loft conversion portaloo or not

[bodgerthebadger]

Hi, the building firm we'd like to use to build our loft conversion have said that they'd prefer to use the house toilet and not use a portaloo even if I pay for this.

Not sure how I feel about this. I have a toddler and a baby and on mat leave at the moment so while I will try to be out with the kids whilst work is on we will be there for lunch and tea etc.

I am wondering whether builders at the initial stage of the works need much access to the house at all? Does anyone know how it works? With a loft conversion, I was told that access to the loft would be via the scaffolding at the front. So in theory they don't need to come into the house much other than to make tea and coffee. If there is no portaloo, then that means workmen traipsing into the house a fair bit which means more cleaning for me (impractical for boots to be removed but I also have a toddler and crawling baby by then) plus the thought of cleaning the toilet after three+ men at the end of the day:-( !

Does anyone know how access usually works with a loft conversion? Also any advice on how I can respond to this? I did say we'd prefer a portaloo and the building foreman (who owns the company) has made it clear that they'd rather not. I don't want to seem precious or piss them off before we've started works!

Also, do you give the builders spare keys to the house during a project like this? Do they need it?

Thanks!

I've never had a loft conversion but it wouldn't cross my mind to ask workmen to use a portaloo.

If you won't be there everyday then they need it. Ours would lock up after themselves and put the keys back through the door every evening. You need someone with strong recommendations though as one of. Y friends is an electrician and the things he's seen on building sites means he now won't allow unsupervised tradespeople in his house!!

Even the best builders are filthy so if you can't bear ally the cleaning simply say and get the portaloo. We did our loft as part of a gut refurb so there was no toilet at all. The peed in bottles and took a dump at the pub down the road.

Ive not had a loft conversion either but from what you've said about your family set up it just isnt practical having all sorts of people parading around your house with small children running/crawling about.

I wouldnt feel right having strangers using the toilet and trains=psing dust and mud all through the house either.

So what if the foreman doesnt like the idea- let them go and shit in his house then .

Provide a portaloo and make sure they do not also use the kitchen -which means a trip to the loo while they are there. Leave out a spare kettle ,water ,milk and tea things on a tray for them.If they were on a building site they would have to sort themselves out .Why should you clean up after them and pay for the priviledge.

OK thanks. I needed to know I wasn't being precious about the use of our loo! There are loads of loft conversions and extensions being built in our neighbourhood and all seem to have portaloos outside.

Re the cleaning, I'm already struggling to keep the house cleanish what with having to look after a toddler and a 3 month old so I don't really want to add more cleaning on top of this as well as sweeping of the floors etc.

bluejean I think i will need to give them access to the kitchen as there are no sockets in the loft so they can make themselves a cup of tea or coffee even if I provide them with a kettle. So I'm assuming I need to give them access to my kitchen. Thing is, there's a cloak room toilet next to the kitchen which, if I'm not there, I suspect they will use even if a portaloo has been provided and paid for by me.

Ours used the loo. It got a bit grim, so if you can get a portaloo it will be nicer. I hated the workmen being in and out and I was hardly at home, so I really would plan to be out a lot/stay with family for a bit. The dirt and dust is inevitable though I'm afraid. Maybe book a cleaner for the end of the job?

Sounds grim Mummytomog and good idea about the cleaner at the end. We will definitely do that.

I'm hoping that the weather won't be grim so I can be out everyday. Not ideal but it will only be for 8 weeks hopefully. I need to stick around as my toddler attends nursery part time and I want to be around also to oversee the work in case anything goes wrong or decisions need to be made.

Sounds like portaloo it is then, which will mitigate some of the dirt and dust at least (from shoes, not saying that builders have bad toilet habits!).

Euww I wouldn't want builders using my loo either. Having said that when we did our barn conversion it didn't occur to me they would need a loo (!!) and afterwards we discovered they had all been peeing behind the newly built garage. Nice.

There was a lot of pissing on the floor/seat and enormous shits, culminating in carpenter being taken ill with some kind of food poisoning while at the house and actually blocking the loo. I bought a lot of bleach and tried not to think about it. And they left the loo seat up so much my previously trained husband got into the habit of doing the same.

Our workmen used our downstairs loo. Big mistake. At the time DS1 was newly toilet trained. I took him into the loo only to discover the the pan was all skid mark. I nearly vommed, DS1 wet himself as there was no way I could let him use it, and then I left a massive ranty note for the builders when they got back from lunch.

To make matters worse, the culprit then spoke to me to 'apologise', then started telling me about his bowel problems. Grim Grim Grim, never again. Get a portaloo.

Many threads on mumsnet about builders or tradesmen and even delivery drivers using the loo - so I don't want to comment on that - you can google.

I will say something and drinks and use of your kitchen.

No they would not expect to use your kitchen and it is quite OK for you to tell them they need to make their own arrangements. They usually do - either they bring their own drink or plan in a trip to near by cafe.
Especially as you are there in the day time with children.

I know this from experience having extensive work done in my own house and also being an employer of tradesmen who work on obs like yours.

On some jobs - if practical - for the men to make their own drinks then we take all our own stuff including our own kettle, mugs, etc.
Ay your hous they could do this if you have outside tap and electric socket outside (in garage or shed perhaps), or on extension lead hanging out of window. But really only if practical.

i am about 5 weeks into a loft conversion with about a further 3-4 weeks to go.

we don't have a portaloo and the builders use the downstairs loo, they come through the kitchen backdoor. i also have a potty training toddler and crawling baby. i find myself washing the kitchen floor and tiled loo floor quite a lot. i also clean the loo probably once or twice a day.

my builders are very clean and leave the toilet in a v clean state, sometimes the sink is muddy and sometimes the room needs 'airing' shall we say.... they do leave the seat up though!!

they brought their own tea and coffee supplies including own kettle. they have made themselves a tea station in the garage on an old table. they were using the top of my tumble dryer but obviously took the hint when i cleaned up and moved their cups.

i dont feel that the cost of a portaloo would have been worth it, and so far our builders are no prob at all.

they access the loft up the scaffolding, ours are breaking through this week!! exciting.

btw they need power in the loft to use their electic tools. mine ran an extension cable through the loft hatch.

any questions let me know, good luck.

I banned the plasterer from using my (only) loo after he pissed all over the loo seat and floor and made no attempt to clean it up. I put a portaloo on the (clean, dry) outhouse for him to use instead. He was then spotted by the neighbours pissing in the middle of my lawn and into plant pots! Grim.

The other trades people were fine, but this one bloke was repulsive with his peeing habits.

selks - that is gross! what is wrong with people!!