Ladies with hammer-drills - odd?

[geekgirl78]

So - to cut a long story very short I bought my first place last summer. It lovely - and old (250 years plus) - and a bit of a do-er upper.

Its covered with cement render at the front, which needs taking off as it's causing a problem with damp. Being a bit practical, having a long summer holiday ahead of me (am a teacher) and a lovely builder friend to advise me, I decided to take the render off myself. Armed with a hammer, chisel and if necessary, a hammer drill

Thing is - I live in an old bit of town - so the streets are all quite hemmed in - and in the last 2 days have become the local side show!!! Older chaps want to come and tell me I doing it wrong, small children have attempted to befriend me and at least one woman of my mother's age coming up to me to congratulate me on my practicality. The thing is, I'm quite a shy soul, would really rather be left alone to get on with it without comments, and am quite taken aback to discover that a woman doing quite basic building work (honestly - isn't hard - insert chisel and bash as hard as you can with a hammer) is attracting so much comment.

Please come and tell me I am not the only hammer-drill wielding woman in the uk!

Good for you. Wearing though it must be, could you think of it as making friends? Maybe if you continue to be polite the older ladies will start offering and ?

A friend of mine did up her house herself - everything from plumbing (including fitting underfloor heating throughout) to rewriting (she got the certifications to sign it off herself) and plastering. She has since married, and anyone who makes the mistake of assuming that her (also very practical) DH does the DIY only makes that mistake once

their awesome work rate has now fallen foul of the fact that they have 2 DC under 3, though

I love my drill! And my angle-grinder. And circular saw.

I designed and mostly built our deck, but one picture of DH on it and everyone is congratulating him on his efforts! WTF!?

Women my own age and younger have remarked to me that I 'should have been a man' - I can't tell you how depressing and baffling I find this sort of comment. I'm intelligent and not physically weak, so why shouldn't I read up on DIY stuff, watch a few YouTube videos and have a go at whatever damn thing I want?

Rewriting? Rewiring

When DH and I got together I owned more power tools than he did - less so now, but SIL still owns all the power tools in their house and keeps DB well away from them

I work in a wood working environment.
An old member of staff (75yr old) popped in this week.
He says to the receptionist who escorted him over "does this circular saw get used?"
"Yes", she said "kaf uses it".
"Hmm, it's not a woman's machine is this!"

Good job I wasn't there to give him my opinion!

Huzzah! Thank you ladies! I was starting to feel a bit freakish...,

YankNCock - I totally get that. The job I'm doing is not hard - just a bit tedious and blister-inducing. All the info was on-line, or in books, and backed up by discussion with builder friend. It's been suggested that I must be a bit blokey to do it however, which could not be further from the truth. (I am at least £450 richer, however, as a result of doing it myself).

I have painted my toenails red in defiance!

Nooo don't think of yourself as freakish! You're awesome! I wish I was as practical as you. And you're being an amazing role model for the young girls who see you working. Swing your hammer with pride!

I use my front drive as my workshop. It's nice when nieghbours stop for a chat. I've never been offered any advice though. I hope it because I look like I know what I am doing.
I tile, I lift drains, I change tyres, I plane doors to fit and I chop down trees. YouTube is my teacher. I have plenty of femail friends that do the same. I don't think it's unusual these days.
I'm a bit crap at cooking though

A (male) friend once asked me if my husband had a drill he could borrow. Err, no actually, but if you try rephrasing your request in a less patronising way, I might consider lending you mine!

Yes, it is why I left civil engineering.

I have a chainsaw, a selection of drills, a jigsaw, a circular saw, a dremel and many many more tools. I also teach woodwork, metalwork, and bricklaying.

I used to have pink hair and tied it in pigtails when I worked on site.

@ Sandthorne.

@ all the sexist comments.

OP would you consider putting out a collection plate and a sign? Something like "Interrupting my work: £1. Gender-bigoted remarks: £20"

Or something...

I own all the power tools in my house. My husband (much as I love him) is a total disaster area and is only allowed to emulsion walls. I lay floors, fit kitchens and bathrooms, do all the plumbing and (very) minor electrical work, build decking, put together furniture, tile, plaster, render, fix washing machines etc etc

I think it's probably because I am perfectly prepared to read the instructions. and DH isn't. So I've made regular and profitable use of the Readers Digest Guide to DIY (you know it tells you how to replace a central heating pump, and I did, and it saved me a fortune and it was easy as pie) and he just throws his hands up and tries to call a plumber.

I fitted our power shower. The OH was good for one thing, shining the light in my direction so I could see what I was doing. And he popped to Wickes to get a part for me when I needed an extra fitting. Even our electrician friend who visited couldn't believe we I had fitted it. But this is the guy who told me not to go into teaching as he lasted one year and went back to science [after he couldn't cope with being an electrician either].

My usual answer is 'Yes it is hard using all these power tools - but only when my norks get in the way. It's usually just the chainsaw though these days'.

Good for you! I heart my lump hammer
When I escaped my EA ex I already had some power tools, I ripped out carpet and laid laminate all downstairs, I spent a summer like Lara Croft rendering the yard wall and building a patio. It was awesome!

Now I'm living with my fiancé he tends to do most of the work if needed as he's stronger (and stubborn!) but he knows I could.

IMO EVERY woman should have their own tool kit.

you should be wearing your ear defenders, so you don't hear them.

It's very usual in our family for all the women to do DIY. Unless real strength is needed there is no problem. Just get the right tools to begin with.
I would love to have been a chippy, but it would have been unthinkable when I was young. Girls were taught sewing.

I have my own workshop, and power tools, and anvil and oxy-acetylene welding kit. there's nothing I won't try inside or outside the house. plumbing, electrics, installing ufh, laying a patio, making gates and beds. or rather used to be able to pre dcs

I've found it's actually a great ice breaker to get chatting to neighbours. little old men, especially, are intrigued, and I'm constantly surprised by the number of them who have welded in the past. the ladies seem secretly impressed, and the blokes are probably jealous that I'm doing a good job without creating a big fuss about it.

just get on with your work with a smile on your face. if someone starts telling you how to do it, nod importantly, thank them and carry on.

good luck with your new adventure, there's nothing you can't do. strength is not everything, but the more you do the stronger you'll get.

My DM and DA, both in their late sixties, have always been practical, their DHs not so much. My DF was a qualified boiler engineer yet after a change in career in the 70's he never got his hands dirty again, unless it was loading cars onto a truck. My DM was often to be found outside inspecting our back boiler with a torch and a raincoat, while he gave direction from the landing window. I'm very pleased to say I've inherited their practicality, their DB though, my DU, always has to get a man in to do anything

Good on you OP, like someone upthread said, embrace it and use it as an opportunity to make new friends.

Oh god I would hate that too. My DH used to try and tell me I was doing things wrong but he soon got the message and now knows to keep his mouth shut .

Render is a shit to get off as well unless it is falling off iykwim so I don't envy you in this weather so have a ready for when it's done.

Many years ago when I divorced XH, I needed to do some job or other that required a drill. My visiting dad went with me to buy one.

He recently told me that he felt terrible for me at the time. That I was alone and had nobody to help me.

I laughed. I thought it was some mark of him finally accepting I was capable with a drill. I still have it. Thumping great hammer job that is our big drill.

The power tools in our house belong to me too!

I love a good project, I'm currently installing a new shower cubicle and I'm at the tiling stage. I've treated myself to a new tile cutter it's ace! I get excited when I get new kit like some do when they buy shoes and handbags .

Wow! Hearing from other people on here I realise I've not yet scratched the surface of DIY. Thank you for all the encouragement. I've rather enjoyed myself today - lovely weather and I've nearly finished the worst bit. And I've DEFINITELY got to know my neighbours now

Now I need to teach myself to repoint...,

Off for a well deserved

I'm never sure why so any people seem to assume that power tools require a penis to operate them...?

I do most of the DIY in our house too, all of the power tools are mine, bought from before we met.
My dad taught us all lots of basic DIY jobs when we were younger, which was brilliant, he'd never have considered not teaching us girls and just teaching my brother.
And I definitely agree with the PP who said they are prepared to read instructions - follow the instructions (and Youtube!) and there's not much that you can't do.

I own all the power tools! I even went to university with a basic tool kit. DH had never so much as put a shelf up. I also do all the checks on his car. My mum is a determind woman who does everything herself so i learnt from her!

Well done you for getting on with your DIY!