Home Construction Workers... Where do they use the bathroom on a job?

[Pooh's Pixie]

Not a renovation story, but a mover story: When we moved into this house, we hired movers...they were terrible: one of them ended up peeing in our bathroom sink!!!!! And yes, there was a fully functioning toilet next to the sink, but we think it was a "rite of passage" for the new guy! Horrifying, and we told them so. Of course, by that time, all of my possessions were packed on their truck so I couldn't fire them! Then we got to our new house, and they jacked the price up before they would unload! Ended up getting the company owner to the house to negotiate the stand-off...I was so furious. I don't know if I have ever been that angry at someone before. I wrote a nasty letter to the company, but I don't think they cared. Peeing in the sink, can you imagine?!

 

[PatsMom]

Asking for references doesn't mean they aren't going to pee on your lawn. I've known a lot of builders and I will say that if they are doing remodeling and the homeowner says "walk right in and use the bathroom anytime you want" they most likely will. But if facilities aren't available (new construction, etc) they will pretty much pee anywhere. Doesn't mean they aren't great builders. My father was a master carpenter! His wordwork is still praised by many.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I must be in the minority.

When ever we have work done on our house, we allow them to come in our house and use our bathroom.
We have a powder room right off the foyer so it is not that big of a deal.

They very much appreciate it and for the most part, their work reflected their appreciation.

I'm with you. I have no problem with letting workers use my bathroom. I also usually offer them a Coke or a bottle of water, too.

This is a little different, but when they were building our home, we used to come by and see how it was coming. One day just before the drywall was going up, dh and I picked up a bunch of food wrappers, Gatorade bottles, even a half-eaten cheeseburger that had been sitting there for days, and threw them away because we were sure they would end up in the walls of the house if we didn't. Even so, the first time we got our ductwork cleaned out, they sucked out yogurt containers and food wrappers of brands we don't buy, so we know the construction workers left them behind for us.

 

[surfergirl602]

Personally, I would rent the porta potty. I wouldn't want strangers going through my house and have things turn up missing.

 

[stevenpensacola]

when you gotta go, you gotta go...

I used to work at a power plant. Some parts of the plant were over 200' high, accessible only by stairs. During large "shutdowns", many temporary construction workers were brought in to perform various jobs. Those guys would "go" anywhere...whiz on an I-beam, or climb down, then up 12 flights of stairs?....we had several small insulated buildings which contained various instrumentation...had to install locks on the doors to keep them from being used as "facilities".

 

[ReneeA]

About 5 years ago, my DH (who works in tile) stepped in a nice steamy pile on the bottom step of a brand new $600,000 house. The new bathtubs were also notoriously used for pooping in.

I would have been furious to find out that was happening in my brand new home.

 

[walden]

Asking for references doesn't mean they aren't going to pee on your lawn. I've known a lot of builders and I will say that if they are doing remodeling and the homeowner says "walk right in and use the bathroom anytime you want" they most likely will. But if facilities aren't available (new construction, etc) they will pretty much pee anywhere. Doesn't mean they aren't great builders. My father was a master carpenter! His wordwork is still praised by many.

Yep, asking for references might not always rule out careless (or aggressive) defecators and pee-ers, but it might give advance warning. YMMV on toleration.

I think the point is: All people need to be treated with courtesy. If a port-a-potty or bathroom is made available then I expect them to use that facility out of courtesy to me. No peeing off the roof, however convenient in the short term.

People are people and need to relieve themselves. I would also expect a *master carpenter* or roofer in my temporary employ to pee (or otherwise) in an approved location. Not out a window or off the roof.

My dogs pee/defecate in the yard. I clean it up. I really do not want or expect people to do that. That is why I provide for their needs. I do not want to clean up human waste.

Dang, our plan for next summer is a new roof and new gutters. I really must ask potential contractors who are bidding to ensure that they promise pee in approved receptacles and locations!

::Envisioning walking the dogs with an umbrella for the duration::

 

[720L]

When our house was almost done, we walked through it one night to check on things. Someone had gone #2 in the toilet and not flushed it. It was disgusting. I didn't care that they used the toilet, just be respectful!