As a female how good are you at DIY?

[chickenriceorspud]

I'm very impressed at all these fabulous woman that can do their own DIY. I need to learn more.

How handy are you?

I'm good at it. Better than my husband.

Wtf this is like saying ‘as a man can you cook?’ Sexist old bullshit. It’s not a compliment to say women are ‘fabulous’ because they can do a basic life skill. This is embarrassing

I'm rubbish, but much better than my dh! I've fixed the loo, fixed our boiler, laid decking on my own (and also removed decking). None of which my dh could or would do.

I paint and put flatpack together, but I thought everyone could do that?

My DIY skills are excellent. My dad taught me well. I do struggle with things that might require greater strength (plumbing can be tricky if I need to undo old nuts for example) but apart from that I'll have a go at most things.

it's really not difficult though, especially now there are You Tube tutorials for everything. Some things will require proper skill/practice/instruction (like plastering) but mostly it's common sense and basic ability to do practical things.

I think the biggest barrier is realising it's possible. That is what my dad really taught me I guess.

I do most of the DIY, I love tiling and wallpapering the most.
If anything electrical breaks I'll take it apart and can do basic repairs or figure out what's wrong then order and fit the replacement part.

I've laid carpets and lino and did a good job but didn't enjoy it.

I'm OK at plumbing but do struggle if things are screwed on really tight.

My most recent job was the bathroom so I had to remove the radiator, paint the room, fit new bath panel and blind then put the radiator back on.

When younger very very good.
My Dad was a carpenter and Jack of all trades..
I could decorate / wallpaper/ paint.
Lay flooring.
Drill to put up shelves.
Do Flat-pack.
I had all my Dad's old tools / brushes etc.
I taught my daughters and now they do it.
I was a single Mum had no choice..
But l enjoyed it.. it was satisfying looking at my handy work.. thinking l did that..
Too disabled now.

I’ll turn my hand to most things. It’s a question of confidence in your own abilities and YouTube. Electrics I leave to the professionals.
My proudest moment? Turning our ugly flat brown 1980s doors into faux panelled white ones with a nail gun, some trim and white paint.

Appalling and would be totally hopeless if I lived alone. It's really embarrassing tbh. In my defence, I am autistic and dyslexic which is a barrier to me learning safely - things like very poor short term memory, anxiety, and poor fine motor skills. But still I'm sure I could learn basics with some effort, a patient teacher and lots of practice. However now with two young DC there just isn't time for that as it would be too inefficient, so if we need something doing inevitably I will be taking care of the kids to keep them safely out of the way whilst DH cracks on with it. Not that he's some super DIY expert but can do the basics and we are young so I'm sure he will learn more as time goes on. I want to start learning when the kids are older though. I don't want to find myself god forbid a widow unexpectedly early and unable to hang a picture up or put together any flat pack furniture for example.

Slowly learning from my lovely dad who has helped me out for years and also supplied tools. We have fixed a blocked pipe, plumbed in a new tap and fitted an integral dishwasher together. On my own I am enthusiastic, impatient and a bit shit.

He does sound lovely. Learning by working alongside on things is a great way to master skills.

My limitations, these days, are little to do with my sex and everything to do with dodgy joints and poor grip. These things make cross stitch and knitting a slow and painful process, too.

You just have to start - do the thing that presents itself. Only way to learn it is to keep doing it - first few tries at loads of things will be learning but keep goi g! Do it

DH has never touched the drill in our house. the tool cupboard is my domain. Learned it all from my Mum, who was a total DIY ninja and had a job for a while managing a portfolio of student flats. My Dad was useless at practical stuff and left her to it. I think it does make a difference if you grow up with a mother who is a good role model.

My son is under my tutelage and will not be continuing the male line family tradition of being rubbish at it.

Pretty good. My dad was great at it, he'd fix anything - then he died when I was 17 so I just assumed the role without any prior training other than a belief that I could do it as well.
I can wallpaper, paint, tile, fit shower screens, plumb in dishwashers and washing machines, put shelves up - all of it learnt on the job. It's really not rocket science...
I also teach primary school kids basic woodwork. We learn from each other 😂

I'm pretty good. Just totally doing up a room including fixing a really crappy ceiling, building floor to ceiling shelves, building a false wall to hide a door, replacing all electrics (light fitting and sockets). Just put up curtain pole and blind today. Have painted and wallpapered the whole room and got to be inventive to make a really crappy door look good/better.

I don't touch plumbing though...

Always really happy when I'm drilling and screwing!! Just bought myself a router too which I can't wait to use properly!

My (millennial) wife would say it is a man’s job

Does she also think that housework is women's work?

Honestly? I think I could be competent but as the DD of a DF who was/is excellent, and the DW of a DH who is also v. good, I haven't done much.

Above average?

First house:

Re-wired it myself (aged 19 - had some help from my dad)
Replaced kitchen and retiled bathroom.
Laid laminate floors and carpets.
Normal redecoration of ceilings, walls and woodwork.

This house:

Ripped out and replaced 2 bathrooms and a downstairs loo.
Installed new shower room in extension including plumbing.

Tiling and slate floors.
Laid engineered wood flooring
Will probably replace the kitchen myself.

I wish I could plaster. It's the one thing that defeated me! I don't know if I could have used better tools, or if my technique was wrong , or what, but to date it's the only bit of DIY that has made me cry in frustration 😂

I’m quite shit at DIY - but it’s nothing to do with being female. It’s more to do with me finding it boring.

I also don’t own very many tools. And I don’t particularly desire to do so.

I’m not sure the adjective ‘fabulous’ applies to any aspect of my life or skillset. 😆

Plastering is the only thing my very DIY competent husband won’t do again!

I’m trying to learn. Where I’m comfortable is sanding, filling, caulking and painting and knocking things down!

this week I plan to teach myself how to tile.

I am so ashamed. I am useless. I had to hang a door by myself and it won't close. I now have a socking great hole in a wall and I have to repair that. Its in a very obvious place too so a bodge job will look terrible. I have not learned these basic skills, and it's embarrassing. I need to remove my dishwasher, but I physically can't move it, so it needs to stay in situ.

I am on my own with children, which makes it worse. People expect you to have a degree of competence.

I should add I'm not good at cooking either. I can cook bog standard meals no problem but entertaining? No chance! So I am all round incompetent, not just bad at DIY.

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

Tiling is good. I tiled the new bathroom (floor to ceiling metro tiles!) and although it did get tedious at times (I heartily recommend a good podcast for company) every time I sit on the loo now I admire my handiwork 😁