Us men are no longer D.I.Y. Fanatical nor experts a recent study shows. The findings eradicates the stereotypical male as four out of ten men said they would prefer to hire a tradesman rather than doing the job themselves whilst another 72% declared that they didn’t know how to change a tile.
Partners who apparently automatically call in a professional and long work hours were the apparent reasons behind men no longer being experts when it comes to household Do It Yourself.
Over 2000 men took part in the research and most of them admitted to not being able to tile a floor, change a tap or fit a carpet. One in five said that with past experience of even attempting to do the most basic of jobs it led to making the whole problem worse and therefore end up costing hundreds of pounds more than it should have.
Chris Burke of RatedPeople.com who commissioned the study said:
'People who assume most men can turn their hand to some of the more basic tasks, such as drilling a few holes to fit a curtain rail are wrong.
'On bigger tasks - such as doing the plumbing in bathroom suites or fitting kitchens - sometimes it's just better to source outside help rather than risk things going wrong.'
A lack of education could be to blame as nearly half claimed that no one had ever taught them how to carry out straightforward tasks, and couldn't be bothered to teach themselves.
Due to these revelations last year, D.I.Y. chain B&Q started skills classes for under 35’s teaching them how to do basics such as drilling and sawing. Men in the survey said that they felt “Inadequate” due to their lack of knowledge and were too proud to call in a tradesman.
Tariq Dag Khan of RatedPeople.com responded to that by saying:
'There's really no shame in asking for help. The quality tradesmen even offer tips along the way.'
I’m afraid I have to say that I am also no D.I.Y. expert myself however can hold my head up high with confidence in knowing that I know the working ins and outs of a drill. I can even paint and use a hammer! I must be a natural. Though I can’t quite see myself having a career as a handyman as the prospect of sawing fills me with dread. I have come to find that the excuse of me being left handed allows me to avoid doing most things! I have to say how much I envy my father in a sense that he can simply deal with any household problem, whether that be change a few tiles, ever so delicately paint walls to a professional standard, change carpets and simply anything else which needs doing he simply does it himself! It seems I haven’t quite taken those skills from him I’m afraid, though he did teach me how to change a plug... which for that I shall be forever grateful I’m sure.
During an economic time were the demand for plumbers and decorators is seemingly at an all time high, I think this is an idyllic time for the youngsters and in-fact people of all ages with no Do It Yourself skills to pick up a tool kit and learn the basics! think of the possibilities, able to rip up your own carpet, change a tap and even erect one of those pesky shelves without it falling off the wall.
I think I am happy being a journalist just at the moment rather than a future Handy Man, but I certainly think the basics are a must know... I wouldn’t really like to consider myself a 21st century Male who is all fashion yet with no household practical skills!
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