Provide lunch for contractors?

[Sandie5]

If you have someone doing work on your house, say roof, windows, painting etc., do you provide lunch for them?

My friend installed a nice large hot tub for Moses Znaimer and the workers all got a really nice catered lunch.

Should we at least bring in pizza and drinks for the workers?

[3weddings]

Ummm....no. If they are contractors, they will bring lunches. I usually put out a cooler with water and soft drinks though, but feed them, nope

[Diamondog]

Why would you give them anything? Are they going to knock money off your quote? Moses Znamier is rich....who know's maybe you are rich maybe not maybe you are very generous...do what you like but it's like anything else you wouldn't give a banana to the grocery clerk as your checking out. :confused:

[Sandie5]

I just don't know the etiquette on this one.

Thanks. I was hoping I wouldn't have to run out and get pizza.

[poptart77]

If you think it will encourage them to do better work on your home, then of course it's something that I would do. Some may question this but as far as I'm concerned, it's a small price to pay to get better workers/happier workers/harder workers. I just wouldn't go overboard or anything.

[Siefer999]

I usually buy them pizza and provide them drinks or get them coffee and snacks. Its a nice gesture and they really appreciate it. a $10-20 worth of food and some ice cold drinks goes a long way especially on a hot day.

for the people who bring food, they bring only a small lunch. doing hard hands on work really builds up an appetite. a happy worker is a productive worker. you dont want to overfeed too much though since it will slow them down.

but it really depends on the workers though. all the people who have worked on my house have been really nice and helpful.

[Diamondog]

If you think it will encourage them to do better work on your home, then of course it's something that I would do. Some may question this but as far as I'm concerned, it's a small price to pay to get better workers/happier workers/harder workers. I just wouldn't go overboard or anything.

Hmmm not if your hiring a reputable company that provides warranty for the work they do. In fact if I owned a company I would make it a point that workers would not take/ask anything from customers, they'd come prepared.

[glaswegian]

You are asking for trouble if you feed them, nothing will get done, and they will just take liberty. Perhaps feed them after the work is done ;)

[poptart77]

Hmmm not if your hiring a reputable company that provides warranty for the work they do. In fact if I owned a company I would make it a point that workers would not take/ask anything from customers, they'd come prepared.

I agree completely with you but to me it's just like everything else in life.. if you make the people doing the work for you happier, they will give you better service/products. For me, it could be something as simple as asking the contractors if they want me to get them anything while I'm heading to Tim Horton's or something like that. I certainly wouldn't give them food the minute they walk in but maybe a small reward if I feel they're being a bit drained from whatever it is they're trying to get done.

[Gidget]

If you have someone doing work on your house, say roof, windows, painting etc., do you provide lunch for them?

My friend installed a nice large hot tub for Moses Znaimer and the workers all got a really nice catered lunch.

Should we at least bring in pizza and drinks for the workers?

I think it would be a nice gesture to provide them with at least pizza and some drinks.

When we moved into our new home. The builder's landscapers were busy grading our back and front yard and laying down the sod. We provided them with cold drinks and I left the garden hose out for them to cool off if needed.

Many of these workers were just young kids in the late teens and early twenties. I'm sure they appreciated it and so did their boss.

While I did not expect anything back, I was very surprised when they planted our bushes I think we got the best ones. :)

Also not long ago this landscaper came back because we wanted a window well in the back. Our builder had overlooked it and he installed a nice window well for us with wood siding and river rock. The other neighbours got an aluminum one. Sometimes I think it pays to be nice and thoughtful.

[fireguy9]

Had a addition put on my house in winter time. The cotractors had there own food. But we always put coffee on for them and water etc. Near the end of the 3 months we fed them a full lunch in appreciation

[JetLi]

I agree - I always offer at least a coffee or a water or a pop - even for warranty work. Once I ordered a pizza for a couple of guys at our office working on our A/C. It was covered under our maintenance contract, but the guys came in and had no idea there was a new wall (we added it) right under the A/C. They spent 5 hours taking it down, most of the guys from the office wanted pizza anyways, so we got them one extra. Rather than fixing our A/C, they convinced their boss to get us a new one, it was only about $100 difference between fixing and replacing it. It pays off sometimes and it's just a few bucks.

[BartBandy]

Keep water on hand if the work is hot. Make sure they have a place to eat and access to a bathroom. I hired a contractor that I know, so I provided pizza for one lunch of a 3 day job, as a thank you. Sometimes, it can make the difference between working a little late to finish today, and stretching the job into tomorrow.

[BuildingHomes]

Yes, please provide water. I drink at least 500ml every hour when working in heat like this. More is good.

Soft drinks are the worst thing you can drink when working outside, yet I still need to get 1 Coke in to maintain my addictions.

Food maybe not so much. People can be picky about it, and guys who work in construction don't usually want to stop, sit and eat. They just want to get the job done! And the carbs can make one lethargic and slow one down.

[glaswegian]

Yes, please provide water. I drink at least 500ml every hour when working in heat like this. More is good.

Soft drinks are the worst thing you can drink when working outside, yet I still need to get 1 Coke in to maintain my addictions.

Food maybe not so much. People can be picky about it, and guys who work in construction don't usually want to stop, sit and eat. They just want to get the job done! And the carbs can make one lethargic and slow one down.


hey fella,

I need your advice regarding security cameras with night vision coloured. Which ones are the best ones to get and cheap, just need four really, 2 on teh sides, 1 in front, and 1 at the back, all to be connected to my tv in the livingroom, so wiring needed.

Look forward to hearing from you

[BuildingHomes]

Look forward to hearing from you

Emailed.

[mrsmagoo2001]

When we had our steel roof put on a few years ago, the work crew came from out of town. They were here for a week working in the hottest days that we had that summer. We emptied out the garage fridge for them to use. Filled up the BBQ tank and let them use it. Left lawn chairs in the garage for them to rest on when taking their breaks ( 1/2 hour on the roof 1/2 hour off) They appreciated being able to go to the grocery store on the way over from the hotel and having something other than McD's, and somewhere to keep their drinks. I usually left fresh baked goodies every day for them as well.

[stealth]

Water, or a pot of coffee when it gets colder.
It can actually pay off. When I had my windows installed I kept coffee brewing for the guys (it was November) and was pretty friendly with them, and in turn they used some higher quality trim and moulding, and probably did the job with a little more care.

[The PDI Guy]

Depending on the work being done you can have the same crew at your house from 1 day to 6 mounths. Treat them like you would want yourself, spouse, parent or child to be treated in that situation. Would you appreciate coffee or water or a surprise lunch? I was part of a crew that did a major home renovation that took four mounths to complete. Many times the homeowner would make us lunch, there was always coffee available, washrooms were open for us. We almost felt like we were leaving our friends when we were done. Did it improve the job we did, I don't know because in the end this was our business and in order to stay in business we need to provide quality workmanship. What it did do is make a the renovation experience a much plesanter experience for all involved. Being friendly and considerate is never the wrong move.

[sunnybono]

If you have someone doing work on your house, say roof, windows, painting etc., do you provide lunch for them?

My friend installed a nice large hot tub for Moses Znaimer and the workers all got a really nice catered lunch.

Should we at least bring in pizza and drinks for the workers?

About 9 years ago, I had my roof reshingled. It was one of the hottest days in the year and the owners son who was the supervisor on the job was feeling ill. I made sure that during the work that there was plenty of OJ and Water available to the workers. At the end of the work I had pizza, wings and beer ready for them. The guys were so thankfull. They would tell me horror stories of how people would direct them to the garden hose to get a drink of water.

Just recently I had coloured pattern concrete laid down along with my neighbour. Because there were 8 guys working, I fired up the BBQ, made some chicken, Hamburgers and Sausages, along with potato salad, coleslaw and macaroni salad with of course beer.

We tend to forget the these workers are human beings too. Just imagine you working in the sweltering heat and desperately need a glass of water and the homeowner says there's the garden hose, us it........

sk

[rekearb]

About 9 years ago, I had my roof reshingled. It was one of the hottest days in the year and the owners son who was the supervisor on the job was feeling ill. I made sure that during the work that there was plenty of OJ and Water available to the workers. At the end of the work I had pizza, wings and beer ready for them. The guys were so thankfull. They would tell me horror stories of how people would direct them to the garden hose to get a drink of water.

Just recently I had coloured pattern concrete laid down along with my neighbour. Because there were 8 guys working, I fired up the BBQ, made some chicken, Hamburgers and Sausages, along with potato salad, coleslaw and macaroni salad with of course beer.

We tend to forget the these workers are human beings too. Just imagine you working in the sweltering heat and desperately need a glass of water and the homeowner says there's the garden hose, us it........

sk

wow thats really nice of you, the world needs more people like you =). its always nice to give.

[BuildingHomes]

Just recently I had coloured pattern concrete laid down along with my neighbour. Because there were 8 guys working, I fired up the BBQ, made some chicken, Hamburgers and Sausages, along with potato salad, coleslaw and macaroni salad with of course beer.



Wow, may I come work at your house for a while? :)

[glaswegian]

Yes....but the bad ones ( cowboys as we call them ), forget that we are humans too, when they ripp you off and do half ar$ed jobs



About 9 years ago, I had my roof reshingled. It was one of the hottest days in the year and the owners son who was the supervisor on the job was feeling ill. I made sure that during the work that there was plenty of OJ and Water available to the workers. At the end of the work I had pizza, wings and beer ready for them. The guys were so thankfull. They would tell me horror stories of how people would direct them to the garden hose to get a drink of water.

Just recently I had coloured pattern concrete laid down along with my neighbour. Because there were 8 guys working, I fired up the BBQ, made some chicken, Hamburgers and Sausages, along with potato salad, coleslaw and macaroni salad with of course beer.

We tend to forget the these workers are human beings too. Just imagine you working in the sweltering heat and desperately need a glass of water and the homeowner says there's the garden hose, us it........

sk

[eelfliw]

I provide pizza & soft drinks for them. And gave them a six pack beer after the job.

It pays off. The contractor doing the basement floor was about to pour only 1" cement mix over gravel when I went down to ask him what type of beer he likes. After that, he dug a bit deeper and poured 3".