To ask builder/contractor to take shoes off whilst entering our home

[Doremi1689]

Opinions?? Is it unnecessary to ask a builder/contractor to take their shoes off when entering our home? We had a leaflet through our door for someone to come round and take a look at our staircase for a quote. When the guy asked if he can take a look upstairs at the stair banister my husband politely asked if he can take his shoes off ? there was a long pause and the man took offence and said really?? Why? Husband said we have a little one in the house crawling around. He said “how do you expect me to work here?” My husband said we can put a plastic sheet down, we’ll make it work? (FYI we are renovating
our house and so far ALL workers eg electricians, fireplace installers, plastering, have put sheets down without us asking, or even wrapping their shoes around with a cover). The man said “I’m not doing this” and stormed off out the door!! We are so confused !!!

I can also definitely remember some tradesman using shoe covers, that they brought with, without being asked. Maybe British Gas engineers?

I work in people's homes. We are not allowed to remove our shoes, in case we stand in, or on, something harmful. I do have some sympathy for people, as I don't wear shoes in my home. I carry shoe covers for the rare occasion I am asked to remove shoes. Also, I don't want to put my feet back in my shoes after walking on people's floors. Your joiner was unprofessional in his response, but not unreasonable in wanting to keep his boots on.

I don’t tend to ask (unless they have an obvious layer of mud/ dust that may mark permanently) but I find people offer nowadays. Had BT in and out installing last week and both engineers asked.
Everyone is aware nowadays that some people require it for hygiene reasons or cultural reasons and I doubt it’s the very first time he’s encountered the request. If I was working in homes I’d just pocket a few shoe covers for ease, a low effort solution for a common occurrence.

You didn't offer him shoe covers on this occasion though
So how would he had known that you provided them if he accepted the job?
Communication is key

As a paramedic I’ve been asked to take my work boots off before entering a house I’ve been called to before

WTAF?

OP, Do you and your dh remove your shoes when you arrive at work?

Yep. More than once.

I wouldn’t expect anybody coming into your home
that doesn’t know you to take your shoes off.

It was drilled into us when I was doing my surveying degree you never, ever take your shoes off in a strangers house. The same as never allowing your car to be blocked in, always having your keys in an accessible place and always having your car facing outwards so you can leave quickly. I’d have covers provided by my employer but you should really provide them if you don’t want shoes inside.

*to take their shoes off.

You say you’re renovating, so I take it your house has either bare floors or old carpet that will be replaced? What’s the point in being so precious over flooring that will be replaced?

This always makes me smile, have had 2 DC’s in wheelchairs I certainly don’t take the wheels off 😜 so no I tell everyone to keep shoes on.

No you don't. Shoes are essential safety gear for builders. You have zero rights, even in your own home, to expect workers to work unsafely.

As a builder, whether it's for a quote or to do the actual work, he's required to wear PPE, including safety boots. If he'd been on one of my teams and he'd removed his boots, even if he hadn't offered and it was the householder requesting, I would have reported him for doing it, with possible penalties if it happened on more than one occasion. At the company I worked for we would also bar work being done (except in cases of emergency, obviously) if householders consistently refused entry to workers in full PPE, including boots.

We did try to accommodate by providing shoe covers as much as possible, but if a gang had run out by the end of the week and they're working 20 or 30 miles away from the stores the choice is really down to the householder as to what they want more - the work to be done that day, or to be rescheduled for a week or so later but with shoe covers. We wouldn't have walked in without if they desperately didn't want them to, but really they should be prepared themselves the way people like my parents and grandparents and their contemporaries used to be, and have a sheet handy and already laid down. I think the last 20 years people have become incredibly lazy, expecting everything to be provided on a platter for them, and all for less money, even though it costs way more now to do the work!

In an emergency (gas) the householder didn't get a choice anyway, they're required to allow access because an explosion could harm more than just that house.

Well I'm one of the people who think it's incredibly uncouth to walk into someone's clean home with outdoor shoes on, but when it comes to someone in the midst of their working day I would let them off because then they may be doing that all day long and for me it's just one occasion. So on balance I leave it and clean up after them. I don't think I should clean up after a visitor because they are choosing to visit me and should not be rude in my house by traipsing dirt thourgh.

I know she hadn't asked him to do work with no shoes on, but I think her manner does suggest that she is the sort who just might be that precious.

We are a shoes off house, but yes you can't expect tradesmen to work in stockinged feet, for many reasons, so we have shoe covers if someone has to go in the carpeted areas of the house.

I hope you told them that getting to the patient as quickly as possible was priority rather than taking shoes off and putting them back on again.

Anyone telling a paramedic to remove shoes to enter the house must be very dim.

It's unreasonable to ask workmen doing an estimate to remove shoes or lecture them on sheets - they will be giving several estimates a day of which most won't be successful. If you want shoes covered you should provide shoe covers

Everyone in the building trade wears protective footwear.
Overshoes are not great as they are slippery and I wouldn't expect contractors to wear them, again for safety reasons.

Your baby doesn't crawl up and down the stairs so you were a bit unreasonable however he sounds like he's a short fuse so maybe it's not a bad thing that he left.

To be blunt I think its unreasonable of you to bring up your baby in a house without shoes - they are going to have a strange idea of the world.

just let it go - everyone should wear shoes