Do builders clear up after themselves?
Discussion
Currently extending kitchen downstairs and converting garage into another bedroom.
Pictures speak for themselves. I have no doubts it’s a messy job but my gravel driveway is more of a sandpit.
My driveway is generally muddy/ scratched as is the neighbour’s which is even more of a concern.
See pictures!
Pictures speak for themselves. I have no doubts it’s a messy job but my gravel driveway is more of a sandpit.
My driveway is generally muddy/ scratched as is the neighbour’s which is even more of a concern.
See pictures!
Seriously, don't worry about upsetting them. A polite question along the lines of "ey up lads, is there any chance you could run a broom over the drives before you go, to keep the neighbours happy? Thank you" won't bother anyone but a moron. That's coming from an electrician, I'd be happy to once mentioned.
My builders laid down OSB sheets all over the drive to protect it. In general, they are very tidy and will do things like wash down the windows if they have splashed anything on them. The plumber and, to a lesser extent, the electrician, seem to just drop things wherever they fancy. To wit:
The skip is literally next to where he parked his van.
The skip is literally next to where he parked his van.
I’d have asked them to protect the drive before they cracked on - board / sheeting etc. You’re f
ked now with all that ste down on a surface that cant be swept clean (looks like it used to be grass or gravel?).
Them messing up or using the neighbours drive is out of order - I’d probs knock on their door before they get to yours!
ked now with all that ste down on a surface that cant be swept clean (looks like it used to be grass or gravel?).Them messing up or using the neighbours drive is out of order - I’d probs knock on their door before they get to yours!
inabox said:
Seriously, don't worry about upsetting them. A polite question along the lines of "ey up lads, is there any chance you could run a broom over the drives before you go, to keep the neighbours happy? Thank you" won't bother anyone but a moron. That's coming from an electrician, I'd be happy to once mentioned.
OP, if you’re a little shy about it just lie a little the missus/neighbour has just give me right earache lads…About 2 weeks back one of the houses in our road had a contractor in doing plastering / painting. Rather than take away their waste / excess / mess from the job, they decided to furtively walk a bit further down the road from the house they're working in, lift one of the soakaway drain covers and pour their crap down that instead 
Looked like a decent mixture of leftover white paint and excess plaster / plaster mix water that went down the drain. This was followed shoftly after by shredding what was left of the plaster bag packaging into smaller pieces and chucking it into the garden / foliage of another house a couple of doors down the road
Looked like a decent mixture of leftover white paint and excess plaster / plaster mix water that went down the drain. This was followed shoftly after by shredding what was left of the plaster bag packaging into smaller pieces and chucking it into the garden / foliage of another house a couple of doors down the road I don't trust builders and other trades not to make a mess. So I turn into a bit of a Victor Meldrew and put ply, bubblewrap, tarps, dust sheet everywhere. I probably have a couple of hundred pounds worth in store. The crap trades don't say anything and make a mess. The good ones thank me and do an even better job. So win win!
When replacing our bathroom, everything was unceremoniously dumped in our front garden for all to see for the entirety of the build but plastic sheeting was done everywhere inside and cardboardy type tiles covering our wooden floors and on the last day, the skip lorry arrived and took everything from out front and they spent the last few hours cleaning everything.
Maybe your workmen are leaving it to do at the very end as they may think they’ll have to do it numerous times if they do it every day or two?
Electricians on the other hand…drop something on the floor and it will stay there for all eternity. I think they’d rather get another thingymebob from the van than bend over and pick it up…
Maybe your workmen are leaving it to do at the very end as they may think they’ll have to do it numerous times if they do it every day or two?
Electricians on the other hand…drop something on the floor and it will stay there for all eternity. I think they’d rather get another thingymebob from the van than bend over and pick it up…
BT Summers said:
It is a shame that we don't all use proper building contracts with terms and conditions and remedies for breach of same.
Quite. Even a simple agreement that the final payment is contingent on the site being left clean and tidy! Builders also seem to be shy of formal written contracts as it limits their ability to ‘grow’ the job and costs.I always provide a written statement of work/requirements for all contractor works. This can vary from a simple single sheet for minor work to multi-page documents for more significant work. This is also to ensure an accurate quote can be provided before any contract is agreed. Some are happy to accept and sign it and some aren’t. Those that aren’t are, however, usually happy to answer emails as if this does not form part of any contract! The clearing up requirement is always included.
One in particular flatly refused to sign off the provided SoW and would only work against his own contract. He provided said document which clearly referenced the SoW I had provided!
valiant said:
Electricians on the other hand…drop something on the floor and it will stay there for all eternity. I think they’d rather get another thingymebob from the van than bend over and pick it up…
We just had some minor work sone by a sparky, I’m sure he brought rubbish from other jobs just to dump round the place! 
Does a good job but f
k me is he messy. Loves a 10w £10 floodlight too, wants to put them everywhere! Must be on commission
When we had our bathroom completely redone the (European)workers put clear sheeting everywhere each day , hoovered etc.
When the Scottish electrical company subcontracted to a large external insulation company , doing streets at a time came it was the opposite. They were only refitting a external light , but left masonry dust everywhere, empty electrical packets and a empty can of irn bru on the front porch.
I assume as they were also doing houses were folks didn’t care about their property, everyone was the same…
When the Scottish electrical company subcontracted to a large external insulation company , doing streets at a time came it was the opposite. They were only refitting a external light , but left masonry dust everywhere, empty electrical packets and a empty can of irn bru on the front porch.
I assume as they were also doing houses were folks didn’t care about their property, everyone was the same…
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