[Misc] How competent are you at DIY?

[Deportivo Seagull]

Done, no idea what that actually means though

its stolen from Douglas Adam’s Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy but (in this case) basically means I’m reasonably competent doing DIY, normally without causing harm to me or others.

i note there are 5 others in this category… Douglas Adam’s was onto something !

 

[tedebear]

I'm here to see how my husband answers...

 

[BN9 BHA]

But plumbing I avoid. I always end up smashing my knuckles and swearing

It’s part of the job, I have to keep a lid on the swearing if the customer is about though
Must admit I wear gloves when I can as my hands used to look like I had been fighting every day

 

[Gabbafella]

I'm pretty good at picking things up and following instructions so I'll attempt most things around the house.
In my last flat I fitted the kitchen, tiled the bathroom and installed the shower/screen etc, laid all the laminate flooring throughout, put up blinds, changed all the light switches, door handles/locks, built all the furniture.
Just moved into a new flat and we're paying for someone else to do it all this time as I decided I'd rather have it all done professionally and my body isn't what it used to be. Finding the money is going to take time though.

 

[METALMICKY]

absolutely useless. My biggest weakness!

Ditto!

 

[SouthSaxon]

My wife has zero faith in my abilities, to the point where she’ll talk to me as though we’re all agreed that I’m terrified at the very thought of having to do jobs around the house.

I’m better than that, but it’s not the worst thing in the world for her to believe I’m not.

Having successfully built an arbour at the weekend, I now need to royally f*** something up to restore the balance.

(Also, I don’t think I’m married to Tedebear)

 

[Wrong-Direction]

It’s part of the job, I have to keep a lid on the swearing if the customer is about though
Must admit I wear gloves when I can as my hands used to look like I had been fighting every day

I went to a BBQ on Sunday, there was a friend of a friend there I gave a price to fix a leak under a tap over a year ago. I asked if she ever got it sorted, proudly she stated "I did it myself!" Later in the day her partner told me its still dripping

 

[pasty]

Generally hopeless. I am incredibly amazed that two shelves I put up in the lounge are still there after about 6 months

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

There are those that are good at DIY, those that aren’t so good but enjoy it. I learned very early that I am both useless and don’t enjoy it.

The second lesson is that it is cheaper just to pay so who knows what they are doing than having to pay more for them to fix your bodged attempts!

 

[FamilyGuy]

During lockdown I was given some nice/scrap timber and used it to make a couple of outdoor benches and a "matching" table. since then I've made about 15 benches, a couple of tables, 3 nice chairs, a couple of planters, a seed/planting table ....

all "outdoor quality" and I give most of them away after I've made them, it keeps me happy and busy (particularly in the cold months), and engages my brain after a slight stroke I had in Feb 2023.

Does that count?

other than that my brother is a professional decorator, so he does mine too.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

I can get by, but the wife says Im more Tim the Tool Man Taylor, than Al Borland.

Wont go anywhere near electrics though for obvious reasons.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

@PILTDOWN MAN would be the most skilled at all the above I would imagine. Former aircraft engineer and a wealth of experience in work on his businesses/homes.

I'm pretty good at picking things up and following instructions so I'll attempt most things around the house.
In my last flat I fitted the kitchen, tiled the bathroom and installed the shower/screen etc, laid all the laminate flooring throughout, put up blinds, changed all the light switches, door handles/locks, built all the furniture.
Just moved into a new flat and we're paying for someone else to do it all this time as I decided I'd rather have it all done professionally and my body isn't what it used to be. Finding the money is going to take time though.

Yes pretty confident on most things but blinds I detest them also the call from one of the kids asking for help to build another piece of tat from Ikea.

 

[Gabbafella]

Yes pretty confident on most things but blinds I detest them also the call from one of the kids asking for help to build another piece of tat from Ikea.

Blinds in my old place were a bastard, solid walls I just couldn't get through, but the new flat was a dream, did the entire flat in a couple of hours with no issues.

 

[Dr Q]

Much to my late Dad's dismay the DIY gene bypassed me. He was a construction manager but worked up from an apprentice carpenter in the 1950's, and could turn his hand at DIY, painting and decorating and gardening in an expert manner. I am utterly hopeless!

 

[oldboyroy]

Having done 2 years learning general building when I left school and some plumbing at college I will do lots of diy around the house. Won't touch electrics or gas but will lay bricks, slabs, small plastering and change a tap, toilet cistern as well as painting and decorating.

 

[Weststander]

Yes pretty confident on most things but blinds I detest them also the call from one of the kids asking for help to build another piece of tat from Ikea.

Yep, that was a recent Sunday afternoon for me.

 

[Jasetheaceisback]

I am basically useless and most jobs I do end up not much better than a bodge job.

Jealous of those that can do just about everything.

I will have missed options, let me know what they are and I will endeavour to add them.

I chose wisely when appointing my Director of Operations. The Missus is a DIY and Gardening genius.....

 

[drew]

I get by. I've fitted our kitchen, including underfloor heating, new en suite shower cubicle including re plumbing shower tray. I'll do most plumbing ex heating, most light fittings have been installed by me, plug sockets, decorating. Currently landscaping rear garden including 27m² of decking and raised flower beds.
I'm no expert but the diy bible that is You Tube is tremendously useful.

 

[chip]

I like doing DIY when I can be arsed, it makes a change from my day job.

Try my hand at most things, fitting double glazing, plumbing, electricals, kitchen fitting, bathrooms, flooring, decorating, gardening, garage roofing, brick laying, block paving etc. etc. had to learn as never been able to afford paying pro’s and the last gaffe Mrs G insisted we buy has taken nine years to get half decent, now going through the whole updating process again. Keeps me off the streets and out of the pub

Possibly like me. I even replumbed the house with a thermal store and did all the wiring for an extension years ago. The Velux windows haven't leaked either. I've built a few garden buildings from scratch, the oldest has lasted 17 years so far, another is an octagonal studio and the roof challenged my understanding of geometry. Plastering and brickwork are not my thing.

It wasn't that I couldn't afford to pay to have the work done. Most of my working life is spent looking at a screen or sitting in meetings, there's a lot of satisfaction in doing something practical for yourself. I like fiddling with my old car and motorbikes too but don't touch the main car. In the past, I had better things to do with the money, not so sure now I am older.

 

[Curious Orange]

I can turn my hand to most things, though I dislike plumbing, and obviously won't do any notifiable electrical work.

The most satisfying thing I've done in our present house is swapping the wiring for our s-plan central heating controls from a a tatty old junction box sat loose on the floor of the airing cupboard into a much tidier purpose made wiring centre mounted on the wall. Lots of notes and diagrams and planning made before any wires were loosened.