From the Forum: How Much Should I Tip My Contractor's Workers?

A Brownstoner reader has a team of men working on a renovation and would like to know how much to tip them when the job is done.

GoodProspect writes:

We are moderately renovating a weekend house on Long Island. A team of 5 to 6 men is working at the house for about 2 weeks.

How much should I tip each worker? I asked the contractor and he said that people tip whatever they can afford. He wouldn’t be more specific even when gently pressed.

FWIW, the company owner’s son is the foreman.

Commenters have had varying answers — one is unsure whether this is even a situation in which to tip, while another suggests offering to buy them lunch from time to time. What do you think? How much — if anything — have you tipped contractors’ workers during a renovation? Chime in over in the original post.

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[Photo: Barbara Eldredge]