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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Saturday, December 15, 2007 - 10:05 pm
I am currently having my kitchen remodeled. So far very happy. Feel so lucky to have found Ron and PR Remodeling. Is it customary to tip the contractor and/or the guys he employs at the end -- an amount or percentage of the job? I want to if it is done, but not if it isn't. Some place I read referals are the "tip"? I plan to have him do more myself.
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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 12:11 am
When I had my house painted last year, just before the job was finished and the contractor left for a while, I went out and tipped the painters/helpers $25 each in cash. He had been yelling at them during the whole time, but they seemed to take that in stride. Did nice work and were very pleasant (actually, they ran into a wasp nest and main painter was highly allergic). Sure knocked on my door for the wasp spray I had offered before in case they ran into any. Plus, in the summer heat I took out an ice chest with soda, water, ice which really pleased them. They said one place they worked, a fancy mansion, when they asked for a drink of water they were told to go outside to the hose for a drink - they were painting the INSIDE of the house. Given the money they all just about fell over. One guy said "she just wants to make sure we finish it up good." The main painter said "Gee, we've never gotten a tip before." So, I'm inclined to think maybe a tip isn't expected in that line of work. I felt a little dumb later but don't regret tipping since mine is a steep ladder climb that's a little harder to reach. If you look at the hourly wage one is paying them, too. I don't think I will tip again for that type of contracted work. Mostly, I think they like being appreciated, thanked, and treated like human beings. And YES, referrals are a big "tip". Word of mouth keeps their business booming, with no lean days (rain or shine).
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 2:03 am
i am shocked anyone would think to tip contractors/ workers who charge such high rates for plain old manual labour. What a person may not know is that the price you are paying has about 10-20% added on top already. It is standard. you also pay a higher rate as well if the workers are covered by Workers Compensation (so you arent sued if they are injured on the job here in Canada). Contractors often pay a lower rate for materials than we would pay in the stores. If our Chosen countertop was 40$ a foot in the stores you can guarantee that the contractor pays less and will still charge you the 'going rate'. My renos were covered by Insurance. The contractor purposefully chose to 'go cheap' and against what I had already chosen...he wanted to pocket more of the allocated money. For instance, my bathroom vanity is a full six inches shorter and three inches less deep. They also bought 30 dollar taps instead of the 90 dollar ones I had chosen....I returned them but the Vanity was already in PLUS the contractor screwed up the walls so I had no choice but to stick iwth the smaller vanity. anyways, I'm sure I've made my point that I dont think a person should even consider tipping for such an expensive service. especially when it takes no education to do grunt work and they are well paid already.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 2:08 am
maybe give all the guys a big bag of homemade Cookies!! most guys would just love that LOL and be sure to do it a week or so after the job is finished so that you can be sure you are happy with all the finishing. often it is later that a person notices things not done 100%. I used to tip my hair stylist a good amount until she left the business. Now I dont tip as the hairdressers can coverup their mistakes there in the salon so you dont notice it. I've had two disasterous haircuts in the past in which I foolishly left a good tip. of course, you notice it the next day after you shower and comb it out.
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Chiliwilli
Member
09-04-2006
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 2:39 am
especially when it takes no education to do grunt work and they are well paid already. I gotta totally disagree with this statement. I was the office manager at a sheet metal manufacturing/construction business for a few years and I know for a fact those apprentices go to school at night and work full time during the day for the full four years they are apprentices. They have regular classes and exams to pass before they become journeymen. Maybe none of them have PhD's but the math can be pretty complicated and they have to know quite a bit about the materials they work with along with knowing all the safety data involved with those materials. If they are not educated in their trade in Alaska they cannot become journeymen and almost all construction trades here have long apprenticeship programs to complete. Most construction guys are pretty damn smart, if you ask me. If you are dealing with a good contractor with good employees then, please, make sure they know you appreciate the job they did. I've never heard of tipping but I have heard of bonus pay for completion of projects early, etc.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 4:42 am
sheet metal workers who do painting or kitchen renos? My comment is related to the jobs that were mentioned in the prev posts and my personal example. You do not need a course or education to paint...nor do most of the ordinary joe contractors here in Canada. Even if you take a basic course it is a few months. Most construction guys i have talked to they have learned their skills on the job. the local college does offer this as well. 10-month Carpentry & Residential Construction certificate program I am not talking about specialized workers like Electricians etc.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 4:55 am
I tried to edit but too much time went by........ here is my real post. sheet metal workers who do painting or kitchen renos? My comment is related to the jobs that were mentioned in the prev posts and my personal example. You do not need a course or education to paint...nor do most of the ordinary joe contractors here in Canada. Even if you take a basic course it is a few months. Most construction guys i have talked to they have learned their skills on the job. the local college does offer this as well. 10-month Carpentry & Residential Construction certificate program I am not talking about specialized workers like Electricians etc. maybe I have more of a view of the weak training due to my crooked shower, uneven walls and nonstraight corners done in brand new drywall. Only one worker was an experienced builder.....who actually worked as a painter for years but picked up the other stuff on the job thru his 40 yrs. The guys who did my painting, framing and drywalling had no other training. But the man who put in my crooked shower used to work at Bathfitters. you know, that company that glues fiberglass/ plastic frames over icky showers and tubs. Yeah right....that takes tons of measuring and knowing how to frame walls and drywall. do I sound bitter? I get steamed up everytime I see my uneven shower. I asked them to rip it out again but as it was an insurance job I was ignored. I felt really bad for the One experienced guy. He tried so hard to correct the mistakes that i kinda relented and agreed that the job was finished. a three week job that took 11 months to finish. trained professionals would have never screwed up so much IMHO
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 5:04 am
Here in the country we ususally know our contractors etc., but during the day I make a pot of coffee and have a snack for their break for them. At the end of the day, esp in the summer and if it is hot we offer them a brown pop. They are happy to have a nice cold drink after work. We talked to the workers after the job was done and they really appreciated the coffee etc., and that most all people do not do that. When we built our barn, I use to bring a pot of coffee to the building site in the afternoon as well. When it is cold out, not all the trades have coffee left in their thermos by the time the afternoon comes and it is appreciated. When it was summer (our second building of the barn) We use to bring a large jug of ice water for them to have too. On a Friday afternoon the odd time some of the tradespeople would come back for a brown pop here. I think if they did a good job and you would like to give them something, I think that the homemade cookies is a lovely gesture and I am sure they would appreciate it and they will remember.
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 5:32 am
I've done all the renovations in my own house. I also give myself coffee, pop, or cookies while working. It's a win/win. I would never tip any contractors. As Sun said, they pad the costs of materials so much that I feel you are already paying plenty. While it is true that they need insurance to cover their butts, I also need malpractice insurance as a PT. We all have associated costs in one way or another, but we don't get tipped! Restaurant workers, on the other hand, nearly always rely on tips, and that's just a fact, and I am more than happy to tip them for good customer service. A painter, plumber, electrician, or average Joe who does some renovation work doesn't need to be tipped. Offering them coffee and some snacks is more than enough as far as I'm concerned.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 6:52 am
I have maybe offered coffee or lunch, but I have never tipped. My dh nor his crew have ever been tipped on his building or remodeling jobs.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 7:21 am
Thanks, everybody. I've never had a "big" remodeling project like this done before, so had no idea if tipping was customary. Can't fix / serve food or drink as it's the kitchen that's being done. At the present moment there's nothing but new floor tile in the kitchen. NOTHING ELSE. I might give Ron's "guys" a few extra $$ when finished. It's Christmas. Ron, the contractor, is the bestest. He and his business are very local. When I first talked to him I asked for references. No problem. I did contact a couple prior customers and see the work he did. ($75,000 and $11,000 residential jobs. The people with the bigger job want him to do more.) Both had nothing but high praise for him and the work. Ron recently had a Christmas open house at his showroom. Bunch of happy customers there. I belong to Angie's List. PR Remodeling is on it. Nothing but excellent reports. I think Ron / PR Remodeling are treasures. I'd been wanting some things fixed up here for some time, but by who?????? Who do you trust? Who do you . . . ? I actually found Ron before looking on Angie's. His showroom is on my summer exercise walk route through town. One day he was there when I was walking by. I stopped in to talk. I had found my "who".
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-31-2000
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 9:47 am
I hired self-employed contractors to put in a large soaking tub for me, which involved ripping out old tile, installing the new tub, putting up new tile and blending it with the existing flooring and tile. They did an excellent job, and I gave them each gift cards from the building supply center. As anything, it never hurts to tip for great service, if you can afford it. When I was doing a larger addition to my house, you can bet those fellas had a midmorning break of coffee and pastries every day. Bought them at the local bakery. 
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Cinnamongirl
Member
01-10-2001
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 11:17 am
Being in the construction/remodeling business, our guys occasionally get tips (but its rare) and almost always coffee and lunch/treats. If you're that happy and can afford it, go for it but its not expected in any way...not like waitresses or hairdressers and such.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 12:57 pm
You could go to Starbucks and get one of their travelers. it's coffee and set up for 12.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 1:30 pm
There's only two or three guys working. I feel very awkward doing anything with food or drink -- in my bathroom. There is no place else. Think I will give them a little $$. Again, it's Christmas. And I am passing on Ron's name. Anyone asks me what's new, "New kitchen . . . . Ron / PR Remodeling . . . ."
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 1:37 pm
Well shucks! I came in here hoping you were talking about cow tipping! ROFL!
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 4:16 pm
if you ask for a full breakdown of costs/ supplies I think you might see the overhead already added. on my Estimate (I am looking at it right now) there is a 10% overhead added and an 8% profit also added. So the price I was quoted was 18% higher. That is standard here in Canada. I really hate the idea that you guys are feeling like you should 'do something nice' when I am SURE you are paying so much already 18% of a 4000$ job is $720 of your hard-earned cash already going into their pockets. luckily, insurance paid a fair amount of my costs.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 4:22 pm
Or maybe I won't? Hmmmmm. Don't want to start something.
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 4:37 pm
If you expect the job to be done at cost you need to do it yourself!
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 4:37 pm
i will say that most of the laborers are not raking it in. they are probably being paid a set rate by the general contractor. so thanking the laborers for their actual work with some type of tip/gratitude would be nice.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 4:59 pm
I'm not sure why there is an impression that people are paying too much. Why is this different than any other market where if something were over-priced then people would go elsewhere? Doesn't the market set the price? You can't expect people to work for free. The other funny thing that I notice is that people say that anyone can do it but it's obvious given the complaints that not everyone can do it well.
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Justavice
Member
11-22-2005
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 5:12 pm
If it is done well and timely, the hard labor stuff is what I like to tip for because I cannot, or sometimes am not willing to do it myself, usually for any amount of money. And if I really liked the work done and especially if I might want to use them again in the future, I think of it as kind of an investment for quality and timely work in the future. Plumbers, on the other hand, are another story. (No offense to any plumbers at TVCH, I am sure you don't take advantage of running water/toilets being a necessity.) Maybe it's me, but it seems the price of a plumbing job is directly related to the level of desperation from the situation. 
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 5:33 pm
I often think that it is the owners who pocket the profit though. Nothing wrong with giving some of the workers a bag of cookies or christmas Gift Certificate. I must seem like a real grump LOL
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 5:45 pm
You can't expect people to work for free. I so agree, Jimmer. You can't expect someone to do it at cost. I am so comfortable with Ron and his guys. No worries about anything -- quality of work, timeliness, etc., etc. He quoted me a price. I accepted and signed. He wanted $2,000 down. Then I expected to make progression payments. No. Nothing more until it's done unless I pick something more expensive than is budgeted which I did (diagonally laid floor tile and more expensive wall tile). Made a second payment for the extra cost. As I said, I'm very happy with Ron.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 5:55 pm
no one here has said that they expect anyone to do anything 'at cost'. That isnt what was being discussed. Giving a TIP was being discussed. by the way Color, I had absolutely no worries or problems either...until delays started. you say you've accepted a quote. Is there no list of profit and markup on the bill? I'm glad you got a great company. So did I. In a matter of fact it was an approved company under contract to the Insurance company due to reliability and workmanship. it is also impossible for a layperson to know what is truly being done as we cant watch them all the time. Look at Biscotti's nightmare! years later and every plumbing joint has to be replaced throughout the house. I know people who had beautiful renos done only to have it start to deteriorate within a few years due to HOW it was done. I'd like to finish off by saying that a company of good reputation and history is wellworth it. I'm glad you got someone like that Color. I thought I had. Exiting for awhile since I have been on pC for hours! I need to get some housework done LOL I hate housework LOL
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