philpjuk100
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Be an optomist! can you not fill your bowser or let them know they need to bring their own water and just think of the finished job!.
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Penners
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And keep your spectacles clean.philpjuk100 said:
Always remember - you can't be optimistic with a misty optic.
JanJonWestWales
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pray for good weather...but not too good !....If its sunny make sure the builders cover the walls with something to allow it dry slowly....oh and good luck with the mess !!
www.blaencwmbychan.blogspot.com
www.blaencwmbychan.blogspot.com
LadyArowana
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JoceAndChris said:
Well, I suppose the offer of free colonic irrigation might be appealing to some of them, but tea and biscuits is more usual and a lot more pleasant.
Will echo the tea and biscuits and avoid anything colonic.
We bought a builders bucket and make sure it's topped up with cakes and biscuits which they get through weekly (we only have two to feed though :shock:
) and I make them a cooked brekky on a friday 'cos they are lovely.
I'm sure your garden will be fine...
We bought a builders bucket and make sure it's topped up with cakes and biscuits which they get through weekly (we only have two to feed though :shock:
) and I make them a cooked brekky on a friday 'cos they are lovely.I'm sure your garden will be fine...
Zebra
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I think the focus should be much more from the animals' perspective.JoceAndChris said:
JoceAndChris
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:lol: I agree Zebra, that would be much more interesting!
Jackpoint, you are so lovely to them! I used to buy biscuits for visitors and I think that's the main reason I piled on 2 st moving here. Skils will be offered fruit and fatless quiches, home made sorbets, heathy bacon and egg sandwiches, I'm afraid, I'm not risking the precious 2 st 3 lb I've spent 6 months getting rid of!
As for the garden, oh my word, they've made a mess of yours! I can't allow that to happen, if they start putting things on the lawn like that, I'll tidy them up at the end of the day.
Jackpoint, you are so lovely to them! I used to buy biscuits for visitors and I think that's the main reason I piled on 2 st moving here. Skils will be offered fruit and fatless quiches, home made sorbets, heathy bacon and egg sandwiches, I'm afraid, I'm not risking the precious 2 st 3 lb I've spent 6 months getting rid of!
As for the garden, oh my word, they've made a mess of yours! I can't allow that to happen, if they start putting things on the lawn like that, I'll tidy them up at the end of the day.
There are some weight watchers cakes in the bucket at the moment :lol:
The garden is unfortunately a victim of the build, but that part only had a bit of rough grass on it anyway. I take full responsibility for it. Eggs and omelettes or something like that.
Congrats on the weight loss, it's a tough battle!
The garden is unfortunately a victim of the build, but that part only had a bit of rough grass on it anyway. I take full responsibility for it. Eggs and omelettes or something like that.
Congrats on the weight loss, it's a tough battle!
DJH
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Good news at last then Joce. When it's finished and looking good you'll wonder what you were concerned about... 8)
I expect you will have a pre-contract meeting with their site agent/contracts manager/foreman before work starts. If this doesn't seem forthcoming then ask for one so that you can raise all your concerns and worries with them especially that toilet and washing facilities and the supply of water will be their responsibility. The question of any damage caused either by accident or irresponsibility will be covered I suspect by your Small Works Contract, your own insurance or that of the contractor.
Take photos before, daily and at the end of the contract. Ask that the scaffold boards at each lift are extended to catch the debris from works at that level so that it doesn't fall to the lifts below or to the ground. Ask also that debris is removed to the ground through chutes and not 'bombed' off and that the scaffold is cleared/swept at the end of work each day's work so that it can't be blown about if it's windy.
Another thing to bear in mind is that the scaffold belongs to the contractor and you don't have a right to be up on it without his permission as you may not be insured should anything happen to you if you can't resist the temptation to pop up there to see what's been happening!
Echoing others keep doors and windows closed. Wear a hard hat, high viz and safety glasses and, if you start off giving them treats, make sure you do it all the time and not stop because you have the hump with them about something. It's not always the chaps on the tools who are at fault when something goes wrong and it's noticed when the tea dries up more than when it keeps coming!
Doug
I expect you will have a pre-contract meeting with their site agent/contracts manager/foreman before work starts. If this doesn't seem forthcoming then ask for one so that you can raise all your concerns and worries with them especially that toilet and washing facilities and the supply of water will be their responsibility. The question of any damage caused either by accident or irresponsibility will be covered I suspect by your Small Works Contract, your own insurance or that of the contractor.
Take photos before, daily and at the end of the contract. Ask that the scaffold boards at each lift are extended to catch the debris from works at that level so that it doesn't fall to the lifts below or to the ground. Ask also that debris is removed to the ground through chutes and not 'bombed' off and that the scaffold is cleared/swept at the end of work each day's work so that it can't be blown about if it's windy.
Another thing to bear in mind is that the scaffold belongs to the contractor and you don't have a right to be up on it without his permission as you may not be insured should anything happen to you if you can't resist the temptation to pop up there to see what's been happening!
Echoing others keep doors and windows closed. Wear a hard hat, high viz and safety glasses and, if you start off giving them treats, make sure you do it all the time and not stop because you have the hump with them about something. It's not always the chaps on the tools who are at fault when something goes wrong and it's noticed when the tea dries up more than when it keeps coming!
Doug
Zebra
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If you offer them tea/coffee when they get there in the morning; around 10.30am; with their lunch if they have it on site; and in the middle of the afternoon, then that should be fine. There's no real need for biscuits at all, they can bring whatever food they need.
Of course, if you give them tea-making facilities, then it's up to them.
Of course, if you give them tea-making facilities, then it's up to them.
Penners
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What excellent advice there, from Doug! What he's saying is that (diplomatically|) you need to ensure from the outset that you have standards that you expect to be maintained, and that provided this happens, you will be just a lovely customer to deal with.
And if your standards aren't met, you (and/or Chris, although better you!) mustn't be afraid to say so to the guy in charge. It doesn't need to be a heated exchange - just firm.
And if your standards aren't met, you (and/or Chris, although better you!) mustn't be afraid to say so to the guy in charge. It doesn't need to be a heated exchange - just firm.
Zebra
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Yes, however, all trades hate a lurker, so you'll have to balance monitoring their activities with trusting them and leaving them alone.
Penners
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Good point!
JoceAndChris
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Aww, a big hello to Doug and thank you for all that excellent advice. And also from Zebra - it is good to read the perspective from the other side. I will try to be the good client, firm but fair, generous and keeping a distance at the same time! Not easy! The mistake I usually make is in being far too sweet and getting walked all over and treated as an agony aunt or counsellor - no more of that! I like the idea of fair standards being set out in the first place.
Dr C says the scaffolding will be boarded trestles and mobile scaffold towers, whatever they are, so I'm not sure about the feasibility of them catching debris, but I will find out.
Already chopped the overhanging holly right back, and today the gardener is coming to move all the hebes and ferns and pot up the yew hedge I put in last year. Thank goodness I didn't plant up the whole facade - just the bathroom section. Can I move a flowering clematis? It's around 8 feet.
Dr C says the scaffolding will be boarded trestles and mobile scaffold towers, whatever they are, so I'm not sure about the feasibility of them catching debris, but I will find out.
Already chopped the overhanging holly right back, and today the gardener is coming to move all the hebes and ferns and pot up the yew hedge I put in last year. Thank goodness I didn't plant up the whole facade - just the bathroom section. Can I move a flowering clematis? It's around 8 feet.
Penners
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Moving a clematis in flower may not be the best time - it's probably better to wait until the dormant season. However, if you have to, you have to.
I would cut it well back to only 18 inches above the ground, and move it with the largest root ball that you can manage. Remember to keep it well watered for the rest of the summer.
Worst case - you lose it and have to replace it. Not a huge problem in the grand scheme of things.
I would cut it well back to only 18 inches above the ground, and move it with the largest root ball that you can manage. Remember to keep it well watered for the rest of the summer.
Worst case - you lose it and have to replace it. Not a huge problem in the grand scheme of things.
rebeccac
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You lot have it easy -Italian builders chain smoke and throw fag ends on floor no matter what room they are in BUT they will not stop for a break even for a coffee. This may seem like a good thing until you see the quality of their work. speed is everything to them.
Tea Breaks are a GOOD THING seconda me.
Tea Breaks are a GOOD THING seconda me.
DJH
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JoceAndChris said:
:shock:
Gareth Hughes
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It might be worth explaining that the eaves height around most of the building is only 3 metres and doesn't exceed 4.5 metres at the highest point.
jocelyn plummer
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That's a comfort Gareth !!
Lucky you! I'm doing my own fantastic fun. Had proper people in to renew the sole plate and new brick plinth but the reinstating wattle a daub and lathing ready to plaster is down to me. Living behind tarpaulins with holes big enough to walk through in my walls, bit eerie the first night but used to it now. Daubing is great fun after collating material from front gardens,foundations of same material etc. hope you get as much enjoyment as I'm getting also meeting people who have spoken to me before, sure they think I'm mad......who am I to argue