Stress, tears and vacuuming....

[lulul]

Never fast on the home decor front, myself and hubby had finally decided on a bit of a revamp. Nothing too serious..change the 1970's brown doors to fresher white modern ones with nice handles..plus widen the lounge door entry to accomodate double doors. Simple.

No. Apparantly despite the assurance that it would be a simple clean job my stress levels and pain limits will tell you different.

I'll give you a few bullet points on my particular group of tradesmen..I am sure this list only applies to mine and is in no way a generalised moan at all tradesman (disclaimer disclaimer disclaimer etc etc) These are the rules they appear to follow ;

1. If the house owner has closed off all the doors to minimise dust/dirt into surrounding rooms, promptly re-open them and allow said dust/dirt to spread freely around the house

2. Abandon all tools freely across the stairs so that afor mentioned house owner could fall and break her neck on descent.

3. When the house owner has instructed a certain door remain closed at all times in order to contain terrified beagle, open at regular intervals and for long periods of time so that said beagle can escape and be lost for over two hours.

4. Put dirty tools down on surfaces nowhere near working area

5. Expect tea/coffee

6.Burst a radiator pipe so that water may spurt energetically across house owners hall

7. Trample through all bedrooms in search of a mobile phone signal

8. Use the toilet and LEAVE THE SEAT UP.

Aghhhhh so as I weep quietly and struggle with the dyson I ponder why I thought updating my house was a good idea. Perhaps I should run courses on tradesman etiquette ....

[Tricia-P]

Oh bless you, it's never easy having things done to the house, I suppose you have been up from the crack of as well, so tired and teasy and RA we really are wonderpeople. Advise, tell the work people that you have bird flu so keep the doors closed so they don't get it. Turn your little beagle into a bulldog or such as a dog that sounds like it bites peoples bottoms. The dust cover all other places but believe me, the dudt will get through as the women that has lived through roof replacements bathroom redone new kitchen and front garden paved etc. LEAVE IT do it when they have gone maybe vac the carpets where its worse but don't knock yourself up.Taake care and I'm sure it will be lovely when its finished.

xTx

[lulul in reply to Tricia-P]

Thanks hun..I have calmed down a little now and since coming home hubby has cleaned up alot bless him. He took one look at me and sat me down whilst he whizzed round x

[emandedmum]

They sound like a right bunch of bodgers, where is their common sense! Hopefully they'll be done soon enough but in the mean time don't forget to stir said cups of tea with the tools they've left lying about! x

[lulul in reply to emandedmum]

They come highly recommended and we know most of them personally..which makes it harder really..just so shocked!!! Will definately try the advice should they mis-behave tommorrow lol

[Hidden]

Oh you have my sympathy!

6 years ago I had builders in for 8 very long months - building an extension on 2 floors, re-wiring, re-plumbing etc etc - it took me 3 years after they left to be able to bear to get anyone in to anything else!!!

I had builders walk into my bedroom whilst I was lying down for a nap in the afternoon (and no they had no work to do in that room and yes they did know that I was lying down!), front door regularly left wide open even when they'd gone off for lunch letting the dogs out etc etc.

I had put as much of our stuff as possible in storage but we did have to live at the same time and we were eating gritty dust with our meals for months. I was without a kitchen for 5 weeks - but that's another story - and they ripped out the toilet from the upstairs bathroom before plumbing in one in the new downstairs bathroom

I agree with Tricia, just do what is absolutely essential until they're finished and then get some help doing an intensive clean - that means other people doing 'it' and you supervising

Take good care of yourself,

Cece x

[lulul in reply to Hidden]

well the next step was an extension but I am now not so sure!!! Thankfully hubby and two teenage sons are on the job..don't know where I would be without them. xx

[Hidden]

Most of my experience with builders has been better forgotten!! But I do have fond memories of 2 young plasterers. I was 8 months pregnant and I am sure they were terrified I was going to have the baby at any time. At the end of every day they would hunt out my vacuum cleaner and vacuum my hall, stairs and landing!!!

[lulul in reply to Hidden]

Wow..send them over..don't need a plasterer but they can vacuum all they like...

[bpeal1]

When we had an extension built I couldn't fault the builders in trying to keep things tidy and clean. They were always sweeping up and vacuuming and put dust sheets up but there was still a thick layer of builders dust everywhere. I ignored it as best I could while the work was going on. When they had finished I paid a cleaner for half a day to do a thorough clean. I included the cost (in my gead) as part of the cost of the extension. It was worth every penny.

Becky

[bpeal1]

Whoops - should have read in my head (not gead!) Fingers not working well today

[Hidden]

my fingers got the very same problem