My quote was considerably less than the one just above it (I got 3) and it would make me suspicious except I had references from close neighborhoods on this company. They could be migrant workers, don’t know about exploitation but how much does a waiter/waitress make in your area? Minimum wage where I live is $5.15 and although I’m sure they make much more than that, the point is what is considered a fair wage, really isn’t. And of course all this is speculative on my part.
I substitute teach and I’m not well paid either but I certainly don’t expect a tip. I wouldn’t even think of tipping painters or anyone else that I hire.
You are saying your painters are paid 5.15 an hour?
@Sybylla, this is what I said exactly “Minimum wage where I live is $5.15 and although I’m sure they make much more than that, the point is what is considered a fair wage, really isn’t. And of course all this is speculative on my part.”
@Onward - I think there is a huge difference between a teacher and a non-skilled worker, at least I would hope so.
BTW, this post was an honest request for information on tipping. I was just very, very surprised by the answers and not meant as a negative toward a difference in what people do.
“Paid properly?” To scrape and paint houses? Even $15/hour is only 30k. These were family men. And they worked hard.
I worked hard for my money, too, and never expected to be tipped. I don’t tip for any contracted service. I don’t believe in tipping, period, and only do so in restaurants because I don’t want to cause a scene with my fellow diners. Yes, yes, of course I know all the reasons for tipping. I’m not a convert.
Construction labor is in short supply here in the PNW… every large construction co has a sign “hiring.” A decent construction laborer can find a decent job easily.
Speaking of extra work… It was specified in our quotes. Our mechanic who did the work on the boiler specified the labor and parts cost breakdown in the quote. When additional work was needed beyond what was in the scope, we were charged at $250/hr. Those guys are true masters of what they do, and we did not hesitate to hire them. Siding was $70/hr inclusive of materials for any rot repair above the normal rot repair around the windows. We really lucked out with the painting crew… they only charged us for the buckets of paint. 
No, those two painters are not for hire.
We pay top dollar for contracted services. We’ve never felt the need to tip. It’s just not done in our area.
The national minimum wage is $7.25 and no state minimum wage is below that. My guess is you live in Georgia where the min wage on the books is $5.15 (silly and shameful) but it defaults the higher federal rate in practice.
I’m sure there might be regional differences. I live in northern New England where the unemployment rate is very low, where there is very little migrant labor and a shortage of workers. Even jobs with little skill level but physical jobs like painters/landscaping crew are being offered $30-35 an hour and there is still a shortage.
I had my exterior painted last year. The hourly labor rate for replacing rotten siding and trim, a more skilled job done by the owner, was $75/hour. He did an excellent job, BTW, and I’ve given him many references.
Like, @ChoatieMom, I’m not a fan of the tipping economy. I only do it when I know employees aren’t making min wage (waiters) but I wish that practice would change and we’d just pay people living wages.
Waitresses and the like can make a lower hourly because they’re in a tipping sitiation.
Geez, what a world where we fight over this.
Custom isn’t to tip owners. Fine. Or anyone paid a living wage. My painters worked in the hot sun all summer and brought their own meals and drinks from home.
Thread shouldn’t get judge-y.
While I don’t tip workers that come to my house contracted to do specific work, how nice for those who do. I often find that one of the workers has an interest in doing something extra and then I pay extra and I pay pretty generously. It’s a win-win.
Like others, it never occurred to me to tip the workers hired to do a specific job like painting or fixing something, unless they do something beyond the specified service. I wonder more about delivery people - do you tip the person that delivers the couch from the furniture store?
I tend to tip only food service workers or delivery people for food or flowers. I also tip well at hotels for the maid service, because I think they are poorly paid. But I tend to carry my own bags up to the room and don’t use a hotel worker for that service.
I “tipically” don’t tip these types of contractors, but I tried to hire an exterior painter for 2 years. There must be a shortage in my area or more likely, they don’t like my house because of the height. My quotes ranged from $2k to $10K for trim painting only. I waited 8 months for one guy, only to have him cancel right before he was to start. When I finally was able to get another quote, I told the painter that if he did it by the end of the summer (gave him a date), I would add a 20% tip and pay him in cash. Two days before his deadline, he shows up, with another guy, and has the other guy do the job in those two days. So this wasn’t really a tip. It was more of a bribe.
Tipping these kind of workers is not done in my area. My DH is pretty handy himself, so it is rare when we have had to have outside help come in. Since DH used to make deliveries for a lumber yard, we are sensitive to the fact that these guys/gals typically aren’t paid great. When we got the furnace cleaned, or replaced, or had new gutters installed, or had the chimney repaired, we would make a point to have fresh baked homemade cookies and a bottled cold drink like lemonade/iced tea/water available for them. It’s just a nice way to let them know we appreciate their effort.
The snag we hit was the one time when we had to have a new oven delivered, we obviously couldn’t bake cookies ahead of time. But coincidentally, DH had to run over to my mom’s house the night before, so I sent him and DD over with the dough, and they baked them at gramma’s.
A lot of times, this can be a local thing. In my area, a NYC suburb, prices for things like painting a house, are way up there. Workers also do not tend to be receptive to doing any little extra thing. No, I don’t tip here, and I don’t know anyone who has
But, we have had work done on a second home, where the prices are much lower, and the workers far more receptive to doing a big extra. I “tip” them or make sure I add extra to the payment if they do a bit extra or the work is more onerous than expected. It’s a more casual arrangement there, and feels right.
So, a lot of this is how you feel about tipping and what the social norms are in your area. In certain situations, like restaurant dining, hair cuts, tips are expected. In others, it’s not. IMO, house painters are not in a group that expect tips, unless it’s something local to an area.
If someone does something above and beyond, we tip them.
I always tip anyone who works in my home and does a good job except for the actual owner of the company. I keep a stash of $10 and $20 bills just for this. I remember well what it was like to work for little and I feel strongly that if they were clean and polite and I appreciate their work that I give them a monetary thank you. I typically give $20 to each worker or $40 if is a large job. The owners thank me profusely, not for the money, but for the fact that it makes the employees feel appreciated. And that is my goal–to spread a good feeling for a job well done. If we can afford it then I am honored to make another feel appreciated.
I also provide cold water.
I too wish we knew what part of the country we reside in.
I thought this thread would be about how much to tip at restaurants. I dislike how bills now seem to start with 18% and up to over 20% guides for the bill’s total. Wish wait staff would get the good wages.
Would never have considered tipping for work done for the house. That is not a service industry like waiting tables is. btw I think it is terrible to base a tip on the price of the food- especially when no extra work involved.
We offer Gatorade and some will accept it but some are polite with a refusal and have been sure to bring their own. Hot in Tampa.
I don’t tip, either. I don’t offer snacks or drinks. I do ask them if they would like water.The response has been No. They bring their own cooler.
My painter has become a good friend. When I lived in a big old house where something always needed painting, we joked about him being on staff. He gives me a price break, but makes decent money, and I make him breakfast and have the coffee on while he is around and send a Christmas bonus. This is the upper Midwest.
Tradespeople make more than I do in some cases. No, do not tip plumbers and electricians. At Christmas I send my contractor for extensive work a restaurant gift certificate when he is around a lot. But am amused that my friend who has a far more high end contractor is given restaurant gift certificates by her contractor. Who is supposed to gift whom?
D worked restaurants a few years back. I have been appalled that unlike when I waitressed back in the '70s, a meal was always provided on the job. These days, the wage is $2.13 or some such per hour and they get a discount of some sort on menu prices, and no free food or even coffee at some places.