Do you tip your builder.

[Baycitystroller]

My kitchen extension has been a big and arduous job. Have had a good team of builders. The firm have been paid well but I wondered if I should buy the team something at the end of the build. They’ve been great. Like a few bottles of beer or something? What’s the etiquette?

We had an ext built and they were here numerous months either side of Xmas so we bought so we bought the core team of 4 a bottle of something nice each.

yes think I might get something for them. They are mainly young lads plus the boss.

We've been renovating a derelict property for 2yrs. The carpenters have been here months on and off, and provided recommendations and helped with other things. Not a monetary tip- no.

I've paid a decent amount per day for their services, but did provide the odd home made or bought cake, bacon rolls a few mornings, lunch buffet one friday and a bottle of wine and card at Christmas.

To my surprise- the main carpenter gave us a card and several decent bottles of wine at Christmas- so it went both ways.

To add, after 2yrs, we've had every trade you could imagine. Roofers, scaffolders, groundsmen, plumber, electrician etc etc. Majority were great, but some were filthy. Left bags of partially eaten lunch in the house, cans/rubbish hidden in garden pots, wrappers thrown in the garden. Another lot would have their radios blaring loud outside- despite me asking them to turn it down as I WFH.

The ones that left me with rubbish to collect each weekend etc didn't get any cakes or extras!

My builders have been fabulous luckily but have had some awful ones in the past.

Hahahahhahaa no.

But then its two years later and the snagging still isn’t finished.

We did give them a little extra cash each, not a lot but we were looking after them well - I made them bacon and egg rolls every day and lots of coffee!

We bought in crates of beer every friday. There were up to 12 men some days.

To be fair, ours did everything by hand so they'd earnt it.

Every day! Bloody hell - I don’t even do that for the people I live with

I have my two lead guys a nice (£20ish) bottle of wine each at Xmas. I didn't get anything for anyone else as they were here for a sort time just to do their bit. I didn't give any extra at the end as they were paid pretty well already!

Gave ours beer at the end and I bought them the odd breakfast along the way, but they were fab, obviously wouldnt have if theyd been terrible.

We had our house repointed last year. They did a brilliant job, no problems with not turning up, cleaned up after themselves every day etc. but small company, builder, partner and apprentice.

gave them an extra £100, plus copious drinks and biscuits.

Yeah we'd order pizza for them on Fridays and offer beers at the end of the day occasionally. I wouldn't characterise those as 'tips' but I guess it's similar in that they were gestures of appreciation. Small things like that can definitely make a difference to people.