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.

My brother’s (very small) business with four staff always prices in a portaloo for the staff to save asking for toilet access which some people don’t like (and the workers hate asking) if the job is longer than two days. They appreciate tea and biscuits, occasionally get a bacon roll with the morning tea! Depends on the client, but it’s not expected.

They’ve always observed the posher the house the less hospitable the client!

I always set up hot drinks and squash and biscuits on a table with some chairs when we have workmen in I hate running around making drinks like a stepford so this way they can just get on and have one when they are ready. I also let them use the loo when they want to but I know on MN that makes me an aberration

I always make workman tea and a bacon buttie plus biscuits, ignore dh op!!

I would set up a picnic table before they arrive with tea bags, coffee sachets, small milk, our camping kettle, mugs, box of biscuits and a cool box with ice and some cans / bottle of lemonade and coke in. It won't cost much, they'll appreciate it and do a good job.

For the toilet they'll probably nip off to a supermarket, but if you are worried about their boots on the floor buy some of those blue shoe covers and just say, "the loos downstairs on your right if you could just pop these boot covers on we've just done the carpet/floor"

When we had a building project done in the past, acouple of the workers were lovely, and thanked me for looking after them. It was a lot running back and forth with multiple cups of tea etc made different ways. This is why I think this time it'll be easier all around if they have the freedom to get it as and when. The plasterers however were awful, blasted music, they were ignorant, and disappeared for a 2 hour lunch break. We didn't realise they had gone!

I do teas and coffees. I don't offer biscuits because I don't have them in as a rule.

In my experience most workmen (workwomen?) come with a flask and water bottle anyway, and go off to the nearest Greggs around 11 ish.

We had builders in fitting a new kitchen recently- two weeks all told.

They brought their own kettle, tea and coffee, milk and mugs (and all own food).

I've provided beverages a couple of times a day in the past but it seems well over the top doing it any more than twice.

That sounds really nice. I'll probably just stick a couple of cold cans of pop/bottles of water out, the weather isn't that hot atm. I have a flask so I'll just fill that with hot water, and some fresh milk in a jug. I was just going to get a load of individually wrapped biscuits, Mars bars etc because they'll have dirty hands.
Honestly 😂it is such a process!!

I came on to say don't give them food. But then read you're giving them biscuits, which is standard.

Most builders come prepared with drinks/food so they won't be gasping for your biscuits, but your DH is still pretty tight if he begrudges them a 50p pack of biscuits.

Your DH is being awful and setting himself up for having a poor job done.
With tradesmen, access to a decent toilet is one of their biggest / fair requests. And what if the team includes a woman? Is she also going to use a bottle?

Wow what fantastic builders! It is a lot, and I'm one of those people that will ask every hour or two, so it's best I just have it set out. I'm also useless at remembering how many sugars, milk, strong, mugs getting mixed up etc. Last time it was just getting all mixed up. I want to go about my day with my young child, and will tell them just to give me a shout if they need anything else.

That is my experience too

I have found - apologies for the stereotyping - that Eastern European tradesmen seem to bring their own and look a bit bemused if you try to offer them anything. But British tradesmen will almost always welcome a tea/coffee.

I always offer to anyone working in our home but that's my experience of the outcome

Set a tray up a couple of packs of biscuit’s milk tea and coffee
if you haven’t a spare kettle get one from Asda £8

let them help themselves

As the wife of a tradesman, absolutely shocked at the number of you who thinks expecting them to drive to a supermarket for toilet access is acceptable.

Exactly, they have said there will be 3 or 4 men. I could understand more if the toilet was upstairs, and deep within our house. We have a downstairs toilet fgs, honestly dh is getting on my nerves.

I have a large flask which I'm going to fill with hot water, which I will change if needed.

I have had men in regularly.
I always supply tea, cske, biscuits, water with ice, cold cans. I have made sandwiches and thrown on a few pizzas too.
I have found the men to be profoundly appreciative and have really done an excellent job as a result.
If I was coping with very young children etc, then tea, biscuits and jugs of water would suffice.

I'd offer hot drinks when I was putting the kettle on and I'm sure biscuits would be appreciated but I'd not overthink it. I always wonder whether cleaners get similar consideration about service of break time snacks or whether it's a male preserve. Making lunch etc seems ott.

I think it’s a very kind idea, but not necessary these days unless you live in the middle of nowhere

Your husband is just weird why wouldn't you let a workman use your toilet,? Offering a coffee and a biscuit is fine you don't really have to set a table up but tell them where the bathroom Is !

Your DH sounds like a dick!

Tray of tea and coffee with biscuits sounds lovely. And being ‘allowed’ to use the toilet is a given! Presumably they all have homes of their own so know how to use a toilet appropriately.

That is really lovely of you. I'm not sure I'll be making hot food, but wanted to at least do a nice selection of biscuits/choc bars, cold pop, bottles of water, coffee and tea.

Indeed. We have a downstairs loo so our builders could access it easily - and we provided towels of a specific colour for them to use.

Spare mugs!!! - We gave them some of our nice once and the ended up with chips and scratches...

It's just basic good manners for you to offer them tea and biscuits. I usually make it twice a day, but your table idea is even better!