Do you tip builders?

[GoldStarAngel]

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?

I'm not going to tip the owners of the firm building my extension. They're already getting the best part of £100,000 of my money. How much should I tip? 10%? 15%? Not bloody likely!

I'd consider tipping the labourers who've put in most of the physical work, but the trouble with tipping at the end of the project is they won't be there - it'll just be the kitchen fitters, and then the people doing the solid worktops, and the tiler doing the splashbacks, but (a) they're on an excellent daily rate already and (b) they've only been involved for a few days of a six month project so they're not the right people to tip.

If I really wanted to offer some token of appreciation, maybe I'd give the main guys something like a case of beer and ask them to split it between the labourers? I doubt I'll bother though!

Tip them? They would have to finish the job they started 2 years ago first....

Christ no. Not after what they were paid!