Shoot me now...construction crew question

If you've had major work done, do they use your toilet?

We're about to have our dormer work started this week and they are telling us they will have to share a bathroom with us.

We have one upstairs but the water will be turned off for the work - leaving just the downstairs toilet. I am set to give birth and be home with a toddler and newborn in the next month or so. And now I have to share my private toilet with a construction crew

We suggested a porta-potty and were told they won't use it - they'll just go to a local diner or some place offsite if I won't have them in my bathroom. Obviously, this is going to delay the speed of their work.

W T FFFFFF??? Have you ever heard of this? WWYD?

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

of course. where do you expect them to go to the bathroom while on the job???

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

I'd probably take everything out of my downstairs bathroom that I don't want looked through or damaged, and let them use it.

The crew will probably be extra nice that you didn't make them go to a diner when they had to go really bad.

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

Posted by Lisa

of course. where do you expect them to go to the bathroom while on the job???

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

Jessee i totally get the gross factor but i do think it's a good idea to let them use that bathroom.

put all your stuff away and buy extra toilet paper and a REALLY big plunger!

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

Posted by headoverheels

Jessee i totally get the gross factor but i do think it's a good idea to let them use that bathroom.

put all your stuff away and buy extra toilet paper and a REALLY big plunger!

Message edited 10/15/2009 12:51:03 PM.

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

I think if you ask them to respect your space while they are there, and to please be mindful of the fact that they're sharing the bathroom with a family that includes a newborn (so to be extra clean) - they'll appreciate that you are allowing them in there.

If you feel that after a week of being there that they're not keeping it clean then mention it to the foreman on the job.

You're entitled to a clean bathroom, but they're also human and it's the decent thing to do to allow them to use the bathroom. (if the company doesn't get a porta potty) I'm sure they're grateful for it!

eta: i had a contractor in our house for about 8 weeks and he used the bathroom every day - i never would've even known he was there, he was that clean.

Message edited 9/29/2009 1:12:39 PM.

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

I wouldn't feel too comfortable with this at all, after having my DD I felt gross and (sorry TMI) with the bleeding that comes for weeks afterwards and you don't want to feel rushed out of the bathroom. Also, you can't just sit on your own toilet you'll have to wipe it down before each use, too much work with 2 little ones......

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM!!

My parents moved out of their house during construction and went back just about everyday for some reason or another.
the crew treated that bathroom like crap!

there was pee all over the place, dirt, grime, mud, everything that gets all over the house during construction gets in there and balls all up because of the water (from washing their hands).

my mom had to leave a sign up "treat this bathroom like it is your own"

it was really gross. like REALLY gross. she had to go in there with bleach ...

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

Yes, anyone who has worked on my house has used one of my bathrooms. I cleaned up after each day, but it wasn't terrible.

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

Poop a lot and stink them out so they won't want to use it!

Seriously, that really stinks. I hope they don't make a big mess.

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

Why won't they use a port-potty? We had work done at our house for about five months and they never complained about the porta-potty. We had to pay for it though.

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

I never had any crew use my bathroom..

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

This is something your contractor should have settled with you when you signed the contract. If you wanted them to use a porta-potty, the cost of it would have been included in the price of the job. I suspect he didn't include it and now doesn't want to pay for one, so he is telling you they won't use it.

I can tell you this, though. If they won't use the porta-potty, there's a very good chance that they are not going to a diner, they will be peeing in your backyard. To be honest, though, I think I'd rather have them pee in the yard than share the bathroom when I am only a few weeks PP.

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

That's completely unnaceptable- if you offered a Porta-Potty, that's what they should use. I would not feel comfortable having a crew prancing in and out of my private space all day long. I would put my foot down- it's not like you didn't offer them a choice. I think that your contractor has a lot of nerve even telling you that they're sharing YOUR bathroom. I would feel disrespected.


My DH is a contractor and does not use the homeowner's bathroom. His guys are not allowed to either. (And they don't go in the backyard either.) They go at Home Depot, or when they get lunch. On large jobs they will get a Porta-Potty.

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

Posted by Lisa

of course. where do you expect them to go to the bathroom while on the job???

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

I'm going to be honest and tell you as a construction worker myself I find this post to be hurtful. These people are human beings. What would you like them to do?

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

IMO, if people are doing work in my house, I would expect them to use my bathroom. As inconvenient as it may be, I have a bathroom to use at my place of work, why shouldn't they?

I do have to admit though, that it did irk me today when my window contractor left the seat up. My DH never does that!

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

Four our big project, we had a pretty blue box in the front yard for them (they rented it as part of the package). Towards the end, though,they used the new bathroom that they installed, so we weren't using it yet.

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Message edited 9/29/2009 9:11:44 PM.

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

I agree that you shouldn't assume they're going to trash your house. Have they given you any reason so far to expect bad behavior from them? I know it's an inconvenience, but to me it just goes along with the whole experience. I think it would be good to make the best of it, since being upset about it will only make it worse. And if they do trash your bathroom, then consider other possibilities or talking to the person in charge about it.

Anyone I've had working on the house was offered the use of my bathroom. I put down a runner from the front door to the bathroom so they didn't have to take their shoes off to use it. I also put the old towels in that bathroom. The ones that I used for dyeing my hair and such. I let them know that they didn't have to worry about soiling those towels. I'd wash them and clean the toilet/floor/sink daily.

I also kept them supplied with coffee, water, iced tea, and sometimes pizza depending on how long they were there. I look at these things like a give and take. If I respect them and show them courtesy, they will do so in return. So far, I haven't been disappointed.

I hope you have the same experiences I did and aren't inconvenienced too much. And that you have a good give and take with them. Good luck and congratulations!

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

To clarify, for those of you insulted on behalf of the crew, I am skeeved because they are strangers - making my bathroom, which will likely be my only santuary in the month after I give birth, a public restroom. Beyond the inconvenience of this (now everytime I have to use the toilet I will need to bring both kids in with me and close the door and because I am currently potty training my son) can we not all agree that when you are going through a time when a clean and private potty is most important (the weeks after giving birth) it is a little yucky to have to consider sharing it with strangers? I never was concerned that they would rummage through my things or destroy my stuff - my biggest concern is privacy.

Message edited 9/30/2009 10:11:29 AM.

Re: Shoot me now...construction crew question

NOOOO they should be brining in a porta potty. I would not allow them to use your bathroom.