Workmen playing radio in the street

MeetMeAtOurSpot · 24/11/2021 12:28

We had scaffolders, and then a roofer, blast music whilst they were working. It was awful for us and I really felt for the neighbours!
I get that some people like to listen to music whilst they work but I found it incredibly selfish.
I am noise sensitive too OP so, initially, DH said that I should just leave them and made me feel I’d be wrong to ask them to lower it. By the end, however, he too was finding it starting to grate! I was so glad when they finished.
No harm in asking. I hope they agree & they will soon be finished.

What sort of drive are you having btw? Ours needs doing & I can’t decide what sort is best -thanks.

amillionrosepetals · 24/11/2021 12:54

I feel your pain, seems lots of workmen do this. I had some roofing done last year and the noise was really getting on my nerves so I asked them to turn it down because one of my neighbours had just had a baby (BIG FAT LIE!). They were very apologetic and turned it down. Perhaps you could convince yourself that one of your neighbours works nights.

Softwonder · 24/11/2021 13:08

I own a scaffolding company and we get loads of phone calls asking for our scaffs to turn the radio down at someone's house rather than them just asking themselves which always puzzles me. Just ask them. Say you're trying to concentrate on a piece of work and you're having trouble due to the radio. 100% sure they'll turn it down

girlmom21 · 24/11/2021 13:13

Just ask them. You're paying them so they're going to want to keep a good relationship with you.

They're working pretty slowly though, aren't they!

CurlsandCurves · 24/11/2021 13:30

They’re doing a hard, physical job and if you’re in the uk it’s freezing out there this week. Let them listen to music if it keeps them going.

Voord · 24/11/2021 13:33

Depends on the channel. I find most tradesmen like Smooth FM, which I can handle.

HoardingSamphireSaurus · 24/11/2021 13:37

@Softwonder

I own a scaffolding company and we get loads of phone calls asking for our scaffs to turn the radio down at someone's house rather than them just asking themselves which always puzzles me. Just ask them. Say you're trying to concentrate on a piece of work and you're having trouble due to the radio. 100% sure they'll turn it down

Hopefully yours don't do what the ones next door to us did.. yes yes, wait for me to go out of sight and then shout "Daft bitch! Turn it up" and then play it even louder.

Pity they annoyed neighbours so much. Only grateful they were gone so quickly. We did notice they were nigh on silent when they came totake it down.

And the builders working off the scaffolding were far quieter.

saleorbouy · 24/11/2021 13:48

Pull on your big girl pants and ask them to turn it down as it's disturbing you WFH.

Original poster

MaggieMagpie1 · 24/11/2021 13:55

@girlmom21 Yes, I think they are being slow. However DH assures me they’re not. They’re dropping the kerb a well as laying the drive (not started that yet mind you) and didn’t work yesterday as the edging bricks we’d ordered wouldn’t be in until the afternoon…sigh!

@MeetMeAtOurSpot it’s a resin drive, they’ve quite popular around here and seem to stop weeds coming through quite so much.

When they go back into their van to wait for…whatever they’re waiting for at regular intervals throughout the day at least it’s quiet.

Actually, thinking about it, I’m sure one of my neighbours does work nights…I’m off out to try speaking to them…fingers crossed…

OP posts:

TractorAndHeadphones · 24/11/2021 13:58

Has nobody on Mn ever heard of headphones

BringMeTea · 24/11/2021 13:59

Ask them to turn it down. I have done so before inside a house. inside is deffo cheeky fuckery though. He complied sulkily. Knobhead.

TotallySuper · 24/11/2021 14:03

I voted YABU because you've said you have OCD with noise issues so I imagine it's not as loud and annoying as you think it is. Also unless they're going to be there weeks and weeks I'd just put up with it otherwise you do risk pissing them off and ending up with a less than perfect job.

Minceandonions · 24/11/2021 14:14

Personally I can never be bothered to ask workmen to turn down their music. I want them to do a good job and for our relationship to be good, so I grin and bear it.
I'm noise sensitive too. Have you tried earplugs whilst they're doing this job?

Takingtigermountain · 24/11/2021 14:21

🍪

MsDidoTwite · 24/11/2021 14:43

It’s selfish and inconsiderate. Don’t understand why they have the radio on so LOUD when they’re wearing ear defenders & can’t hear it anyway, or they don’t just use a single Bluetooth earpiece if they want to listen to something. As a 2year plus veteran of neighbours continuous building work( & continuing) & their lairy builders, you have my sympathy. Builders don’t care if your baby can’t sleep, you’ve got a terminal illness, have developed mh issues because of your cunty neighbours flouting planning rules, just been bereaved or even trying to wfh in the pandemic. Rant over but I seriously wish they had a taste of their own medicine or some enforceable rules could be brought in to limit the misery they cause.

MsDidoTwite · 24/11/2021 14:48

@Softwonder Ask them to turn it down a tad and they do exactly the opposite, with added misogyny and vile language.
Exactly what @HoardingSamphireSaurus said

MeetMeAtOurSpot · 24/11/2021 14:56

@Softwonder

I own a scaffolding company and we get loads of phone calls asking for our scaffs to turn the radio down at someone's house rather than them just asking themselves which always puzzles me. Just ask them. Say you're trying to concentrate on a piece of work and you're having trouble due to the radio. 100% sure they'll turn it down

If you have loads of complaints why don’t you just tell them not to have it loud in the first place? They are hardly going to be a great advertisement for your company if they are pissing people’s neighbours off!

Newhorizon21 · 24/11/2021 15:00

@MaggieMagpie1

We’re getting a new drive laid at the front of our house. We live on a main road and it’s very busy. The workmen have been here since Friday and have (in the main) tried to minimise disruption to vehicles using the road and pedestrians on the pavement but however considerate they are some disruption is going to happen.

On and off since they arrived, they’ve been playing a radio in one of their vans, and it’s loud! I get that if they want to hear it over traffic/machinery it would have to be loud, and I also understand why they want to listen to music while they work. I do too.

The problem is, that I can hear it in the house. I’m wfh and it’s driving me mad. So I don’t drip feed I have OCD, and I’m noise sensitive. Sometimes I can’t make out the words to the song or the speech, so I just her a jumble of noise and a bass beat. Other times it’s as clear as day. Also I can’t help thinking that If I can hear it then so can my neighbours and I don’t like to think about them being disturbed by workmen that we’ve asked to come to our house.

AIBU to gather up my courage and ask them if they can turn it down? They’ve always been polite when I’ve spoken to them, but my request to keep our gate shut has only been remembered occasionally and I don’t want to make anyone’s working day harder.

If it's not loud music, it's annoying whistling! I bet they're driving your neighbours nuts too. The workmen could use headphones

2bazookas · 24/11/2021 15:05

I'd tell them its far too loud , causing nuisance, and say "either turn it right down or right off". Give them one opportunity to comply.

Many contractors these days have strict behaviour rules for employees on customers premises. ( which often cover stuff like tidiness, audible swearing, smoking, the use of radios)

Their workmen represent the company and are expected to uphold its professional reputation. So if they don't repent and comply, complain to the contractor's MD.

Original poster

MaggieMagpie1 · 24/11/2021 15:22

I thought it was getting quiet when I went out to speak to them…gone again!

OP posts:

girlmom21 · 24/11/2021 15:50

@MaggieMagpie1

I thought it was getting quiet when I went out to speak to them…gone again!

They're taking the piss. Does your DH have any experience with this kind of work, and by that I mean more experience than you? I fear he's telling you they're not being slow or taking the piss so you don't confront them about it.

Please say you're paying a job rate not a day rate.

Original poster

MaggieMagpie1 · 24/11/2021 16:15

@girlmom21 to be fair (and there are times I say this through gritted teeth) he does have a lot more experience about this than I do. He’s a self employed handyman atm and has worked on building sites etc. In the past.
We are definitely paying a job rate. There are times that DH’s knowledge is useful.

OP posts:

shushits1am · 24/11/2021 20:57

Just ask them to turn it down it's not the end of the world. I did the exact same within 2 seconds of hearing the radio from work men in my house where my baby was sleeping. You are paying them after all

EightWheelGirl · 24/11/2021 21:06

@MsDidoTwite

It’s selfish and inconsiderate. Don’t understand why they have the radio on so LOUD when they’re wearing ear defenders & can’t hear it anyway, or they don’t just use a single Bluetooth earpiece if they want to listen to something. As a 2year plus veteran of neighbours continuous building work( & continuing) & their lairy builders, you have my sympathy. Builders don’t care if your baby can’t sleep, you’ve got a terminal illness, have developed mh issues because of your cunty neighbours flouting planning rules, just been bereaved or even trying to wfh in the pandemic. Rant over but I seriously wish they had a taste of their own medicine or some enforceable rules could be brought in to limit the misery they cause.

Bit melodramatic, no?

MindTheGapMoveAlong · 27/11/2021 00:24

Sounds like @MsDidoTwite has been through the wringer to me. I take it that you’ve never had to put up with bad neighbours @EightWheelGirl? Or are you thatneighbour?