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Original poster

How many of these house maintenance/diy type jobs do you do yourself?

113 replies

Iknowyouknow · 09/06/2021 11:10

These are all the things around my house that need doing:

fix kitchen cupboard door
fix door handles
jet wash paving stones front and back garden
paint fence front and back garden
decorate dc’s bedroom
clean stone walls at front of house

I am a single parent and during lockdown my house has got really tatty as I haven’t kept up with all the maintenance around the house. I don’t know whether to get someone in and do it all or do it myself. Problem is, I can’t get the motivation. My ex used to fix everything and actually enjoyed it and that is the only thing I miss!

Wondering about who does those type of things in your home?

OP posts:

QuentinBunbury · 09/06/2021 11:11

I'd do them if I had the time but usually I don't so I'd pay a handyman

Kinsters · 09/06/2021 11:13

DH says he'll do these jobs but then never does so they don't get done..

Sparklingbrook · 09/06/2021 11:13

Might do the jet washing if i had one. My Dad would do the first two, pay someone to do the rest.

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Home improvement

UhtredRagnarson · 09/06/2021 11:14

I do all of them except fix door handles because for some reason those fuckers are awkward. I can never get them. My dad usually can do them for me.

Hax · 09/06/2021 11:16

None. I have decorated small rooms but generally have to get someone in for even basic DIY jobs because I can't do them and DH is even worse.

HUCKMUCK · 09/06/2021 11:20

I can't decorate as I'm shit at it but I could do the rest. Whether I actually would or not would depend on how much I wanted them done because I don't enjoy that type of thing. My DH does most of that sort of stuff but only because he's better at it than me.

Hyperion100 · 09/06/2021 11:21

I'll have a go at almost everything incl basic electricals.

Its amazing what youtube can teach you!

I've tiled a kitchen and bathroom, built a brick wall, landscaped my garden, built a raised deck, put up coving, replaced radiators, put up lights fittings, rendered a wall (badly), replaced roof tiles on a single story roof etc.

If I mess it up, I'll get the pros in. It saves an absolute fortune and is a welcome weekend break from my desk job.

RidingTheWaves · 09/06/2021 11:26

I do all of them. Painting and decorating is just tedious really.

Fixing things can be tricky but YouTube helps if I get stuck.

WhatHaveIFound · 09/06/2021 11:30

DH and I would do all of those at home though we'd prefer to pay a decorator to paint the DC's rooms.

We'd normally give everything a go DIY wise. Fixed the handles on two cupboards at my parents house last week to their utter amazement. They were expecting my DH to do it

DirectionsForUse · 09/06/2021 11:30

This year, as DH has been very ill these things have all fallen to me for the first time.

Cupboard doors I would do myself, if you mean the hinges need adjustment. I'd also have a go at the door handles .

Jet washing I've paid someone to do .

Fence I would do myself eventually

DCs bedrooms I am seriously considering getting someone to do, but can't face the thought of emptying their rooms

TBH I think if I was fortunate enough to have lovely stone walls, I'd persuade myself that they're supposed to be dirty rustic

I have lowered my standards a bit, but we're OK. I can do most things if I put my mind to it, but there are only so many hours. Plus I actually think it is a duty of those who can to create work. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

Sparklingbrook · 09/06/2021 11:35

The thing is a professional painter and decorator can paint and wallpaper so much quicker than I could. Emptying the room was the worst bit.

Peach01 · 09/06/2021 11:36

I jetwash, paint fence and decorate. Not had to fix kitchen cupboards/handles but would certainly give it a go.

Original poster

Iknowyouknow · 09/06/2021 11:37

Yes I do use YouTube to help me with some jobs and I can do more now than I used to be able to do.

I have fixed the kitchen door three times and it has come off again so it needs something else. Door handles no chance as I paid someone to fix them once and even he couldn’t do them. Fence painting I have started but it’s taking me ages. Painting dc’s room I reckon I could do if I could bear clearing the room out first. Jet washing I think I will get someone in to do.

OP posts:

TheDoctorDances · 09/06/2021 11:38

I’d do all of them myself, but I’d prioritise what was most urgent, what should take a few minutes, expense, etc.

For example, the outdoor jobs. If you’re in the UK there’s only a limited days of the year you can do them (can’t paint a fence in pouring rain) and the indoor jobs such as decorating can be done over winter.

BIoodyStupidJohnson · 09/06/2021 11:41

I'm struggling to find a handyman or woman at the moment, they're all extremely busy and booking weeks ahead, if not months.

Personally, I'd do most of those myself except the jet-washing ones because I don't like wet work, I'd be inclined to get someone to jet-wash the paving stones and clean the stone wall at the same time.

Sgtmajormummy · 09/06/2021 11:43

You need to know your limitations. Hauling stones? You need to be strong or you risk injuring yourself. Hanging wallpaper singlehanded? Better with some help IMO.
Personally I hate climbing ladders so those jobs are given to other people.
Although I once packed up our entire home with no help plus a 7yo and a toddler. When DH huffed about taking down the curtains I answered quite calmly: “I’ll do the fucking lot myself, then.” And I did.
That phrase has now become a family slogan for male incompetence.
OP you are much more capable than you think. And YouTube is a good place for help.

Happyinheels · 09/06/2021 11:48

I'm a single parent too. My exh or his dad would be able to fix nearly anything and everything - we never paid for anyone to do a job. Which was great but obviously now it's a different story!
I've always been pretty hands on and can't justify spending money when I could do something myself. Having said that, I'm self employed and work at least 10 hours a day. Now it's got to the point where there are big jobs that need doing and I'm just exhausted and can't find the time or the energy to do them. For instance my hall, stairs and landing is desperate to be painted but I've also got 6 doors downstairs that are those ridiculous 15 small glass panes which would need doing and 6 doors upstairs and the bannister. I just can't face it - like you I'm seriously thinking of getting someone in as it's getting me down so much! But equally I know it'll probably be about £500 and I can't justify spending that!
The jet washing isn't as bad as you think. I did do that. How old are your DC? Is it a job you could pay them £10/£15 to do?

FindingMeno · 09/06/2021 11:48

All the painting and decorating.
I'd probably attempt the rest, swear a lot, and bugger it up anyway though.

BraxtonChic · 09/06/2021 11:50

Single parent for over 10 years.

In the past I've mostly done what I can myself and paid for bigger jobs like decorating hall stairs & landing or removing shrubs from garden. I've never touched plumbing or electrics though.

I now have a DP who can fix just about anything, so he does those things, but I still do big cleaning jobs etc. DC is also fairly handy at fixing things, building flat packs etc - get them started early with the screwdrivers

LadyDanburysHat · 09/06/2021 11:50

I have done all before, except the kitchen door and door handles.

FrumpyBetty · 09/06/2021 11:51

Bit of both.

I CAN paint, fix, lay floors etc. But I'm older now and can afford to pay others to do it. Plus I'm knackered most of the time.

RubyFakeLips · 09/06/2021 11:53

Depends how complicated the fixes are but I’d probably do most of these. Generally I do a time and mess vs money, but I’m quite handy.

Things like fence paining, depending on size of the garden, I’d just do this sunny weekend and rope the kids in. Same with the jet washing. Put some music or a podcast on and get a take away for dinner. I say this as someone who painted all our fences last summer over a weekend fuelled by pimms and pizza. I was knackered but won’t need doing again for a few years.

megletthesecond · 09/06/2021 11:55

Lone parent. I don't have the time and mostly pay for a handyman to do everything.

I had a new shed put up last month. I thought my teens would paint it for money. They won't, so I'll have to get someone in to do that.

username4567720 · 09/06/2021 11:56

I live by myself OP and have recently decorated my whole place myself. So, in order to answer your question, all of them. If it's something specialist like electricity or gas, then I wouldn't touch it. I even tried to lay the vinyl in the hall but made a hash of it and need to get someone in to do it again.

All of those jobs you list, I'd do myself.

Plinkplonk1234 · 09/06/2021 12:13

I'd do it all myself in small bits at a time. You can clean both the wall and pavers with washing soda. Half a bag in a bucket of hot water and just slop it on. Leave for a couple if days and rinse off. Cleans all grime and green algae really well. Also for the fence you can buy outdoor paint rollers. Makes a very fast job if it then go over missed bits with a paint brush.

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