What is the usual etiquette for tea and coffee during renovations?

[DandyOliveSheep]

We will soon be having some renovation work done at our home and I just wondered what the etiquette is on making builders tea/coffee? Do I provide snacks etc? I’m currently on mat leave so will be home a lot..

When we had our kitchen and bathroom done, I offered them tea / coffee once then told them where the kettle etc was. No snacks but on last day got them sausage rolls and buns from the bakery

We offer tea or coffee, whatever the preference. Frequently!

I offer first and then just show them where the things are and suggest they help themselves. IME they also prefer this rather than waiting to be offered.

During our extension I left them a box of biscuits, kettle etc and let them get on with it. Mostly I tried to keep out of their way as much as possible

Yes I think this would be my preference as I’m ebf my 4 month old and I’m a bit of a tea pot so would be offering them all day.. thanks

My builders are Romanian and do not drink tea or coffee or listen to the radio (I love them so much…) they happily accept biscuits though!

Our kitchen fitters brought their own kettle and sorted themselves out.

I crack out a kettle for them to use in another room and put tea, coffee, sugar and milk out. I also feed them my homemade biscuits and cakes because I like being able to bake without having loads of spare food go to waste. In my mind I like to think they do a slightly better job because of my baking. Probably a lie to myself.

Ours asked ever so politely on the first day if we minded if they used the kettle, and they’ve cracked on themselves ever since. We did direct them towards the mugs that we don’t care if they get lost or broken, rather than our nice ones.

We've just spend nearly 2 yrs renovating a derelict property. We lived/worked onsite in a caravan so also always there. I started making everyone drinks, but it became multiple times a day and was becoming ridiculous trying to wash mugs all day. It depended on the trade coming in.

Someone there for only a day or 2 I'd make them a cuppa and if I had any, put a few biscuits on the side

We had some trades here for weeks so I set up a station with a kettle, mugs, spoon and a bottle of milk, although mid way through, they brought along their own kettle, coffee and milk. I'd recommend getting sugar cubes, because they are less messy than loose sugar everywhere.

Sometimes we've leave out biscuits, but rarely eaten. 1 guy clearing the garden took the entire unopened packet with him, but that was the only time. I did make bacon rolls one day, and occasionally a fruit slice/cake of some sort- but not daily nor even weekly.

In the heat of summer, I had a cooler box filled with ice and bottle of water and cans of drink they could help themselves to. They all appreciated this.

I bought a cheap kettle and mugs, popped it all to one side and made sure they had enough of everything. I topped up the biscuits and chocolate bars often too.

We have a carpenter here at the moment and he works alone so I tend to make him coffee throughout the day, fill a bottle of squash in the morning and make him lunch. I wouldn’t do that if he had a team here though!

Honestly the notion that builders want to drink tea all day is a bit old fashioned. When my DH and his crew get to a job they've had breakfast and will take an hour for lunch. In between that they work. Time is money. Tea, coffee & snacks not required.

I've just had a 6 week renovation project. Our builders went out for their breaks do I gave them nothing. The painter asked to use the microwave.

I offer them a tea/coffee when they arrive and then maybe once more at some point in the day. And yeah I usually give a few biscuits if we had them.

But you needn't feel obliged as I find they usually just get coffee from outside on the way in and then they have lunch break to get other food/drink.

But I guess if you are in an area where there's not many food places nearby they might only eat a sandwich in their van or something. So tea might be welcomed more.

I wouldn't feel comfortable telling them to help themselves. Not sure why really but there you go.

We had groundworks this week offered hot drinks and thr6 said they only drink from cans, so that was that.

I did this too or provided packs of biscuits if I wasn’t baking.

I also bought boxes of ice creams / lollies when it was really hot. I think that went down well.

My mum is Indian origin and cannot stop herself from feeding people, she makes builders freshly squeezed juice, Indian tea, amazing snacks… people love working at her house!

Sure, but if someone’s in your house it feels like good manners to offer them something doesn’t it?

We had a chap here putting up a marquee for a party recently and I was out when he came, I was quite proud that my teen DS had made him a coffee before I got home. And my cleaner said my DD offered her drinks when she was at home during Easter and I was at work.

@examworries2026- I think having 1 person at your house to do a small job is very different to having a full crew of trades to do a big Reno. My DH will always 'remind' his guys we are here to get this job done not to drink tea. Profit margins are tight and deadlines even tighter.

When we had an extension done, I bought a cheap kettle from the supermarket and set them up a table in thearea they were working in with the kettle, tea coffee etc so as they could help them selves. I was working so wasn’t going to keep stopping to ask them if they wanted anything! I also left bottles of cold water (refilled from the tap) so as they didn’t have to keep coming into the kitchen if they wanted a cold drink. I also offered ice lollies when it was hot outside.

If I have tradespeople in the house for a few days then I generally offer tea/coffee/soft drinks mid morning and mid afternoon each day.

When I’ve had then in the house for a few weeks eg a kitchen renovation or longer building work, I set up a table with kettle, coffee, tea, biscuits etc and tell them to help themselves.

I do find that most people accept tea but less often biscuits these days .

Let them get on with it.
I never made my builder a cup of tea, and he did a great job and I was happy with him.

If you don't want them in the kitchen, give them a spare kettle to plug in where they're working or a flask of hot water with a box of mugs, spoons, tea bags, coffee, sugar and milk and let them get on with it.

We make them a drink when we’re having one as we’re home most of the time!

We did buy six mugs from a charity shop and down to 4 after 8 weeks! Easter we we got in extra bacon for bacon sarnies for them but they’re lovely guys and doing a great job and trying not to get in our way so much!

We have builders here now and have put the spare kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, milk, sugar and biscuits in the utility room and told them to help themselves.

That’s what I would do too.
When we were farming and had contractors harvesting etc I would make tea/coffee and bake cakes etc It was always gratefully accepted, the same if it was a vet visit etc.