Hi,

We are disappointed, but not sure if we should be concerned. Any advice from seasoned pros out there?

We got a well-reputed company (at least, rated amongst the top few for the Toronto area on homestars.com) to come in and install hardwood flooring. First day was to remove the carpet, underpadding and staples on the main floor. The guy arrived shortly after 9am and got to work quickly. When we got home from work though though, we found an empty beer bottle in the mainfloor bathroom.

Should we be concerned? Not sure what to do, we started the job, there's no turning back (?). We figured if we tell the foreman, nothing good can come out of it (the foreman talk to the guy...guy will get angry..etc).

It's a shame. We were going to hire them for more work (such as get the stairs cladded in solid oak) but now i think we're better off getting another company to do it. We're just not comfortable.

The guy also didn't do a good job cleaning up - lots of debris on the stairs going down (still carpeted) and carpeting, padding and staple strips left in the family room. i.e didn't "clean up after themselves"

Current thinking is that we'll let the flooring installation complete and upon final payment mention this incident to the company.

Thanks for any insight anyone can provide.

As far as I know beer is a beverage. Are you religious teetotallers or what? I see no indication that the worker in question got anywhere near drunk. I guess being uptight is all part of living in To.

Somebody drinking on the job is just not very professional. I have no problem with people drinking. Just don't do it in my house when you are supposed to be working. Drink on your own time.

I agree with this homeowner that drinking alcohol on the job is unprofessional and isn't condoned in most other professions. And beer is not just a beverage, it's an alcoholic beverage. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy a beer now and again after a hard days work. But then it's after work, not during. To the owners: I would call the company and discuss this with the foreman. And if their worker gets an attitude, then they can get another or get out of your house. You have the right to say what happens in your home. What if the guy smoked in your home and you are non smokers? Would you keep quiet about that as well? I say, talk with the company. You would be doing them and yourselves a favor, IMO.

Do you have a certificate of insurance from this company? What happens if he cuts his finger off in the table saw while working in your house?

If he must drink alcohol while on your job, he is a severe alcoholic and should be removed immediately.

Drinking on the job, in someone elses home is extremley unprofesional. It would be a different story if he went to lunch and had a drink with lunch not in your house. This should be brought to the companies attention now, if you wait until the end of the project then it would appear that you are trying to get the price lowered ect.
Bring it to the head guys attention, or the owners. I doubt they would appreciate someone drinking in someones home, as would thier insurance company. Dont call thier insurance company, just using it as a reason the owner would be more upset, that and he probobally doesnt want that image for his company.

That is something you just don't do on any work-site, especially occupied jobs. Why would he bring beer with him to start with... that's what I would be asking myself.

If his work is as you say sloppy and inconsiderate and he drinks as you sayI would pay for what they did and get someone else. Handwriting is on the wall as to the outcome IMO.

I'm with the ones thinking you have a problem.

It may be the only thing he had to transport a little water, to where he needed it.(mixing a small amount of patching compound)
Might be why it was next to the sink.

Austin Floorguy, why give the person te benefit of the doubt? You heard it here: the guy obviously has a severe drinking problems. I still think that the whole thing is a non-issue.

The stupidity there was not in drinking the beer, but in leaving the bottle behind. [just kidding]

Drinking on the job is unprofessional, no doubt on that. However, he could have drank the beer after he was finished for the day and packing up. Heck, maybe the foreman came by, or another crew member, and they drank it.
And one beer isn't enough to impede anyone's functioning, so unless you have evidence he was drinking thruout the day and working while intoxicated. I wouldn't make a big fuss over it, especially since you don't really know whose beer it was.



I'm a stickler when it comes to cleaning up at the end of a day, however...
Since this was a multi-day job and assuming the family room was getting floored (you don't say), leaving it's cleanup for day 2 doesn't really count as not cleaning up.

At any rate, if you have qualms about the quality of work being done, you need to bring it up before it goes any further. No sense in waiting til everything is done and then complaining - speak now or forever hold your piece.

I would probably disagree. If a guy is drinking on the job for any reason and leaves 1 bottle in my house I would say he is pretty ignorant to respecting others and projecting a good image of himself. I would not want anyone drinking on my property period. I would not want a party atmosphere but a work atmosphere. How many does he have in his truck?

Also I would hope the poster can see the difference between a beer bottle used to hold solvent or something or clearly smells like beer. either way it is a bad choice of container for the jobsite.

Me I drink a few for games on TV social events and even just slumming it on the couch. If I have a crew that drinks in the bars or keeps ber in their truck in a cooler after every job day...I think I can do better.

Was discussing this with two other in trades and something I hadn't thought of was mentioned..

The bottle could have been found in the house by the installer while moving stuff around to remove all the carpet. Who hasn't found an assortment of cr-- behind/under dressers, entertainment centers, desks, beds, etc.. when moving them?

yup.. those darned kids hiding their emties again..