Neighbour wants no drilling this afternoon

[Daisydrum]

We are having work done on our house. The workers are only here M-F within normal hours. Our neighbour has asked for no drilling this afternoon because of important calls. Not sure if they are being unreasonable?
We did warn them months ago work was coming and when work was starting.
They have had about 2 years worth of work on and off, often during my important calls (and they’ve had it on evenings and weekends).
I’m not sure if the builders will need to use the drill or not but there will certainly be some banging as we can’t expect them to do no work for the whole afternoon.
Not sure what to say back.

It's a specific request, reasonable but perhaps narrow the time to a 3 hour slot

I would oblige as a one off, not if it were frequent requests.

As a one off to be a nice neighbour I'd try and comply if i could.

Following that I'd be going for the "yes yes we understand we will ensure it's essntial drilling only"

Important calls can be taken anywhere. He’s being unreasonable.

If its possible to work around it without incurring extra cost or delays etc then I would as a one off, otherwise though its unfortunately tough really isn't it.

@DinosaurDiana

No. They’ll start dictating your life if you give in. I’d just say that the builders will be doing whatever they need to do.

This. It’s the thin end of the wedge. This is part and parcel of working from home.

Have a conversation with your neighbour? It’s not about being reasonable or unreasonable / fair or unfair is it? Why not just see exactly when they need some quiet and comply if you can. If you can’t then let them know you’ll do your best. I really don’t understand the problem. You’re doing building work, they’re doing building work. Work together and communicate. Be considerate always.

Honestly - neighbour is being ridiculous. How awkward having to to ask a a builder to keep the noise down. Builders often plan their days around completing the tasks in the order than make the most sense time wise, they are experts in this - this is their IMPORTANT work.

I’m sure your neighbour could go in to their office for one day if they have one OR rent some workspace for a day if it’s that’s imperative they have quiet time.

I’d be so embarrassed to ask a builder this.

I’d say I’d speak to the builders and see what jobs they have today, and could the neighbour be more precise and tell me e.g. 1-3pm, or 2-4, etc.

There is noise suppressing software that can cancel out very loud environmental noise. Your neighbour could be up and running with it within the hour.

I've recommended these before but if you have environmental noise like loud family/heavy traffic/vacuum cleaners on other calls then think about a noise-cancelling app. There are others but I recommend these (I have no conflict of interest). They work with hundreds of platforms. Free (very limited/and trial versions available but otherwise a cheap-ish subscription.

Look at the various reviews on YT and similar.

krisp.ai/?
babblelabs.com/ Clear Edge babblelabs.com/products/clear-edge/client/learnmore/

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4025959-Is-anyone-elses-husband-ridiculously-loud-on-Teams-Calls?msgid=100085465

I think it's perfectly reasonable for them to ask. There might be a very valid reason why they've specifically requested today. Unless they are otherwise CFs why wouldn't you at least discuss it with your builders.

Literally have no idea what you're on about, I haven't suggested losing an afternoon, I've suggested accommodating their request if it's possible and apologising that it's not if it isn't 🤷‍♀️

@CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson

Literally have no idea what you're on about, I haven't suggested losing an afternoon, I've suggested accommodating their request if it's possible and apologising that it's not if it isn't 🤷‍♀️

Quote didn't work this was for @Skyla2005

If its a one off request then I think you would be unreasonable not to try and ask the builders to keep noise to a minimum. I live next door to people who constantly drill and hammer from morning to night all day everyday and it's miserable especially when I am working - you could Atleast try.

YWBU not to at least ask the builder if there was a simple way they could accommodate this without it impacting the overall progress of your project. Then depending on the outcome of your chat with the builder, that’s how I’d respond to the neighbour. Stating you’ve spoken to the builders about the request and they can/can’t accommodate without it affecting the planned progress for your building work. I’d also be tempted to offer some helpful advice for working with building noise from your experience but that could look petty even if you did have a genuine hint/tip to share!

As a one off I might try to comply by asking for more exact timings of the calls but not stop work for the whole afternoon. Now that WFH is a choice I think those that do this have to except that normal daytime residential noise is one of the disadvantages of not commuting into the office.

Do you think this is the start of many requests for their ‘oh so important job’ or is it a one off?
Do they have an on-line/telephone job interview?
Or a vital telephone consultation with the hospital?

Could you ask in a roundabout way ?
How quiet do you need them to be neighbour? What room do you need to use? Have you got an interview?

I would try to accommodate them on this occasion but would be inclined to ignore if it became a regular request.

Is neighbour prepared to pay for a half day lay off?

I’d also ask for more precise timings.

So I think their building works are a red herring since you didn't ask them to watch the noise at certain times (up to you, but their assumption would be you didn't need them to)

It's reasonable that he asked. I'd check with your builders and if it's not a problem all is fine. Or ask him for specific times and see if the builders can keep quieter then?

@CheeseCakeSunflowers

As a one off I might try to comply by asking for more exact timings of the calls but not stop work for the whole afternoon. Now that WFH is a choice I think those that do this have to except that normal daytime residential noise is one of the disadvantages of not commuting into the office.

WFH isn't a choice if you've been told to self isolate or your office is telling you not to come in.

The calls may also not be work related.

OP I agree with above posters - as a one-off, I'd agree if we could narrow down the time window and if the builders had other work they could be doing without drilling. Then everyone's happy.

id probably say no problem then continue as normal.

I’d say ok, I’ll have to give the builders the afternoon off if you need no banging/drilling, here’s the bill for their wages 🙂

If people who work from home need a quiet space to work then they should buy a house in the middle nowhere without neighbours, or get a job with an office !!!

Or ignore and then when you're trying to get an early night because you or your kids or your DP have an important job interview/exam - ask "nicely" for them to keep their guests quiet. And see what they say.

If relationship with neighbours was otherwise good, I’d speak to builders and see how possible it was

(And I have total areshole neighbours who HAVE tried to control our every movement)

I’d then go back to neighbours and say that I’d spoken to builders but as they know from their own building work, sometimes quiet isn’t possible