tradesman has caused damage - is there any redress?

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

i had a guy round to start a job for us. after he left i noticed a hole on the (admittedly cheapo) kitchen worktop - presumably where he'd stood, or dropped a tool. i do need to remain on reasonable terms with this chap, as he's doing a pretty specialist job for us, and i haven't been able to find anywhere else. how do you approach asking for damages and still remaining on good terms?

Should be covered under his insurance. Just tell him you noticed the damage and ask him if he would rather put in a claim or settle it privately. Sooner the better though, as he could counter that you did it.

how big a hole? how old is the worktop? what colour?

I ask because there are repair systems sold by the makers of laminated worktops (used to hide the cuts in joints)

ooh, piglet, we will investigate. it's a small hole, but because the worktop is so knackered it's gone beyond the top of the laminate.
basically i got him to do a repair, and he's filled it with some sort of sealant. it looks the surface is still dented but at least it's watertight.

i know all of this makes me sound like a wet blanket BTW, but he is the go-to man for this particular piece of work for older houses, and as such is in massive demand far and wide, so we need him to come back. he was very apologetic and knocked a small % off the bill too.

TBH if he was apologetic and if I thought it was a genuine accident (and if I needed his services in future) then I wouldn't ask for damages. I'd regard it as more "one of those unfortunate things". If it had been a friend or a friend's child who'd done it then I wouldn't ask them to pay so same applies really.

If he's already knocked a bit off the bill then it sounds like you have a bit of damages anyway.

So I don't think you're being a wet blanket, seems reasonable to accept the % off the bill and the apology. Plus use the guilt factor when you need him in future

new worktop in simple colours is very cheap and hardly worth an insurance claim. If as you say it was old and knackered, change it for a new one next time you feel like it. You could ask if he'll do a deal on the fitting for you, if he is a skilled joiner.

With laminated worktops being so cheap, if you bear this in mind at time of fitting and don't go for complex shapes and cutouts, and use edging strip rather than having the tiles hard against them, you can change them at whim. DIY sheds will cut to length for you, but mitred corners need a skilled worker. If you go for a simple colour or white, you can just change pieces when they get damaged.