To lock my bathroom during renovations in the flat

[Hocuspoc]

The flat has just one bathroom/toilet which has just been refurbished. Considering this is in London, the price of the renovation was extortionate.

Now we have painters and decorators coming in to paint the walls, skirting boards etc.
I really don't want them to use the bath or sink for keeping the tools and washing up.
It still bothers me how much the bathroom renovation has set us back and if someone was now to scratch the bathtub or break a tile I think I'd have a mental breakdown.
I want them to use the kitchen sink instead, or to set up some buckets on the kitchen floor - whatever they can come up with - just to stay away from the bloody bathroom.
I am tempted to lock the bathroom to prevent any damage or soiling.

And I feel this is horrible - it is as if I don't want them to use the loo or something (and it is not about that at all).
But then, the guys who did the bathroom had nowhere to go for 10 days while renovating it - so this is not an impossible set up.

I feel I am being unreasonable but honestly with the prices the contractors are charging at the moment I could not care less - they can certainly afford a quick coffee in a nearby cafe and use the loo there.
Thoughts.

Can you not use something to cover and protect the bath and sink? Old towels, old rugs,bath mat, things like that?

Wow Imagine if you live 6 miles from town. They'd have a 12 mile round journey to use the loo. Best hope they not charging hourly

For those asking where did I go for the loo while the bathroom was redecorated. Same as for the painting job, we will not be staying in the flat for the time that the works are taking place.

For those saying how I think workmen are lowlife or whatever - no, most workmen I had in my house were lovely people and got along great.
Except most of them also just do what they want and what makes their life easier.
As I said - once I had a case where I tried to explain several times that the beams they are stepping on on the sides of the walls are decorative (glued or just loosely nailed into the wall, not actual beams that offer support), they just thought they know better than me (being builders themselves). And they ended up breaking them off by constantly using them to step on them to reach the windows. Unbelievable

Let me not start with the electrician who also thought he knows my flat better than me and ended up taking out part of the wall with the light switch attached to it.
He was a very educated guy - a pianist in fact.

So?
What would you say if you went in to work and were told you couldnt use the loo for 10 days?

Just ask them to wash brushes etc in the kitchen (or wherever you want)
But dont lock the loo.

Where did you pee when your house didn’t have a toilet for 10 days?

ETA sorry I just saw your post. I imagine the workmen who did your bathroom peed in your sink when they had no access to a toilet.

?
I have a small child, we moved out for the time when the bathroom works took place and will do the same for the painting work. I don't want him to breathe in dust and chemicals. It is a flat, not a house, so it's not like we can just stay on a different floor or smth.

And even if they did, so what...

Well it was just an observation really, I don’t really give a shit if people pee in your sink 🤷🏻‍♀️. Or on your carpet, or anywhere else!

Portaloos are cheap to hire and worth every penny spent (sorry!). I always hire one as no way do I want builders or decorators using my bathroom.

Yup. When we've had any work requiring tradesmen for more than a few hours, we've asked them to source a portaloo and include it in the quote. Most are happy to oblige.

Try talking to them? They are human beings.
I have never had a contractor wash anything in my bathroom or sink.
They will need to use the loo. YABVU.

They can hire a portaloo but ultimately will have to proce it in, I guess.

How much does it bother you? Can you put a price on it?

That's your decision.

A quick google suggests that hiring a portaloo would cost £25-£50 per week, @Hocuspoc - then you can lock the bathroom. It would not be reasonable to lock,it, and to expect them to go to the nearby cafe every time they need the loo - though I suspect they’d be seeing in the garden. 🤢

Be one of those women who scare builders. Say that they can use your loo then wash hands in the kitchen sink but only on the understanding that if they date to use your bathroom for anything else, they will be banned from it and charged for any damage. Look fierce. They’ll
do as you ask.

Iv had painters plenty of times and not one ever washes brushes in a sink they throw them into a bucket and wash them of site or most use disposable now.

If you lock them out of using the toilet they will wee in your sink. Is this what you want OP? Don't be so ridiculous they will need to use the loo. Tell them to use sink for brushes and rollers.

You can buy a camping toilet on Amazon for £20. Lock your bathroom. Ask them to use that and then empty down an outside drain before they leave?

They are fucking extortionate and it’s really stressful.
But you will need to pay for a portaloo.

Wow.

This is what portaloo’s are for!

What on Earth? You are talking to normal people, not training dogs.

Put something protective down in the bath, a tarp or old towels

Just ask them to use the kitchen sink

Well...
You are being very reasonable IME. Just explain the situation up front so they can make a choice. Lock the bathroom door. Put a camera in your kitchen, if they pee in the sink, deduct from their pay. (Offering Tena pants might be a bridge too far). 🙄
I hope it all works out for you OP.

I'm sorry but would you work without toilet facilities. Not acceptable. Just calmly ask that they don't put tools painting stuff in the bathroom and only use it as a bathroom please. But you can't seriously expect them to work there without having access to a toilet. Do you really want them peeing in your kitchen sink which is what will happen if you do.