I think you checking their temps is crossing the line. However, I would think talking to the owner of the company or office manager and asking them their protocols is more acceptable. You can make sure they wear masks, however. I know in our area masks are mandated.

If you live in an area where it is not freezing cold, I would open my windows for ventilation, maintain my distance and keep some sanitizing wipes or spray on hand to clean after they leave.

You will be fine!

FYI - I own and operate a home services business and am sending workers into homes daily. Everyone has a different tolerance for the virus, but what you don't want to do is be the crazy homeowner and turn them off from working for you. Be nice in your approach and you will get better results!

I do not mean to be rude, but did you consider this issue before you began this project? Did you discuss Covid protocols with your contractor?

Obviously people will be in your home and you will have to arrive at a common ground with the contractor, his staff, and his subcontractors that you are comfortable with.

Thank you, A D. Good advice.

A D and littlebug bring up good points and suggestions. Seriously, didn’t you think about this at all?

I work with Covid patients, just had my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. If I had anyone in my house before or even after the vaccine they would be masked and I’d keep my distance, open the windows and that should cover any concerns.

- We had emergency work done and person was even more careful than we were. We were all wearing masks, but he was adamant about keeping a distance and wore disposable gloves. They are putting themselves at risk going into different homes and working with others, but they have no choice in trying to make a living. So they should be very careful, but discuss precautions to be Incorporated, by both sides. You should be wearing a mask as well and sterilizing surfaces after they leave.

- Taking a temperature does not help (even if they agreed) as someone can be asymptomatic or not have yet felt/displayed symptoms - that’s how Covid is being more easily spread.

- Consider the level of covid cases in your area, restrictions and official recommendations.

- On a final note, my daughter works for a huge condo developer and twice the office staff had to be sent home due to cases (Trade going into units and then project manager being in contact with them).

littlebug, of course I considered this and did discuss protocols with my project manager. Clearly, I should have been more specific, though. I was not prepared for the sheer amount of people. I was thinking one plumber, one window installer, one demo guy, etc. It seems they all bring three or four people with them. And sometimes they are all in the bathroom stuffed in there working at the same time! None have masks and none seemed remotely concerned. Masks are not mandated here.

I would definitely be wearing and be asking for masks to be worn. One person is one too many to be coming and going without one in my opinion. It’s not too late to have this discussion as you seem concerned.

Good luck Deanie Jo. Masks are infrequently worn here as well - I‘m in the rural Midwest. I hesitated to mention that in my first reply, because many on this forum are urban or suburban where the concern and awareness are much higher than where I live.

Very early on in the pandemic, I had an HVAC person in my home and he had a mask in his hand, ready to wear it if I wanted. But in the last 6 months, I have had several other tradesmen here. None had masks and did not seem concerned.

Please re-discuss protocols with the project manager. You have the right to require masks wearing at all times in your own private home. You should also wear masks. Keep the windows open for better air flow.

Stay on a different floor if possible. You’ll be out of their way as well, and in my experience, contractors prefer to have the space to themselves if possible.

Agree with Sarah. Taking forehead temp is NOT an effective screening tool.

Request and provide masks; the blue medical masks are single use, disposable, inexpensive and good. By providing masks, it may make them less resentful for having to wear them.

Keep multiple windows open; if it is freezing cold, turn up the furnace.

Keep your distance, go outside.

We had our master bath renovated this summer and insisted the contractors wear masks whenever they were outside the work area (which is relatively isolated from the rest of our home). There was some grumbling, but we considered it non-negotiable. The worst offenders were the city inspectors, tbh.

We did a master bathroom remodel down in Florida. Only two people at a time for demolition and installing. Kept the windows open, workers wore masks. No close contact with them.

If they aren’t following the Covid protocols laid out in the original contract, then it’s time for a conversation with the project manager. Those protocols should limit the number of people in home at one time, require masks for you and the workers, and have a sanitizing station set up. Materials should be delivered and stored in advance, to allow any virus deactivation before installation.

It doesn’t matter if masks are not being worn in your area. This is your home, and you have the right to require them to be worn in your home. The trades also have the right to not wear them during the actual physical work, if they arrange room isolation and ventilation, and the traffic route in and out doesn’t involve frequent contact with you. But any point where there is possible contact should involve both parties being masked up.

Thanks, I feel very empowered now and will have ANOTHER conversation with my project manager. I'm going out to buy a box of masks.

"This is your home, and you have the right to require them to be worn in your home."

Hey, I've got some news. When you signed that contract, your home became my job site. I'm not a visitor here. I'm not your neighbor or your boorish brother-in-law. I've got a family to feed and work to do. Remember, I could have taken another contract instead of yours.

I'm willing to be reasonable, but your time to negotiate was before you signed the deal.

Thanks for your comment, Joseph. I am wondering, since you are a contractor, how put-off would you be if I politely handed your subs a disposable mask upon entering? Would you consider that reasonable? My next door neighbor just died of Covid two days ago, and I am still a little freaked out.

Deanie Jo:

I get potential customers who ask and some who insist on our wearing masks on sales calls. Not a problem.

We wouldn't have a problem working in a mask, we wear them often anyway, however, we aren't working in our stocking feet, no matter your rules about no shoes in the house.

We had workers in our basement. They entered the Basement through an exterior door so they were never in our home proper. We would go down with masks on to inspect the work periodically. The workers did not always have masks on. My husband came down with Covid and we can’t be sure it was them but they are a top candidate as we work from home and dont See really any people. But it’s possible he got it at the grocery store or something. Anyway you can’t be too careful! Husbands case was mild luckily.