Making hot drinks for builders etc

[JimJamJolly]

Hi

We're having some work done in our garden (team of 4 people here between 8am and 4pm)and I was just wondering how often you'd tend to make them tea/coffee?

I've been making them around 3 a day but I work from home and am often in long meetings so some afternoons I've not been able to make any drinks and feel a bit guilty!

I spoke to a friend last night who said he only makes builders etc 1 drink first thing then expects them to have brought their own flask!

How generous do you tend to be?!

That sounds fine, morning, lunch time and mid afternoon!
I'd probably tell them to help themselves

I usually make one in the morning and then show them where the tea/coffee is. I wouldn't worry too much!

I leave the kettle, mugs, tea bags, sugar and milk available and they help themselves

I usually make one first thing then maybe another in the afternoon.
It also depends if they've annoyed me that day!
I might offer more if I'm making myself one but I don't tend to have many cups myself during the day.

I offer them one when they arrive then if I have a moment / am doing one myself plus in the afternoon

2 or 3 a day is fine imo, they usually don’t all take them all up. I have cans of soft drinks usually too

I think it’s well worth the small cost / effort of a cuppa to keep them sweet!

Oh, and I always let them use the toilet too

Every time I'd be having one (I drink a lot of tea!!) plus biscuits etc. I also have the specific cold drinks that our builders like, but we do use a small family business who have done a huge amount of work for us over many, many years, so consider them friends of the family tbh

Normally I just show they where the kettle is, and leave mugs, tea, coffee, sugar, teaspoons next to kettle and ask them to help themselves.

I make them one in the morning on the first day then point them to the kettle and milk.

I always set up a tray with sugar, milk, tea, coffee biscuits, cans of drink and let them help themselves.

Thanks everyone. I did make it clear on the first day that they were welcome to help themselves. I just don't think they're keen to come inside as due to the work they are doing, they're filthy!!

I'd make one when they arrive and then whenever I make one for myself which would probably be another two or three times throughout the day.

I'd also show them where the kettle and stuff was if they wanted more they can make it themselves.

I tell them where the stuff is and make one when I'm having one. If they want more they can help themselves.

Try living in Germany, builders aren't the slightest bit interested in tea, they bring their own bottles of water and Mezzo Mix.

I have builders in and they make it themselves (and actually made one for me this morning).
I used to offer one at the start and mid morning but they'd go out for lunch and didn't bother in the afternoon (or they could make it themselves). Now I just leave them to it.

My builders brought their own kettle, teas and coffees.

We tend to make one in the morning before we leave for work . and if we are at home another one in the afternoon.

When the lads were working outside in a little mini heatwave we gave them ice lollies, lots of iced water and whatever they wanted as they were dripping.

As they are inside now and don't have claggy boots on I'll probably point them at the kettle!

@DayPyjamas

I leave the kettle, mugs, tea bags, sugar and milk available and they help themselves

Same

@JimJamJolly

Thanks everyone. I did make it clear on the first day that they were welcome to help themselves. I just don't think they're keen to come inside as due to the work they are doing, they're filthy!!

I'd leave it all outside for them, but we do have a spare kettle for this purposes

I always say 'help yourself' but I find that they just don't feel comfortable doing it, so I do them a brew when they come, and whoever makes a brew in the house offers them one whenever they do. Biscuits unless they are really in my bad books. (Only joking, I always get biscuits in.)

As two of the three of us work from home, and one is retired, they get plenty of offers of brews! Since covid, some people do prefer to bring their own. I offer to make it in paper cups if they prefer, but as we have a dishwasher people seem to be fine with pots.

I offer cold drinks if it'#s hot or anyone refuses hot. And I make it clear they can use the loo- especially after I got concerned about one or two younger blokes who didn't seem to be drinking any fluids, and wondered if they were worried about finding a loo, as I know some homeowners don't let people use theirs. It's very bad doing physical work and taking no fluids. Even in cold weather you need fluids.

My dad has a decorating company so most work in my house is done by someone working for my dad (and I usually know them) I don’t drink tea or coffee but when someone’s here it feels like I make about 100 cups a day! I also feee them, something like a bacon sandwich (appreciate it’s different because they are people I kind of know)

I offer every 5 mins simply because I know tradesmen get very narked if there isn't a plentiful supply and I don't want them to do a shit job because they are dying of thirst. I don't drink tea or coffee myself but I know for tradesmen it's important.

Never underestimate the power of a bacon sandwich.

3 times a day generally. Also over the summer (had work on our conservatory) supplied cold drinks, and ice creams.

Oh and the first thing I do is point to where the loo is.