First would be a wonderful and truthful review on their social media accounts, including Yelp.

Then I would go with gift cards to a nice restaurant.

Tipping people who are not customarily tipped can be tricky. Too much or too little can be insulting to some. I would assume these are well paid craftsman. I might make them something home baked. If it were a large group, I might suggest a BBQ or somesuch. Often workmen enjoy showing their SOs the job they worked on.

So glad you have been happy with the work! Having a bad contractor really taints your enjoyment of the house, ask me how I know. Thank goodness it only happened once but it was 18months. Still have pseudo-PTSD from that. And I am so grateful for the contractors we've worked with since.

Do you know if they enjoy a particular type of alcohol? Bourbon, wine?

Like mtnrd mentioned, the amount of a cash tip can be tricky. A top shelf bottle that they probably wouldn't purchase for themselves might be appreciated.

Share pics when you get a chance!

I think that is so nice of you! We have a young man, actually the son of our carpenter/contractor,

who we have used for everything from painting, dry wall, tiling etc. He is just as terrific as his dad.

He bills us, and DH always tacks on more than what he asks for usually by a few hundred dollars.

I like Maddie's the idea of a gift card, since this is something you are doing out of the ordinary. Do you think $200 for a gift card to a restaurant would be insulting?

It's not easy to find hard working, honest, reliable, skilled workers.

I like all the above ideas so I'm not helpful.

That's so nice of you and it is wonderful when you can find excellent works. I'm sure he appreciates the referrals and probably enjoys working with you guys too. I'd definitely leave great reviews wherever you can online. Then maybe just do all of the above, ha.

If you are on the receiving end of a tip, cash is king.

Not sure if I'd tip the contractor, but I have tipped the guys doing the actual work with home baked desserts which they loved.

One thing to remember is even though the work looks good once it's finished, if there were any short cuts the contractor took, you'll discover them within six months.

We finished a major renovation of our current home last year - we removed walls and gutted the kitchen and 3 bathrooms. Our contractor is a local businessman who is well known in our area and has developed a reputation for handling everything from 'soup to nuts' - anything we asked him to do - he did. He and his crew and all of his subcontractors were skilled, polite and friendly and cleaned up every day even though we weren't living in the house. However he also charged a pretty penny which we knew going into this project.

I never felt compelled to tip but DH often gave the crew on site money for lunch or he'd stop by with coffee and donuts. When the job was done our contractor gave us a huge floral arrangement and then 2 months later at Christmas delivered a custom engraved cutting board that his cabinetmaker made.

If your general contractor has a website or FB page then I'd leave a good review for him.

My husband's a builder and in the 25 years we've been married I can count the written thank you notes he's received on both hands (he didn't get many before we were married either lol). But they are incredibly special to him, and he has kept every single one.

I think gift cards would be nice, also things cookies, snacks, hot beverages on cold days, cold beverages on hot days : ) .

So glad to hear the work is coming to an end!

I worked part time in a small hardware store for almost 4 years (until recently) and we had lots of contractors come in. For two years I charged purchases for one Contractor and his crew to one particular name. Two years. Then one day, a guy came in and gave me that same name. It was the owner of the new home project. I told him he had a wonderful crew and he said that he agreed and was cooking them a huge steak dinner in a few days. There must’ve been at least 100 people involved on this project.

FWIW, I have never tipped contractors. I figure my tip was built into the cost, more or less.

I'm not really any help as we did a major remodeling last year and it didn't occur to me to tip. However, I brought lunch and cold drinks for our wonderful contractor and his crew several times throughout the duration of the job. Can't wait to see the changes to your new home!

Maire, your story reminded me when DH gave all the painters $20 each to get lunch. They were thrilled.

When I have had painters and carpenters here, and have had time available (on vacation), I'd ask them each day what they'd like me to bake for them, and gave them some suggestions. You can't imagine how much that meant to them, and they looked forward to it every day, and even came back to visit well after the work was done! I also bought them nice lunches on their last day of work, and treated them to beers after work (here) on a few hot days.

It would never occur to me to tip our contractor. His bids are always at the higher end, and we always use him because he does great work. But I figure he has a good amount of profit built in. Not that one shouldn't do this. I just don't.

Of course I do tip workmen who do an excellent job, but not the general contractor. I repay him by continuing to use him, referring him to others and acting as a reference.

Thanks everyone, this is helpful. I have thought about bringing them a plate of baked goods in the afternoon, I will definitely do that soon. We have a good craft beer shop nearby too, and based on some conversations I think they all drink beer (and if they don't, the store sells other stuff) so I may randomly give them each a gift card some Friday afternoon. They can stop there easily on their way home. I also know where they get takeout occasionally while they're here, so I could pay for their lunch by giving them a gift card. Thanks for spurring some ideas!

The roof is done; the new windows are all in; trim is almost all painted; new porch is almost done...pre-finished shingles/siding arrives next week. I can't wait to see how the house looks with siding -- it's been nekkid for almost two months!

It will be buttoned up tight in time for winter. Can't wait to see how it all comes together!

I always tip the workers in cash and do nothing for the GC, except give a good review or be a reference for future work. Baked goods for the two workers, along with a gift cards to craft beer shop is a nice token of appreciation. I think the book is enough for the GC, but if you want to add a gift card for him also then that's really generous of you.