ᐅ Is Smoking Allowed for the Drywall Installer?

Good evening everyone!

Our drywall installer started work this week. Today was the first time we met him. From a layperson’s perspective, he has done his work well and quickly so far. However, one thing bothered me a lot: he smokes while working. And not just one or two cigarettes, but constantly. In the 10 minutes I was there, he smoked two cigarettes. Just as he finished one, he was lighting the next. This probably went on all day and also on previous days.

When I entered the house, luckily I didn’t notice any strong cigarette smell. He had one or two windows open. But now that our house is sealed, we as non-smokers do not want smoking inside. Especially not this frequently.

Currently, he is only working on the attic, but gradually the walls will be done, and the smoke will seep into them. So, from a health perspective, this is unacceptable to us.

I understand that as homeowners we can of course prohibit this. On the other hand, I worry that if we ban smoking for a chain smoker, the work quality could suffer and/or the project might take longer. Or, in the worst case, he might do a poor job out of frustration.

We have an inspector, so any problems would likely be noticed, but we also want to move in eventually and not have to redo everything.

He will still be working in the house for a few more days. Should we talk to him about it or better not?

Didn’t we have someone here last year who had a pile dumped inside their house?

If you are the builders, you can probably prevent something like that, but does it really help with the construction progress? I assume the person is an employee and is paid hourly.

I’ve always found it annoying too, but it really doesn’t leave any lasting impact. Especially when the painters still need to get through the building.

OWLer schrieb:

Didn’t someone here have a situation last year where a pile of mess was left inside their house?

If you’re the builders, you can probably prevent something like this, but is it really helpful for the building progress? I assume the person is an employee paid by the hour.

It always bothered me too, but nothing really sticks from it. Especially when the painters still have to move through the building.

Wow, that actually happens?! That’s unbelievable with the mess!

Yes, I hope so too, but given our expanded polystyrene blocks and the thirdhand smoke, I’m not so sure…

What a compulsive, neurotic attitude about education! I say this as a non-smoker. The man smokes. That is none of the homeowner’s business. He does his job and leaves, and nothing remains afterward. Maybe he also eats a sausage sandwich and drinks a beer, which vegans and abstainers are certainly not supposed to tolerate either.

Nordlys schrieb:

What a compulsive, neurotic attitude towards education! I say this as a non-smoker. The man smokes. That’s none of the builder’s concern. He does his job, leaves, and nothing remains afterwards. Maybe he also eats sausage sandwiches and drinks beer—something vegans and teetotalers certainly should not have to tolerate either.

Ah yes, immediately making it personal. Nice to meet you too! Good grief!
He’s welcome to eat sausage sandwiches and drink beer—I’d even bring them to him. That doesn’t affect my health! Chain smoking in my future home might, though.

However, the smoke from cigarettes does not disappear into the walls. He can smoke as much as he wants, but not inside a sealed house. And you can politely ask him to do so—I believe that’s acceptable. If he says he can’t work otherwise, well, then he should smoke out the window. Or you could provide him with a pack of nicotine patches and gum per day. I wouldn’t mind even if it were proven to be completely harmless to health; I simply don’t want the smell in my house. This has nothing to do with being self-righteous or preachy. It’s about ownership and the right to set rules in your own home.