Do you tip roofers?

[4nana]

That's what I did.

We had our roof replaced 2 years ago. One day I grilled burgers and hotdogs for them, potato salad, chips, etc. I let them know I was doing this the day before I actually did it. They did appreciate it.

I also frequently offered them coffee in the morning, and bottled water during the day.

I did not tip them. Didn't even cross my mind. It is their employer's responsibility to pay them appropriately.

That was really nice of you Sharon and I'm sure they appreciated it very much. My DH was in construction for years, I know he enjoyed when customers showed their appreciation.

That being said, we did not tip our roofers upon installation, a few yrs back. It took 10 hard workers an impressive 6 hrs from start to finish our 2 story home and honestly we were pressed to come up with the $5,000 cash needed. Out of kindness, we offered them lunch, but they were anxious to finish and go to next job, so we just furnished drinks.

This winter our heat pump was destroyed due to 30"+ snow/ice, the workman work diligently installying new one during freezing weather. DH supplied them coffee and donuts which they seem to enjoy. IMO, what goes around comes around, we try to treat people as we like to be treated.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

.,.

 

[JOCAmom]

Roofers, even unskilled laborers on the crew, are fairly well paid and certainly don't expect tips. Our guys aren't allowed to accept them even if offered.

They do appreciate cold drinks as others have suggested. We bring our own, but they do get warm over the course of a day even in a cooler. Even lunch would be overkill, though; we've had a few customers barbeque for us and while we appreciate the thought, working hard in the heat tends to kill one's appetite. Only one of the guys on our regular crew eats a real lunch every day. Most of the guys just bring jerky or power bars, especially in the summer.

My DH has been roofing for almost 20 years, and you are exactly right about not having much of an appetite during the hot summer months. He tells me that if he would eat a big lunch, he just wouldn't feel like working much afterward.

His favorite thing is when a customer gives them each a nice, cold bottle of Gatorade. It sure beats what's left in the cooler at the end of day.

And he has never been allowed to accept monetary tips.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

We are having a new roof put on and I was wondering, do we tip them when they are done? We have never had a roof put on before so I have no idea on this one.

No. Why would you? They are paid to do the job.

 

[kimblebee]

I think people assume since someone is doing something for you they deserve a tip. I think it's getting out of hand too.


Hey, I answered your question, do I get a tip?

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Absolutely not.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

When we had our house roofed last year (our friend owned the company and also roofed) I turned the stereo on a favorite classic rock station, moved the speakers outside, and blared the music from my husband's workshop. The roofers told me several times that day how much they appreciated the great music while they worked.

 

[happily single]

Really? No one thinks a tip is in order? I was thinking absolutely, but something small, maybe $5-10 per roofer. My problem is I tip just about everyone

You tip the pizza guy, your hairdresser, your newspaper man. Anytime I have service done at the house (with the exception of oil delivery) I tip them. Its a tough economy and if I can give someone "coffee money" I feel I did my good deed for the day. Ultimately its not that much out of your pocket but you certainly made the workers day and they will remember that the next time they need to come out. Yes, a roof probably will not need someone to come back out, but let's just say we have a freak windstorm and several shingles come loose, don't you think the roofer will be more accomodating if they remember how generous you were before?

I realize I'm going to get flamed for this, but I don't care. I tip. End of story

PS I actually need a roof, so if anyone could give me estimates on a basic shingle only roof for a 2 story roof I would greatly appreciate it.

PSS If you know a roofer in the RI area pls pass their name on to me and let them know I will tip them

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Are you kidding me?!?!?! Do you make lunches for the employees at Wal-mart just to be nice too? Come on. These people are hired to do a job, a job that they signed up to do. Sure it is a hot and tough job, but that is their job!! Just because they are at your home, they are not your guests! They are hired help! Don't belittle them, but, criminey people, get a grip.

Tip the self-service counter for coffee? Add an extra 20% at McD's because its a crappy job? Throw a couple of bucks to the drive-thru attendant or the take out counter server? Where does it end? Now so ma

ny of these employees expect it and the rest of us look like schmucks. No thanks.

Stop the insanity!!!!

offering a drink or a meal to someone doing hard physical labor on your property isn't insane. It is simple hospitality, not a tip. It isn't necessary, but some folks like to do that. I did it for my mover. He was from out of state and it would have been a pain in the rear to stop working and lock everything up and head out to lunch.

Sounds like you are quite upset at what other people
do. But noone is forcing you to do it.

 

[rlcerabone]

I would think not. Paying allot of money to install a roof. Water, soda fine.. Thats what we did.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yo buddy, it wasn't a freak out.

I think the extra punctuation, huge bolded statement and the choice of words conveyed a tone that suggested otherwise.

 

[kirbsam]

Yo buddy, it wasn't a freak out.

actually, it was a freak out.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

,.,

 

[ICF]

:

Stop the insanity!!!!

+1

I wouldnt tip either...and many seem to agree. However, what's the difference between roofers and furntiture delivery people (many of which people claim to tip on here)?

There are lots of people that seem to want to tip the whole world for doing there job.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

.,.

 

[Art 1]

Are you kidding me?!?!?! Do you make lunches for the employees at Wal-mart just to be nice too? Come on. These people are hired to do a job, a job that they signed up to do. Sure it is a hot and tough job, but that is their job!! Just because they are at your home, they are not your guests! They are hired help! Don't belittle them, but, criminey people, get a grip.

Tip the self-service counter for coffee? Add an extra 20% at McD's because its a crappy job? Throw a couple of bucks to the drive-thru attendant or the take out counter server? Where does it end? Now so many of these employees expect it and the rest of us look like schmucks. No thanks.

Stop the insanity!!!!

Yes, my wife did. And when we had the whole house re-done a few years ago she had breakfast and lunch made for the guys for the 3 weeks that it took. Do you have a problem with that? We tip generously and pay our people very well. Could be the reason why we have so much.

 

[tvguy]

Back in the 1960's, the county road crew came down our street to fill in pot holes. The neighbor across the street invited them to take a break in his back yard, passed out sandwiches and beers (the beer part would be politcially incorrect these days). Nice touch.

And mysteriously, the potholes in his DRIVEWAY got filled too.

 

[wdwmom2]

not 'quite upset', would have fixed the font size but was quoted already. and i never said insane, that is your word.

Why would you have to fix a font size when you purposely made it that way?!?!?!?

I have yet to post something on the DIS and have the font size "accidentally" jump to ginormous. (Yes, ginormous is an actual word, Google it)

This has been an interesting thread. Leaving to get dinner. Play nice!

 

[Dan Murphy]

......rest of us look like schmucks. No thanks.

Stop the insanity!!!!

Please, please, WLD, speak for yourself, if you look like a schmuck. As for me, I pride myself in not looking schmuck-like.

As for the OP, we have tipped many workers who have done work at/in our home. And have provided water, pop, meals along the way, over the years. Many years back, we had a fireplace installed. Had 2 brick masons working for upwards of a week. The above mentioned supplied during the week, and after job was finished (Marie told them the day before about her plans) my wife made a pasta/meatball/sausage dinner, wine, candles, china, the whole none yards, on a cloth table clothed card table set up in the foyer. Being Italian, Marie, and I also (though not Italian) got to know them over the week and wanted to 'break bread' after the job was complete, like family. They loved it.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Really? No one thinks a tip is in order? I was thinking absolutely, but something small, maybe $5-10 per roofer. My problem is I tip just about everyone

You tip the pizza guy, your hairdresser, your newspaper man. Anytime I have service done at the house (with the exception of oil delivery) I tip them. Its a tough economy and if I can give someone "coffee money" I feel I did my good deed for the day. Ultimately its not that much out of your pocket but you certainly made the workers day and they will remember that the next time they need to come out. Yes, a roof probably will not need someone to come back out, but let's just say we have a freak windstorm and several shingles come loose, don't you think the roofer will be more accomodating if they remember how generous you were before?

I realize I'm going to get flamed for this, but I don't care. I tip. End of story

PS I actually need a roof, so if anyone could give me estimates on a basic shingle only roof for a 2 story roof I would greatly appreciate it.

PSS If you know a roofer in the RI area pls pass their name on to me and let them know I will tip them

No flaming. You're allowed to do what ever you want with your money. But on a $22,000 roof, I think they're getting enough. Especially since the estimate was $7,000 less.