Does anyone else just hate having workmen in the house?

I don’t enjoy it, even though the tradesmen have always been very pleasant. I give the keys to one particular Decorator, but to no one else, partly because I don’t think it’s fair to them in case I mislay something and they get the blame. I make tea/coffee every 90 minutes or so but I do have one rule, and that is that they can all afford earphones so I do not expect to have to listen to their radios. (Roofers excepted). On a slightly different note, 0H and DS wore suits to work, whereas
these guys probably undressed straight away into the washing machine when they got home and wore clean clothes every day (thank goodness), so I wonder what an earth their laundry bills must be!

Our last home was a “project” - 150 years old and neglected. I can remember sitting in one of the porches and crying because I thought I’d never have my home back. This house also needed a lot doing (we’re gluttons for punishment!) and, though they were all lovely people, I was so glad when they’d gone. As Sue said, try to find a cosy haven for yourself and hide away there. Give them a tin of biscuits/sweets and make lots of coffee! It’ll be worth it! Good luck.

I do hope and trust the bathroom concerned doesn't contain the only toilet in your home.

I have always hated having to ask workmen to vacate the bathroom so I could use the toilet!

Apart from that, having workmen in does not particularly bother me. I shut doors to contain the mess as much as possible, but mainly so I don't have to hear their transistor, as there taste in music has never marched with mine, and so that I know where the cats are.

I did once have to ask a workman whether he had seen one cat after he had replaced a partition, He hadn't, neither had I, and guess where said cat was? On the other side of that partition in an attic accessible only through a very heavy trap-door and a very long ladder. Given the choice the workman preferred to open up that plasterboard again. I had asked him to check with me that both cats were safely locked up before he put the partition back in place!

My suggestion would be to find some task you can do at the other end of the house, and tell the workmen where you will be if they have any queries.

I don't think it likely that they have either the time or the inclination to pry into your drawers and cupboards, but I never leave money or private correspondance lying around when I have workmen in.

Better safe than sorry!

Having a new roof at the moment, terraced house so material for the old roof and new one straight through the house. Planned since we bought the house over a year ago, so decided not to do any cleaning for the past month in anticipation. Just a well as bedroom ceiling fell down, which we half anticipated. Now we're going to have to clean and redecorate. Used to look forward to choosing colours, carpets and so on but these days it feels like a horrible amount of work and effort. Other half does DIY so at least not getting anyone in, can just do it in our own time.

Keep them supplied with tea or coffee, and buy a tin of biscuits!

I don`t like having workmen in the house but put up with it as it often results in something better. Re workmen using my loo, there were two very pleasant men having to do a nasty digging job outside in the communal area, freezing cold. I said to them to just ask if they need the loo and they did and I was glad to have helped these two nice human beings. My neighbour made them mugs of tea

Having someone in for general servicing, boiler etc is fine. Having a decorator in for the whole interior over 6 months was really hard but not his fault, he was a lovely young man. It was being upside down for so long that I hated

Last house I had a full new kitchen, that was hard but I stayed out of the way in a snug, just coming out to make tea on a portable hob

re times for drinks. I never offered too often ie hourly. I asked them at what time they would like a drink and it ended up generally at arrival, 10ish, lunchtime, 3ish and maybe at pre hometime

When the decorator was here, I said he could have the bathroom as his, for paint storage, loo etc. I had my space and he had his

Totally agree it's a nightmare! Would never dream of leaving a workman in the house alone even if I thought they could be trusted. So I hang around trying to look busy, feeling like a spare part in my own home and of course make umpteen cups of tea & coffee. Feels like a real invasion of privacy and I absolutely hate it. Could do with some decorating at the moment but can't face the thought.

I hate having workmen in the house, I always feel I have to be doing jobs as well and I don't like the invasion into my personal space.
But I would like to say well done for actually finding someone to do the work. It's so difficult to find anyone who'll even give a quote never mind actually turn up to do the job!

Nannan2

Grammygrammy- why would they need drinks every hour?surely they dont take that many breaks?

It's not so much a break as a drink to hydrate and encourage. Physical labour is hard. Why don't you go and do an hours physical work in the garden right now then after an hour, ask yourself to go without a hot drink before doing the next hour. Wow. Some stinking attitudes here.

Not keen - keep putting things off and saying we are fine but sometimes you have to bite the bullet. I hate that they always seem to start so early and leave the doors open all the time. Also they always seem to need loud music so I worry about the neighbours. I try to be up before them so feel tired all day! I try to make us a little comfy corner and get on with some craft work or computer chores but feel uneasy all the time. I wouldn't be happy leaving them to it and I like to provide drinks and snacks so feel on duty all the time. I think I'm getting worse too!

Grammygrammy- why would they need drinks every hour?surely they dont take that many breaks?

Since covid (see reasons above) if they are doing a long job i would offer them bottles of water or cans of pop.I'd let them use loo but again, i'd be having to clean it all down after.

Yes hate it as son has OCD so its a whole rigmarole of asking them to wear shoe covers then me cleaning everything down afterwards where they might have touched! (And dont get me started on the 'no longer having to wear masks' thing!)

We always make drinks for workmen. Our decorator said some clients don’t even let him use the loo!

I don't mind it but my daughter hates it.

Rosalyn69

I hate it but my husband insists on making them coffee and engaging them in conversation. Nightmare.

Workmen need drinks making for them every hour- it is hard work doing manual stuff. Do you not make drinks for workmen then? Are they not humans, to you?

Don't stress about it. Go with the 'flow' literally and keep dreaming of that luxurious bath you'll have at the end of it.

Sorry not read all replies but word of advice, hide your vacuum cleaners! cement dust etc will destroy a motor or make it a horrid job to overhaul.

I used to put tea, coffee, milk, kettle, sugar in conservatory and say help yourself rather than running after them all day. Tell you what they had a lot less tea breaks 🤣

I don't like having to get up early, but fair enough as they want to start work early. I show them where tea and coffee are, leave a packet of biscuits or cakes then go out.

I doubt workmen like having someone in when they are working, especially those that want to chat whilst they are trying to work.

My son is a gas engineer so works in people's houses. He always puts overshoes on to protect the carpets/floors etc. He said lots of people will chat to him, some make him a brew and occasionally he gets biscuits. He loves to pet the dogs and curious cats. Remember these workmen and women are human like you.

I don’t like it because I’ve found that some tradesmen are careless of surroundings, as in hitting walls and doorposts with tools, objects etc, and scraping things across hard floors. We once had a bathroom suite replaced. The plumber asked us to have the floor laid first to avoid having to cut round the toilet base. We did this , and covered the floor before they began. I came home from work to discover the marks where they’d trailed the toilet across the new floor. Now, I let them know that I expect them to take care of the surroundings. The house is rendered in white, and I remind people doing outdoor jobs to avoid touching the walls as they pass by.

Plan some national trust days? If you're not members there's some buy one get one free offers in some papers today?! I'd join personally it's a great way to spend a day out with lunch TC. Well done having actually got some blokes to turn up!?😅

you asked for advice with workmen in the house?

I would say be thankful you have found someone to do the jobs, and at a price you can afford.

I am having a great deal of difficulty getting workmen

I have an allotted room i go too with laptop, mobile, books and whatever else I need. I make food for the day and a flask just occasionally looking out and going to the bathroom as needed.