Zealand you are not allowed to work, unless you can work from home. Something like installing windows could not be done unless it was absolutely necessary.

OK, maybe it's not in line with all other countries (it definitely is with some). But it's what we're doing here under the current lockdown rules.

YABVVU. What aren't you getting? These non essential companies keep going because people like you are keeping them busy.

It is non essential business.

Postpone.

@IceKitten that was my understanding too - that these types of companies had not been told to stop working. Since they tend to be self-employed, many need to keep working to support their families as the government is providing little support for the self employed. My dh falls into this category, and I've seen the impact this has had in his company (every single job has been cancelled) hence I feel sorry for them and bad about cancelling...

Stop making excuses to justify this Op. You shouldn't need to ask. If your husband is self employed (as am I) then you will be aware that there will be some help with lost income. It's not ideal, but everyone who possibly can needs to stay the fuck inside.

Are you all seriously saying that if you have a structural problem with your home you should just live with it? I have woken up to a leak today and yes I am absolutely getting a plumber round and they are coming later today! Do you really think it would be ok for us to have no water and risk the ceiling collapsing for weeks on end? Get real.

A new job is different if it's a nice to have which the OP's probably is although she says there is damp. It probably is better to postpone at this time, although I can see if you have a baby due you want to carry on.