Feeding/watering a group of builders

MrsSippi

We are having some work started on our house next week and I expect a small team of builders, plumbers, plasterers etc to be on site for probably 4-6 weeks.

Knowing how important it is to keep workmen happy I have bought some cups from the £ shop as well as leaving out plenty of tea, coffee, sugar and biscuits for them to use as they want. I'll put out milk every morning.

Is there anything else I could do over the course of the works? Obviously they are here to work not stuff their faces but I don't mind doing something for them. Or is it ok just to make sure I keep everything topped up as it were?

jackyann

I have been in this situation a few times, and when we did our own build, over several months. I can tell you they very much appreciate what you have described, as a lot of people don't bother.
I have added:
some fruit when cheap (eg: big bag of apples, plums I was given in the autumn) but not all the time. At this time of year, I probably might put out some satsumas if they were cheap at the market one day.
packets of cup-a-soup
ask if there is anything else - in summer I put out squash

If they have access to a sink, fine, if not, put out a bucket of washing up water - I would say 'rinse out your mugs during the day, at the end, leave them in the bucket and I'll wash them properly'.

Floss

I would second the squash & washing-up bowl / place to leave the cups. Our builders also went through loo roll like it was water...intriguingly as one time they were refitting our only bathroom!

jk0

Have a portaloo delivered. (Saves skiddies and floaters in yours.)

rach_k

I got plenty of cans of pop (just Tesco fizzy orange and stuff like that) and told them to help themselves from the fridge. They went down well. I suppose not everybody likes a hot drink.

Islandmaid

DH runs a building company and him and his lads have a 15 tea break 10 am and 2 pm with a 30 min lunch break at 12 - although a cuppa and a bikkie is always well received, it’s not expected. He alway takes mugs and provisions and clears away.

Some clients go all out with cake and bacon butties, the ‘lads’ are always grateful, others don’t offer anything, no offence is taken - it’s their house.. on big projects we ask client to consider a Portaloo for obvious reasons and the back of a van makes a good NAFI if needed.

jackyann

Made me smile, as we worked alongside the trades, building our house (we did everything we possibly could) and of course we had a 'thunderbox' which we used too. So I kept it nice - cleaned it properly, made sure there was a towel, changed regularly, and extra wipes. It became a joke about it being the nicest builders' loo anyone had ever used, and people would say 'we've heard about your loo'!

Lance_De_Boils

I cleared a shelf in my fridge and filled it with cans of fizzy...the three for a pound ones. Also I got the multipacks of bounties, twix wagon wheels etc which also cost a quid. I told them to help themselves as it was their shelf.
Plus the usual tea, coffee squash etc.

MrsSippi

Thanks ever so much for all the replies, they've given me some useful tips.

I think I will do as suggested and stock up on the choc bars and squash/fizz. I'm sure it will all get used but DH can take anything left for lunches etc so definitely won't be a waste of money either way. Good point as well about getting in extra loo roll, I hadn't thought of that. They will have access to a running tap outside so hopefully they will use that to refill the kettle etc.

I did think of doing some bacon butties etc but I will probably have my hands full keeping my 2 year old out of their way (and later a 7 yo during half term) so I'm not sure how practical this will be. However if I know they've got plenty of stuff to pick at I won't feel guilty.

I have a friend who is a builder and he said before that he finds the more well off clients don't bother providing anything and those less so are always happy to put something out and we definitely fit into the second category!

RosyRed

Bless you for thinking of this,DH & DS are self employed builders.Theyve been outside this week in the hail and snow and would really appreciate the thought.They do take a flask but it doesn't last very long.They certainly wouldn't expect you to provide bacon butties especially with a toddler but the means to make a hot drink is great,and they certainly wouldn't turn a biscuit down:rotfl:Good luck with your job.

bouicca21

When I had workmen in I was absolutely gobsmacked at the amount of sugar they got through. Make sure you put out plenty!