To not give builders food

[ThiswillDoItsfine]

Help me settle this difference of opinion. I have a company coming out in 3 weeks time to install a lot of fencing. I mentioned to dh that I will get them coffee, tea, and biscuits/cookies in to have with drinks. Dh is saying just the drinks is fine, and for me to just offer it as and when. The job is going to take 2 days. I want to give the men something to eat as well, at the very least.
DH is then saying he doesn't want them trailing through the house, which I do understand. However, I was going to set a table outside with a flask, tea bags, coffee, milk & sugar, and bowl of biscuits so that they could help themselves. I thought this would be less restricting and mean that they can get it when they want, without waiting for me to ask. I also think it saves me running around when i have a child to look after. DH is saying that this is well over the top.

Is this okay? Or is it wrong i set this up outside for them? It is an outdoor job, so I thought it would be easier all around, and they'll be working hard.

Thank you.

Biscuits with tea or coffee is fine. Also provide access to the toilet, perhaps have a hand towel just for them prepared.

Biscuits are hardly food! I was expecting you to be making them lunch at the very least from your thread title

It's always worth being kind to tradespeople. The table set up sounds like more faff than just offering one in the morning and one again after lunch, which is what I would do, but if it's what's easiest for you then got for it.

They are there to work though, they don't need a bottomless supply...

I always take the drinks and biscuits to them. That way I check up on what they are doing without being obvious

In my experience they won't expect anything for an outside job, but will very much appreciate a conversation about using the loo, and the odd cup of tea.

@LlynTegid we thankfully have a downstairs toilet, as long as tjey take boots off they can use this. DH is saying they'll have a bottle in their van if they need a wee, and they will be driving off for breaks and can go in supermarket around corner. 😩

This!

You can't not allow them access to a toilet, that's totally unreasonable.

We always do drinks and biscuits! I think that's quite normal in my experience? Similar to you I just provided a tray with everything on, makes it easier when WFH than having to make them myself.

We also did a breakfast sandwich run to a bakery on the last day, mainly because I wanted one and it was a great excuse - they loved that 😂

Totally irrelevant post as I didn’t read the OP properly - sorry!

Drinks and biscuits are a minimum. At the front door is fine. If you don't want to be traipsing back and forth for them, put the kettle/hot water flask and supplies there for them with a washable rug/dust sheets to stand on. Do offer that that can use the toilet otherwise they will pee in your garden - in fact, they might well do that anyway ☹️

Yes, I have done that in the past, but it became a lot running back and forth while looking after my young child, esp when 3/4 men this time. Where they are working is visible so i can see what they're doing. It is a trustworthy company so I trust them to be honest as well.

No, but if there’s a cafe nearby, I would hope they’d go there. I hate workmen using our loo

Sorry just realised your project is only 2 days - totally different. I would do tea/coffee yes, and let them use loo!

Your DP sounds miserable OP! We would always make tea/coffee and provide biscuits for anyone doing work in or around the house. We had some patio work done recently and I offered tea/coffee any time I made myself one and put a box of biscuits outside for them to help themselves. They had access to the downstairs toilet and I made sure they knew there was cold soft drinks in the fridge if they needed a cold drink. On their last day, I bought them pies/sausage rolls/cakes from the local bakery. They were so appreciative and did a great job. My parents would always make soup, breakfast rolls or sandwiches for any workers. It’s not expected but I think a cup of tea and a biscuit is polite!

When we had our garden fence replaced it took 2 days, and it was really hot weather. I supplied water / squash, biscuits and crisps, and offered tea and coffee if they wanted it. They all seemed grateful to have been offered anything at all.

I think it’s the decent thing to do if you can afford it.

OMG, you have to let them use the loo FFS.

Definitely offer them to use the loo, put floor protector down if needed, but they will remove boots. Separate hand towel, preferably a dark colour.

Offer a hot drink on arrival, again at around 11 with a biscuit. Lunchtime drink if they want one and something mid afternoon, 3 pm ish again with a biscuit or cake.

Why? That's what a toilet is for! If they are there for 2 days you'd be really unreasonable to refuse them access to a toilet

Tea, coffee, water on a hot day, plus access to a toilet. That's basic good manners when you've got workmen in. Biscuits optional!

I wouldn't leave it set-up as a table though. Have a word with the boss or team leader and ask them what time they'd like a brew. They'll have their break times during the day.

Twice a day go out with a tray of drinks and a plate of biscuits. That's what I do.
Offer cans of cold drinks if the weather is hot.

Order yourself a box of disposable shoe covers so they can use them when using your bathroom.

I think tea coffee and a few packs of biscuits isn’t going to break the bank and is more than acceptable to offer.

It'll be in the back garden so I was just going to set the table out on the patio next to our door. I just remember somebody saying that it is less restrictive when they can just get a drink when they want, help themselves, rather than being asked like children, and then making it wrong, or not quite how they like their tea etc.

I always offer workemen / women tea and biscuits or cake..
My gardener comes every two weeks.. he gets the same.
Not sandwiches or anything they usually bring their own snap.. but a fresh brew and a biscuit is polite and friendly.

I bet they love charging you $&%$ tax on your bill though.

For longer projects (we had builders around for a year on and off) they sort out a portaloo. We did regular drinks all the time for our builders, plus warm sausage rolls on bitterly cold days and ice lollies on blazing hot ones. We got to know their working pattern so it was easy to have the kettle ready for 6 mugs worth !