Several years ago, my husband and I hired a company to put a new roof on our home, which was located on a private lake. The day the job was to begin, dawned hot and sticky. My husband was away on business, leaving me to deal with the roofers. Feeling sympathy for them because I knew the roof would be steamy; I told the crew they could feel free to use the beach when they finished their work for the day. Much to my surprise, shortly thereafter, the constant pounding of hammers stopped, only to be replaced by the sound of splashing swimmers. When I approached the lead man to ask why they had stopped working (they had started at nine a.m.), I was informed that it was the end of their workday; it was only noon. The pattern was set; the crew worked a couple of hours a day and the job that should have taken two days, took a week. (Sick of lazy contractors? Click here for a no obligation quote from our licensed network of professional contractors.) I had opened the door for shoddy work ethics by trying to do what I perceived as something nice. I also had the added worry that if I complained, the job would be a sloppy one. Had I kept our relationship on a professional level, the time frame I was quoted when I signed the roofing contract, more than likely, would have been adhered to.

So, how do you handle the question of lunch?

As the homeowner, it is not your responsibility to feed the work crew. I’ve yet to meet the construction worker that expected a meal to be provided on the job. Most home improvement personnel carry a brown bag lunch, or leave the work site to eat at a restaurant. If you feel the need to play host or hostess, you could leave a cooler of drinks for the crew in a place handy to the work area. This would alleviate the need for the crew to continually stop work to go in search of beverages. If the weather is warm, they will appreciate the gesture, however, that said, most companies carry water on their trucks for the crew.

Another question that is often asked: Should I allow the workmen to use the restroom in my home? The comfort level of the homeowner may best answer this. Is the homeowner a woman who is concerned about being alone with strange men in the house? If the answer is yes, then go with your comfort level and say no if you must. Are you opposed to strangers coming in and out of your home to use your facilities? Or, would you feel ill at ease if you objected to carpenters using your bathroom, whereby causing them to stop the job and leave the work site every time someone had to relieve themselves? Remember that this could slow down progress on the work being done. Perhaps the best way to handle this question would be; if the home has more than one bathroom, designate one for use by the workers. I’ve owned several houses and worked with a number of different contractors; rarely did the construction crew ask to enter the home if the work being done was taking place on the outside of the house. If the home improvements being done are to the inside of the property, then it’s simple, they’re already in the home; there shouldn’t be a problem with allowing them to use the facilities.

Keep in mind; you are in a sense, an employer and not a friend when you hire a contractor. It isn’t necessary to feed the work crew, but it would be a courtesy to offer water or soft drinks and use of your restroom. If more time can be spent on getting the work done, instead of running around in search of a public facility or a place to purchase a beverage; your chances of the job actually being finished on time will greatly improve. A little courtesy goes a long way in securing a pleasant work situation for all parties concerned.

By: Val Papkey

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