Just being a grouch because I have a workman in my house.

Astitchintime

Tizliz

I completely understand. After a survey which took 4 hours where he clambered all over the house, we have decided against having an air pump installed. It is too much upheaval - other things like the cost and the little saving were taken into account - 3 or 4 workers all over the house, several wardrobes to be emptied. Dogs to be kept calm. We decided to stay as we are.

Hopefully it will all have been worth it when your work is finished and cleared up

How I remember the assessment for having solar panels and air pump a couple of years ago. I thought the agent was hunkering down for the night! Plus he wanted us to commit there and then, which I refused to do. Off he went grudgingly and wasn’t best pleased when we decided to not proceed…….in fact, he was very rude to us! Obviously cost him a handsome commission!

We offered to pay as he had done such a thorough job and we had let him think we were going ahead.

I bet my husband that he wouldn’t invoice but he did, £300 ☹️

Worknen and radios are definitely out of bounds for me It is your home and you say what goes

He who pays the piper calls the tune.

If they dont take any notice. Call their company and complain to their line manager . And make sure they hear you do it

Scribbles - I think a lot of us want to employ you - as we hate projects.

One of these fine days my housework will be pristine/everything up-to-date because I know how many visits (workmen or healthwise) I'm used to till I moved here and it's one. So when it works here to be 4 (ie three extra!) I knock that excess time off the housework - because I'm not going to knock it off "MY time for leisure". So housework neglected it is - to compensate me for extra "work on house - or health" time to what I'm used to.

ClicketyClick

I too hate having workers in. Having a bathroom refit soon and dreading feel that my house isn't my one and the invasion of privacy but needs must. My one and only toilet is bring ripped out and replaced so need to look at a something temporary. Have been considering a chemical camping toilet but can't really ask neighbour if I can empty it in their bathrooms. Now think will have to go with one of the free standing outdoor units you see at festivals but goodness knows how much they are to rent. Anyone hired one if these? Depending on how the job goes, I might even consider giving them the key and going away for a few days. I have used the plumber before and he seemed trustworthy.

That aspect of my having my bathroom gutted and a new one fitted - ie rip out old loo and put in new one didn't take that long to sort out per se as I recall.

The two things I know in hindsight from having had mine done were:

a. Don't assume they're competent enough to decide the correct height for the shower rail - even if they know you are the only one living there and they have seen you with their own eyes (ie that tall workman that did that saw little me - all of about 5'2" these days) and put it in at the correct height. Nope - he put it in at a higher height than a shortie wants - and no "stop and ask me to confirm a minute"...he just went ahead - grrr....

b. The bathroom firm tried to sell me floor tiles (? ceramic?) and thank goodness I'd stuck to my guns of having vinyl flooring there. As it is - they still messed-up at that point. Or I'd, quite possibly, have had damp brought into my dry little house. That being it had to be another (ie floor covering) firm doing those vinyl tiles and bathroom firm said to me "That bathroom floor of yours - which we've just re-done with new concrete will take a week to dry - so don't put that vinyl down for a week". They absolutely definitely said "a week". Eight days later therefore I had the flooring company to put that vinyl down.

You can probably guess the rest. Bathroom firm lied when they said "a week". Cue for a couple of years later and I'm thinking "Why is my bathroom vinyl going mouldy?" Yep...got it in one - though I'd had it put down exactly when they said = blimmin' expletive deleteds had been wrong. They should have said "Two weeks time or more" I would think and I would have waited till then. So their fault my pretty new vinyl had to be ripped up and replaced thanks to them (and part played by floor covering firm shoulda known too and said "We'll come back later - because.....". I was not a happy bunny having to pay for vinyl twice thanks to them.

But I guess you've got a drain cover or two in your garden? I do have two - in my back garden - so, when necessary, it was bucket and open up the drain cover and pour down. After all - whether it's going down the loo or getting poured directly down the drain = it's going the same route after all.

That was followed by I think I must have got my missing outdoor tap and hosepipe installed pretty quickly - and so that came in handy for "flushing" purposes.

Until I saw M0nica and keepcalm's posts, I thought I must be alone in not minding tradespeople in the house; being happy to let them use the lav; having no hangups about using it myself and having a tongue in my head so I can tell them the radio's too loud, to close the door or whatever.
A few years ago, I had the house back wall knocked down and the kitchen extended. It was months of dust, chaos and madness but I got to know some smashing local tradies and learned a little about their specialities. All I could think of while the craziness was going on was how good it would be when it was done. And it is.
Now, I'm very much looking forward to having the tired 1960s bathroom gutted and converted to a wetroom - by a local company I got to know during the kitchen job. More mess, noise and chaos but I'm thinking about how much I'll enjoy my power-shower.
Then there's the bedrooms to do and the hideous living room fireplace to be removed .... I love a project. Bring it on, sez I!

My gas boiler must be around thirty years old or thereabouts.
And it’s still going strong.

At the last servicing, the gas engineer said it’s ok and no need to replace it.

It’s gas engineers try to convince you that an old boiler is unsafe. Obviously.

I also detest inconsiderate workmen.
Especially ones who are reluctant to take of their shoes.
Although it’s not always appropriate depending on the type of work they have to do.

Having the toilet out of action is horrible.
And can be embarrassing.

Also definitely suggest the earbuds
He sounds very inconsiderate to me.

With you on this...I hate it too..needs must though so we've just got to deal with it!😅.Soon be over!😄

I totally understand and I hate having any workman in the house, so much so that DP tells me to go out somewhere!
So I do, but sometimes I have to be there and I hop about fretting😬😁

We've had some very bad tradesmen and some very good ones. A brilliant tiler who did our bathroom and a very poor young man who chipped a tile when he dropped his plumbing tools and then drilled a hole right through the wall when putting in a radiator - how he didn't realise his screw would be sticking an inch out into the next room I don't know. We've had some useless plumbers who caused us more problems than they corrected and a few good ones who did some nasty jobs very quickly and efficiently. One roofer cost us £1000 for nothing and was never to be seen again and another did a great job at a reasonable price. Had our gutters cleaned three times in a few months because they kept overflowing, over £300 altogether, and it was only the last young man who realised that the screw holding the downpipe up was way too long and and twigs going down the gutter snagged on it and that caused a jam so the gutters overflowed. He changed the screw - an extra 80p - and no problems since. Two very good electricians though.

I think it's all the luck of the draw sadly and I dread having people in to do work if they haven't been before - I don't care who's sons or daughters they may be.

I’m another one who hates having people in, however what l hate even more is trying to find someone who will do a good job and who is trustworthy. I’m on my own and apart from using ‘Checkatrade’ and asking on our local ‘Facebook’ l’m always uncertain about who l’ve chosen, and l have been ‘ripped off’ now so many times and sometimes by people who have seemed so pleasant and friendly, l just hate it! And yes when they’re in your home l always feel like l look like lady muck sitting around doing nothing while they’re working hard!😁

My experience with tradesmen has been on the whole positive, quite enjoyed learning about what they're doing (workwise!) and have been very happy to recommend them on to others.
Neighbours in a road that I know of seem to have a permanent handyman, no sooner he's finished someone's soffits than he's decorating someone else's bedroom. He's slow and expensive but very nice & trusty and they all 'gatekeep' him to themselves!

I hate having workmen in the house too.. I just never know what to do with myself. I even feel awkward getting myself some lunch or just sitting doing nothing. I feel I have to find jobs for myself to do all the time so I don't look idle while they are working and dread going to the loo in case of any 'sound effects' or in case they come looking for me to ask something. Recently had the outside of the house painted and the painter kept popping up everywhere, there wasn't one room he didn't suddenly appear in, I couldn't go anywhere and be undisturbed, it just didn't feel like I had any private space anymore.

ClicketyClick

Sorry about the mis-spellings

Never worry about them. I currently have a laptop with a non operational, well I cannot type t, but the first letter of a #werty keyboard.

I also have dyspraxia, which means I transpose letters on an industrial scale and the imprecision my dyspraxia causes , makes it a miracle I hit the right letter at all.

I have given up explaining and just accept the occasional jibes about people on GN who cannot spell/write grammatically/ proof read. I could have worse problems.

M0nica

Once again I am the odd one out. I have had tradesmen in and out of the house for the last six months and it will probably continue for at least the next six months as we are renovating an old house.

I have had a series of good tradesmen who have worked well. The only fly in the ointment was the CH contractor, who kept disappearing to other jobs for weeks at a time. I had no argument with his price - it was a fixed price contract and the work has been done well - it just took too long

As butterandjam says. If the music is too loud or the doors keep getting left open tell them to turn it down and keep the doors shut, or turn the heating off while you retreat into another room with a room heater.

I do not feel comfortable with the way people 'other' tradesmen. They are people like, now our sons and daaughters and even grandchildren. Some of their parents may well be on GN!! Some are well brought up others aren't.

Our favourite tradesman, a lime plasterer, is just finishing a job, but will be back a number of times over he next few months and I will be delighted to see him. We have found we are in a number of the same Facebook Groups. Then the landscaper will be back to finish the garden work. We have got to get a builder and roofer in, not to mention the outisde paintwork. Then when we get planning permission we will have major kitchen works.

As for, I will spare people's blushes, tradesmen urinating and defaecating, well they are normal people like us, we all do it, and most of them have been properly brought up and did not start school in nappies so are properly toilet trained.

Only one firm of builders uoted a day rate for the work - and that was for a very simple reason, the job length was an unknown factor because they worked mainly on really old properties where simple jobs often hide deep problems. Which is what happened in our case, where a 2 day job took a week and the people on the job, did their full days work and worked very hard.

I wasn’t trying to ‘other’ tradespeople, whatever that is supposed to mean and I am well aware that they too are people. I am simply uncomfortable with people I do not know, being in my home. I aware that this all says more about me than them. I do feel your comment is patronising.

I don't like having to have workmen/women in to do work either I find it unsettling and im constantly on edge. My husband does what he can but we recently had the bathroom and cloakroom redone, it took 2 weeks. I can't complain about the workmen in any way, they were great, it's just having strangers in your home, the mess and disruption that is so unsettling.

To start off with I would insist on outer doors being kept shut in this weather - it only takes a couple of seconds to put whatever he or they carry in down and go back and shut the door.

Secondly, tell his boss that the man has been on his phone for the exact time he has, and that you are not paying him to talk to his wife! I very much doubt he will stay longer - come knocking off time, he will be off as if the di'el was chasing him, and your bill for the work will include an extra morning's work because "the job took longer than estimated".

I would also politely ask him to turn his radio down. If he doesn't, then repeat your demand, less politely. Tell him you cannot concentrate on your writing in the din. (He does not need to know that you are not writing).

I had a new boiler with British Gas a few years ago and after the job was finished the engineer was very keen for me to give him a good review online. So you could use this a leverage with your engineer so he abides by your house rules!

Sorry about the mis-spellings

I too hate having workers in. Having a bathroom refit soon and dreading feel that my house isn't my one and the invasion of privacy but needs must. My one and only toilet is bring ripped out and replaced so need to look at a something temporary. Have been considering a chemical camping toilet but can't really ask neighbour if I can empty it in their bathrooms. Now think will have to go with one of the free standing outdoor units you see at festivals but goodness knows how much they are to rent. Anyone hired one if these? Depending on how the job goes, I might even consider giving them the key and going away for a few days. I have used the plumber before and he seemed trustworthy.

Once again I am the odd one out. I have had tradesmen in and out of the house for the last six months and it will probably continue for at least the next six months as we are renovating an old house.

I have had a series of good tradesmen who have worked well. The only fly in the ointment was the CH contractor, who kept disappearing to other jobs for weeks at a time. I had no argument with his price - it was a fixed price contract and the work has been done well - it just took too long

As butterandjam says. If the music is too loud or the doors keep getting left open tell them to turn it down and keep the doors shut, or turn the heating off while you retreat into another room with a room heater.

I do not feel comfortable with the way people 'other' tradesmen. They are people like, now our sons and daaughters and even grandchildren. Some of their parents may well be on GN!! Some are well brought up others aren't.

Our favourite tradesman, a lime plasterer, is just finishing a job, but will be back a number of times over he next few months and I will be delighted to see him. We have found we are in a number of the same Facebook Groups. Then the landscaper will be back to finish the garden work. We have got to get a builder and roofer in, not to mention the outisde paintwork. Then when we get planning permission we will have major kitchen works.

As for, I will spare people's blushes, tradesmen urinating and defaecating, well they are normal people like us, we all do it, and most of them have been properly brought up and did not start school in nappies so are properly toilet trained.

Only one firm of builders uoted a day rate for the work - and that was for a very simple reason, the job length was an unknown factor because they worked mainly on really old properties where simple jobs often hide deep problems. Which is what happened in our case, where a 2 day job took a week and the people on the job, did their full days work and worked very hard.

With someone working for a high profile company like British gas I would expect they would want to know if you are not satisfied with their service, especially if as you say, they insist on you (or your appointed replacement) being there.

In future maybe you should make it clear you don't want them playing music in your house, especially as you (or someone you've appointed) as to stay in the house the whole time.

I suspect BG brought in this rule due to a number of complaints about the sloppiness of their service?

I haven't used BG for work in my home for more than twenty years for this reason.

You’re not alone. And never in a million years would my husband go out and leave them to it. Our recent decorators (who we’ve had before and were ok) did a rubbish job this time. Not only with the decorating but also spilling stuff on our drive, filling our dustbin with their rubbish, and sitting in their van with the engine running every day for at least 20 mins a go. I’m on a real downer with tradespeople and I don’t know the answer.

I’m the same hate workmen in the house especially using my toilet!! 😂 We had a new gas boiler fitted by British Gas last June. It took 3 days but the young man was very polite and friendly and cracked on with no music. I like to be around to keep an eye on things. Grit your teeth it will soon be done!

I’m sure a lot of folk on here feel for you, having endured tradesmen and builders invading our space over the years.

Make sure that blasted radio doesn’t get gradually turned up again!
I have had that in the past.

I had a very trustworthy workman here recently but did not feel I could go out. He is a joiner and asked to use the garage for his sawing as it was raining outside. Then he came in the front door to access the landing where he was fitting some shelves. So I felt the house was vulnerable, as it is possible to access the house via the garage, and obviously the front door was unlocked. I couldn’t work in my upstairs study. I just wasted my time on my iPad all morning ( but I can do that any day!) Otherwise, no complaints.