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Original poster

Builder and tea. WWYD?

192 replies

Rosiesmydog · 27/01/2022 18:53

So, one of my oldest and dearest friend is having an extension done. I said to her that she’d have to get proper milk and make lots of cups of tea because the builders won’t like soya milk and need regular cuppas. She looked shocked and said if they want proper milk they’ll have to bring their own and she would only make them a cuppa when she makes her own, which is about twice a day! After a bit of a discussion, she stated that it was good manners to bring their own milk if they didn’t like her soya. I pointed out that i thought it was good manners to keep your builders happy and just buy proper milk and make them regular cuppas because they are outside, in the cold, doing a hard, physical job. She’s not convinced! So WWYD?

OP posts:
HaveringWavering · 27/01/2022 20:03

She’s rude.

latetothefisting · 27/01/2022 20:04

@Airyfairymarybeary

Milk that comes from a cows tit that they make for their calf is far from ‘normal’! It’s 2022, only people 40+ drink cows milk- what age bracket are you op?
wow GrinGrinGrinGrin
Jeschara · 27/01/2022 20:04

FFS none of your business. What a boring topic of conversation let her do what she wants and you get on with your life.

moomee12 · 27/01/2022 20:05

Would you really expect her to make more than 2 cups of tea a day for them? I think 2 is plenty.

They're not honoured guests, they're being paid to do a job.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 27/01/2022 20:06

We never make ours cupas as we are at work all day, they did a good job!

Wouldn’t even cross my mind to make them a
A bacon sandwich. No one brings me cupas and bacon sandwiches for doing my job I’m paid to do

FAQs · 27/01/2022 20:08

People being bitchy questioning if the OP is bored, no life etc, whilst replying on a forum on the internet, how funny!

BatshitBanshee · 27/01/2022 20:11

I hate people who act like builders and tradies work for free and cups of tea. I'm paying you for a service, you've agreed to it for monetary payment and nothing in the contract that says I have to be a maid. If you want tea & refreshments during your working day then come prepared with a flask and lunchbox like anyone else in any other profession. No one's going to hack £££ off a price because of a cup of bloody tea. They're doing a service, they're not guests.

LaughingCat · 27/01/2022 20:14

Say whaaaaat? I am totally with you, OP. Neither OH nor I make brews at home. Never have any milk in unless I buy a pint for cooking with.

But when we have workmen in for anything, I buy in fresh milk, and I keep sugar, coffee and teabags in the cupboard to make them brews. I even get biscuits. Selection of them with chocolate chips and everything,

It’s all part of how I was raised. Offer the crew a drink as they get started, come back a couple of hours later to pick up the mugs and offer them another one. Repeat until the job is done.

Leave a pint at your friend’s door with a cheeky wink Grin

twisti · 27/01/2022 20:15

I set up a plastic table outside, stuck a kettle on an extension lead they could reach through the window and turn on and a huge bottle of water to fill the kettle up.
Plus mugs/tea/coffee/biscuits/milk etc. And a couple of glasses and bottle of squash.
then they just helped themselves throughout the day.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/01/2022 20:18

I’d be making tea the way they like it. And supplying biscuits.
It’s well worth keeping builders sweet.,

WarmSeaSwimmer · 27/01/2022 20:19

We've had 3 big extensions done. On the first 2 projects I made tea a few times a day for the builders and supplied cakes and biscuits. For the latest round of building works I didn't make a single tea in the 6 months they were here, the lazy buggers set up their own kettle and snack station in my garage and spent far too long each day sitting in there drinking tea. Seriously, in amongst drinking tea and going to the cafe they only did about 3 hours work on a good day.

In complete contrast, my Polish landscape gardener came alone but did the work of 5 men by himself. When I offered him a tea he was shocked and said 'I'm here to work, I don't have time to drink tea!'

Socialcarenope · 27/01/2022 20:20

An extension? They'll be on site for months. No way was I making our builders multiple cups of tea a day for the 11 months they've been here. They got a kettle, I regularly replenish the tea, coffee, sugar and biscuits, I buy tubs of chocolates and multi packs of crisps. They bring their own milk.

Forgotthespuds · 27/01/2022 20:27

My brother's have a building company. Apparently most of them drink coke & if they want tea then they bring a flask.

saleorbouy · 27/01/2022 20:27

A happy working relationship with the tradesmen in your home generates good will which helps during requests for additional tasks, changes or differences of opinion.
A few hob nobs and a warm brew really isn't going to put you out but you'd look a bit pathetic if you don't provide some refreshments. It's nice to be nice!

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 27/01/2022 20:27

Ah but the real question, do you let them use your toilet?

SniffMyFeet · 27/01/2022 20:27

Jesus, I bet you're glad you asked now @Rosiesmydog Grin, I'd buy proper milk, biscuits and bacon for butties.
I ask them about 5 times a day if they want a cuppa/water/squash whatever
Oh and I'm a woman & I don't feel obliged to ask them I just think it makes life a little nicer

Looneytune253 · 27/01/2022 20:30

I might offer a cuppa to some builders but wouldn't be going back and forwards. Would provide tea making facilities though

Coronado2 · 27/01/2022 20:32

I'd show them where they could make drinks, I'd not be making them drinks. I work, I don't have time to make people drinks all day.

We only have non dairy milk in our house too and I wouldn't get cow's milk in for them, they'd have to bring their own.

EinsteinaGogo · 27/01/2022 20:33

We have builders in - currently been there for 3 months, another 1 to go.

They have brought their own kettle etc and also do trips to the cafe. Not a single drink made here.

They want to do a good job because it's a firm that take pride in their work.

We have done cafe orders / cakes on a
Friday, but we both work from home and are definitely not on hand to serve.

They are great guys and have got us takeaway coffees on occasion too.

KissKissButtCheek · 27/01/2022 20:34

I'm with you @Rosiesmydog - my parents always told me look after the builders/workers and they'll look after you.
Had our attic converted, around 10 workmen here for 4 weeks, made them tea regularly, some sandwiches if I was around at lunch time.
Same having our kitchen done
I can safely the workers looked after us and went above and beyond x

Socialcarenope · 27/01/2022 20:35

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea

Ah but the real question, do you let them use your toilet?
Ours provided their own portaloo.
Socialcarenope · 27/01/2022 20:37

@saleorbouy

A happy working relationship with the tradesmen in your home generates good will which helps during requests for additional tasks, changes or differences of opinion. A few hob nobs and a warm brew really isn't going to put you out but you'd look a bit pathetic if you don't provide some refreshments. It's nice to be nice!
I work full time. I don't have time to make myself several brews a day let alone ask the 3-5 builders on site and make theirs!
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 27/01/2022 20:40

I do usually set up a “tea bar” for builders - tea, coffee, sugar and biscuits,milk in the fridge etc. I’ll usually make them a cup to start with and then say help yourselves, although when I was wfh in the kitchen (have a study now thanks to the builders!) I was in there so did the offering. I drink a lot of tea myself so not really a problem.

However in fact the main builders that came her preferred cold drinks so I got them in some cans of sprite and Fanta.

There’s no obligation to do any of this of course - I kind of resent the suggestion that there is, and builders are some now different to every other job on Earth.

Original poster
Rosiesmydog · 27/01/2022 20:48

@SniffMyFeet

Jesus, I bet you're glad you asked now *@Rosiesmydog* Grin, I'd buy proper milk, biscuits and bacon for butties. I ask them about 5 times a day if they want a cuppa/water/squash whatever Oh and I'm a woman & I don't feel obliged to ask them I just think it makes life a little nicer
Quite! This post was quite literally out of interest as to what others do! I had the same convo with work colleagues and was never once called over invested, told to keep my beak out, told I’ve got no life or called judgy about soya milk 🙄

2 people said they’d provide tea making facilities and the rest said they’d happily make them tea

OP posts:
NiceTwin · 27/01/2022 20:54

@Airyfairymarybeary what on earth are you on about?
If you think only people over 40 drink milk, you are seriously deluded!!