Do you tip builders?

GoldStarAngel · 2021-09-03T09:01:19+00:00

Our builders have been gutting and reinstalling our kitchen. They have done a lovely job. We moved out so mostly left them to it as the guvnor is the parent of one of my kids’ friends so I trusted them. We’ve popped back to see it a couple of times. I bought them some wine halfway through to say thanks for hard work so far. The job has been quite expensive but I knew that at the start - ie their quote wasn’t the cheapest. Job finishes next week. On schedule and more or less on budget. Am I meant to tip them? I get really embarrassed about money especially when paying someone I know. And how much? Or just a bottle of something stronger to say thanks?

lastqueenofscotland · 03/09/2021 10:13

I’m in construction (admittedly commercial not resi but…) tipping isn’t the norm but other bits are, taking people for lunch/a drink/bottles of wine for the team etc

CrimeJunkie01 · 03/09/2021 10:16

I had builders in doing a bathroom. I provided tea, coffee, biscuits everyday. On the last day I bought them all bacon sarnies and gave a £50 tip. I also felt really unsure of what to do.

WhatAWasteOfOranges · 03/09/2021 10:17

Think a box of beer/ bottle of wine type thing at the end of a job well done is more the norm

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 03/09/2021 10:17

No! Perhaps just say they are welcome to use you as a reference should they need it

DespairingHomeowner · 03/09/2021 10:18

God no way would I tip a builder, and I am the type who tips EVERYONE!!

They: earn a really good wage (£250 a day in London easy), MANY are doing cash jobs so don't pay tax on all their income, & I have learned that many self employed builders were also able to claim grants during Covid. Save your money to tip someone who it might make a difference too, vs someone who earns more than your kids head teacher, & possibly your GP.

Providing some drinks to labourers (& possibly biscuits) is as much as I would do and on the good side of the norm.

Row1n · 03/09/2021 10:19

They get pretty good wages so no I wouldnt tip

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 03/09/2021 10:24

I gave the head builder about £300 and the two that did the work about £120 each. Honestly they were great, the head builder was brilliant at advising us on stuff that looked great and saved a lot of money, and made the whole process a lot easier than if we'd had to muddle through ourselves. I wasn't sure if we should give more as I know some people do. I figured over all the days they were in it worked out to nothing per day

LawnFever · 03/09/2021 10:27

I wouldn’t tip a builder, I’d pay the rate they’d quoted me and if they were good I’d recommend them to people I knew, wouldn’t occur to me to tip

cestunestilo · 03/09/2021 11:53

It's great to be appreciated. This doesn't have to be money /booze etc. Ask where you can leave a glowing review, and remember to tell all your pals about how fab they were.

Seainasive · 03/09/2021 12:00

No! They earn more than me!

kirinm · 03/09/2021 12:01

@DespairingHomeowner

God no way would I tip a builder, and I am the type who tips EVERYONE!!

They: earn a really good wage (£250 a day in London easy), MANY are doing cash jobs so don't pay tax on all their income, & I have learned that many self employed builders were also able to claim grants during Covid. Save your money to tip someone who it might make a difference too, vs someone who earns more than your kids head teacher, & possibly your GP.

Providing some drinks to labourers (& possibly biscuits) is as much as I would do and on the good side of the norm.

Not all builders earn £250 a day and most don't do jobs for cash only. Speaking as someone with an entire family in the construction industry.

kirinm · 03/09/2021 12:03

I wouldn't tip a builder / tradesman tbh and my partner is one. Where the work has been harder / taken longer than it was quoted for we might pay extra especially where a good job has been done.

Ifailed · 03/09/2021 12:06

Not sure about a tip, especially on a £1000s job, but some sort of present, even a case of beer, at the end shows appreciation.

TheJunctionBaby · 03/09/2021 12:07

Gosh are we tipping for everything now?? I've seen removal men and now tradesmen/ builders on this board today alone... aren't we paying them already? And isn't doing a good job just the bare minimum? I provide tea/ coffee/ biscuits/ cold drinks but no way will I be tipping them. A job well done deserves a good review and recommendations not more money

0blio · 03/09/2021 12:13

Do you get tips for doing your job OP? I'd make them cups of tea and maybe provide biscuits but no, not a tip.

Of course your husband could cook them a steak...

bigbluebus · 03/09/2021 12:13

I've never tipped a builder - and we've had 4 major projects done over the years. I ply them with tea, coffee, biscuits (and ice creams if it's hot) but that's it. Never ceases to amaze me how MNetters seem to think they should provide them with lunch and yet won't let them use the toilet. Maybe they live in areas where trades are very hard to get but I ensure I can get them back by making sure the boss gets his payment as soon as he issues his invoice. It would never occur to me to 'tip' a builder - although I always tip workers where tips are traditional (eg in restaurants, taxis, hairdressers).

worrybutterfly · 03/09/2021 13:13

No, but I usually get them cakes or something for lunch time.

Redsparklybucket · 03/09/2021 13:26

I am almost at the end of a loft conversion and my builders have been brilliant, I have put some money behind the counter for them at the local cafe - where they go most Fridays - just as a thankyou to them all. They can then get breakfast rolls or full sit downs as they choose. They had a much tea/biscuits as they want over the course of the build. They are local to me and I have known them all for years - they are amazing guys!

LucysSkyDiamonds · 03/09/2021 13:35

Dh and I had this conversation earlier in the week. Our builders are finishing next week. They have done a really amazing job, on time and on budget. They have done a load of little extras (eg rehung a bedroom door because it was sticking slightly) without being asked and a couple (eg fixing the gate) that we did. They have been easy to deal with the whole way through. We are paying them the going rate (including all VAT) but I'm going to get a couple of crates of beer to say thank you for making a very stressful time much easier.

DespairingHomeowner · 03/09/2021 13:37

@kirinm: just coming to end of a 6 month renovation, at least 40 different tradesmen in & out. I buy all my own materials so costs are for labour: plasterers, plumbers, electricians, decorators, general trades

Can't get anyone out of bed for less than £250 a day (London). I have been asked to pay:

a £5k job in a pile of notes (I refused)
to transfer funds to sons/daughters accounts
any job under about £1K cash very strongly preferred - to the point that tradesmen have come back later to pick up cash vs waiting for a bank transfer

That's my experience, but its not the experience of 1 tradesman. I'd love to be taking home 5K a month tax free, but 20 years into a professional (and rather well-paying) career I'm not. The racket of self-employed also claiming grants for loss of earnings while picking up cash jobs makes my blood boil: its the children of this generation who will be picking up the tab

Kitchendrama1 · 03/09/2021 15:20

God no!

He wasn’t the cheapest and you’ve paid them in full.

You can get them a gift card but come on…. Would you be happy with the next builder expecting extra money?

Kitchendrama1 · 03/09/2021 15:21

@LucysSkyDiamonds

Dh and I had this conversation earlier in the week. Our builders are finishing next week. They have done a really amazing job, on time and on budget. They have done a load of little extras (eg rehung a bedroom door because it was sticking slightly) without being asked and a couple (eg fixing the gate) that we did. They have been easy to deal with the whole way through. We are paying them the going rate (including all VAT) but I'm going to get a couple of crates of beer to say thank you for making a very stressful time much easier.

Yes beers are good!

Somanysocks · 03/09/2021 19:15

It's a shame that having builders doing an amazing job should be so surprising and tipworthy.

LargeBouquet · 03/09/2021 19:17

I have just handed over 35 thousand to mine, so no!

Mintjulia · 03/09/2021 19:20

Given the last bill was more than I earn in a year, a tip seems a bit unnecessary