Let’s be honest — the life of a contractor isn’t exactly a relaxing spa day. It’s early mornings, late nights, job site surprises, and endless phone calls about whether the tile delivery has arrived (it hasn’t). But amidst all the chaos, what keeps contractors going? Is it the loyal spouse who reminds them to eat something other than gas station hot dogs? The trusty dog waiting by the door after a long day? Or the prospect of a giant, sauce-drenched Italian sub at lunchtime?
We decided to get to the bottom of this very scientific question: what do contractors prefer — their spouses, their pets, their food… or maybe, just maybe, all three?
Let’s break it down.
⸻
The Spouse: The Real Project Manager
Contractors might be the boss on the job site, but at home, it’s a different story. Behind every successful contractor is a spouse who’s part therapist, part scheduler, and part “you left your lunch on the counter again” reminder service.
Spouses of contractors know the drill:
• Listen to the 47-minute rant about the inspector who failed the footing.
• Accept that vacations will be rescheduled due to a “can’t miss” concrete pour.
• Pretend not to notice when their partner tracks drywall dust through the living room.
And yet — they’re always there, making sure the contractor remembers anniversaries, has a clean shirt for client meetings, and eats something green every once in a while.
In an informal survey we didn’t actually conduct, 8 out of 10 contractors admitted their spouse is the reason they haven’t been buried under a pile of unpaid invoices and fast food wrappers. The other two were too busy chasing a delivery truck down the street to respond.
Contractors’ Take:
“I couldn’t do what I do without my wife. She’s my bookkeeper, cook, and occasional hostage negotiator when the siding crew wants to walk off the job.”
The Pet: The True Emotional Support
Let’s face it — there’s nothing like coming home to a wagging tail or a purring cat after a day spent arguing with a client about paint colors. Contractors may act tough, but their pets see through the calloused hands and sunburned necks.
Whether it’s a dog, a cat, a parrot that swears like a sailor, or even a lizard named Larry, pets provide the kind of unconditional love contractors need after a rough day. They don’t care about change orders or OSHA fines. They care about belly rubs and snacks.
In fact, many contractors say their pets are their favorite job site companions. Dogs love to ride in the truck, inspect materials, and supervise lunch breaks. Some job sites even have “official mascots” — a job-site mutt who probably knows more about drywall than the new guy.
Contractors’ Take:
“I trust my dog to sniff out a crooked subcontractor before he even opens his mouth.”
⸻
The Food: The Real MVP
If you’ve ever tried to schedule a contractor for a 7 AM meeting, you know one thing: don’t even speak to them until they’ve had their bacon, egg, and cheese.
Contractors’ relationship with food is primal. It needs to be:
• Fast
• Portable
• Capable of being eaten one-handed while steering with the other
Job site lunches are sacred. Forget boring sandwiches — we’re talking about sausage and peppers from the corner deli, greasy pizza slices the size of hubcaps, and coffee so strong it could strip paint.
But ask any contractor what they look forward to most during a long day and it probably isn’t the spreadsheet back at the office. It’s the lunch truck showing up with a meatball sub that requires three napkins and a minor act of God to finish.
Contractors’ Take:
“I married my wife for her lasagna, and I stay married for it. God bless her.”
The Verdict: It’s a Three-Way Tie
At the end of the day, contractors don’t choose between their spouse, their pet, or their food. They need all three to stay sane.
• The spouse keeps the business running smoothly.
• The pet keeps them grounded.
• The food keeps them from passing out on a scaffold.
It’s a perfect ecosystem, much like a well-planned job site. Remove one element, and the whole operation falls apart.
Fun Fact: In a recent fake poll we made up for this article, 100% of contractors said they wouldn’t trade their dog for their lead carpenter, and 90% admitted to hiding snacks in their truck for emergency situations.
⸻
Enter BGES Group: The Fourth Essential Contractor Companion
While we can’t cook your lunch or walk your dog, BGES Group can make your life a whole lot easier when it comes to business insurance. And if there’s one thing every contractor loves more than a pepperoni pizza, it’s not having to stress about insurance coverage.
BGES Group is the Tri-State area’s construction insurance specialist, serving contractors in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
We get it — your time is valuable, your risks are real, and your tolerance for nonsense is zero. That’s why we deliver:
• Workers’ Compensation policies that won’t leave you eating ramen noodles.
• General Liability and Excess Liability designed for tough trades like roofing, scaffolding, demolition, and street/roadwork.
• Payroll and workers’ comp programs that can slash your costs by up to 30%.
• Builders Risk policies that actually make sense.
• Coverage for equipment, tools, vehicles, and more.
We specialize in making sure you’re properly covered so you can focus on what matters — your family, your dog, and that burrito you’ve been thinking about since 10 AM.
⸻
Get in Touch with BGES Group
Contact: Gary Wallach
📞 914-806-5853
BGES Group — Construction Insurance is our trade, so you can focus on yours.
⸻
Closing Thought:
Whether you’re chasing your lunch truck, your dog, or your next big job, just remember — behind every great contractor is a spouse, a pet, a sandwich, and an insurance broker who’s got your back.
And we’re proud to be one of them.