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.

Honestly, I wouldn't even do that. Just let them get on with them job & if you want to give something, then a 6 pack of beer at the end is more appreciated. You seem very kind, but they really just want to get on with the job & not make awkward conversation over cuppa.

Haha, the hot drinks would be them making their own from the outside table as and when, drinking it outdoors. I won't be outside chatting. I used to be really embarrassed by my dm doing this as a child and over offering. They're adults at the end of the day. I never buy strangers alcohol, don't know their history etc. I'm paying for the job. I will provide optional snacks.

Your husband sounds like a prat.

I can't get my head around the OPs husband not wanting to give them access to the loo. It's actually disgusting and I'm horrified that someone could be that horrible. Your husband sounds awful.

He isn't horrible, and is actually a nice person "usually." Dh just has it in his head if he would act a certain way, then everybody should, it's an outdoor job, not indoors, i would go in the van etc etc, they'll not want to come in. I agree it is coming off knobbish and completely wrong of him. He grew up in a strict household where relatives were barely offered a drink, let alone tradesmen. To him, the drinks on their own are hospitable.

If you want them to do your job quickly and not have them disappearing off every hour to get drinks/ use the toilet then your approach is the right one 😀

For some reason when using a clients toilet when working, they are not as particular at “ aiming” as i imagine they would be in their own homes, and often do not wash their hands. Not very nice when there are several of them!

They don't need sandwiches or crisps, they can go to a local cafe/shop if they want those, they are big enough to sort out their own breakfast before work. . Biscuits and hot drinks (cold if it's warm out) is plenty, you don't need individually wrapped chocolate bars either

We've just spent 2yrs renovating. Some builders were here for weeks, other trades just a day or 2. Some tips:

• Get sugar cubes. Less messy and less likely to get ants after the tea table is packed up
• Add a rubbish bag or 3. I found wrappers pushed into scaffolding poles, hidden in by plant pots and cans pushed between rocks!
• Most appreciated some biscuits, but some didn't eat cake or sweet things at all
• 2 Romanian men clearing the garden, took the entire biscuit packet. It was unopened, but I didn't expect them to take the whole pack home!
• Put down flattened, large cardboard boxes to protect your floor to the bathroom
• On very hot days, I left out an ice box with some cool drinks/water in, and sometimes offered ice lollies

For the entire 2 years, majority of work people went to the local shops to get lunch and presumably used the loos there. I only had 1 issue with the toilet, from a man that was just there for the day. He left the worse poonami I've ever seen which somehow exploded upwards, leaving shite all UNDER the toilet seat and around the bowl. No attempt to clear any of it off either 😡

Maybe the client isn’t a SAHM who’s available to provide frequent hot drinks and snacks? Sometimes I think trades are living in a previous era.

We’ve part-renovated an old house, and while the builders etc are at work, I’m at work, whether that’s in my study at home, or at my workplace. Obviously I point them to the kettle and leave out teabags and instant coffee and the kind of mugs I’m unbothered if they smash. When we only had a single upstairs loo, I got them to price in a portaloo.

That’s kind of you. DP is a tradie, he gets everything from a single cup of tea right through to people who give him a full lunch each day 😂

Interestingly, the last time we had tradespeople in, for about a week doing the garden & fencing in the heatwave last summer - even though I offered hot & cold drinks and had a selection of biscuits available, they refused everything every time, bought all their own supplies including huge water bottles etc. Even offered them just ice/cups and they said no thanks they were fine!
I would feel rude not to offer anything though, so did every day anyway.

Your husband sounds like a complete tool.

I grew up in a a farming family, and anytime we had work done with tradespeople coming out, they got a full feed. So I do the same. I have rolls and sausage and bacon ready for them coming in the morning and usuall a stew or roast chicken or something for lunch. They get a kettle, tea and coffee and a cake out whenever they want. But this was totally normal when I was growing up; my dad always made sure they were fed and watered.

Tea/coffee/water and biscuits is basic manners and when I’ve had work done it’s what I’ve offered. A table with flask is fine too.

The ice lollies are a nice occasional idea and Lidl and Aldi do great own make ones.

Can’t believe folks are saying cook them meals. Who does that!

op. I buy disposable cups from Amazon, I do take teas and coffees out, usually 3 times a day, morning, lunch, mid afternoon. I ask only for the first one what they want, then rest I just do it when I have a moment, as I know what they take.

i do sometimes take biscuits but they never go down as well as they used to, most of the blokes are trying not to eat crap these days,

Ive had a few workman round lately and I always leave a kettle and tray with tea, coffee, etc and biscuits out. Also let them know where the loo is.
Most of them never bothered with any of it and went for breaks in their van!
Still, you have to offer dont you?

Do cafe’s allow workmen to traipse in/out simply to use their toilet, when they’re working in a house up the road?

My dad did it. That’s how he treated people working on our home. So I do it too. Is that ok?

Sure, I mean if you want to make folks bacon rolls and stew crack on.

That's very nice of you, but what if they don't eat red red meat or have other dietary requirements? They might feel obliged to eat it when you have gone to such trouble before they have arrived. I believe in a more relaxed approach, as I feel although this is kind, it is a bit too much the other way. I don't think most ppl would have the time for all of this either, esp if it's for a team of workers! I couldn't imagine sitting around the table like this they're not family, and are strangers!

I always make a cup of tea at the bare minimum and if I'm feeling flush, I'll offer them a bacon sandwich. Some take me up of it, some don't. DCs dad was a tradie and the amount of people who will offer nothing on even the hottest/coldest days is a bit sad.

I have just done a cream tea, ice creams and cold drinks for my builders. Over winter they had hot drinks, biscuits, cakes, bacon butties etc. They’re doing a fabulous job and they’re lovely lads; I have genuinely grown fond of them and will almost miss them when they finally finish. It’s just good hosting no?

If you have the time, and feel it is needed. I supposed it depends on the job as well, time they're there. I won't be chatting, I have things to get on with, just as I'm sure they want the job done quickly so they can get away home! If I was a tradesman I would hate somebody talking all of the time!