Are you a DIY enthusiast? Do you tend to do, fix, repair everything yourself?

Hi Andrew, although it is true that many a thing needs fixing round here I am missing the necessary DIY gene to even contemplate doing anything about it, but men do have this gene and can be sucessfully exploited to show off their many talents in this field, thus fixing things that need fixing. Often times these are horrid tasks which I would't go near but men do not shake at the prospect. The simple mention of a problem with a door getting jammed and someone will turn up and unjam it. Must say it's not working too well on the roof though as the general concensus was to wet to check, then it needed to dry out thorougly first, then no one had a big enough ladder to get up there, but it's definitely promised for soon, and I'd have waited just as long if I'd employed a handy man.

i know im a handy JOAT, ive made myself seven tactical pouches. fixed a florescent lamp and many other things. my most major accomplishment so far was to get a broken DVD player to work again. (less skill more dumb luck) but it works!

I myself am not all that handy, but I am learning. We bought our house about a year and a half ago and in that time we have done a lot of work to it (ourselves). The first project that we overtook in the house before we even moved in was to remodel and update the bathroom. I found out that I was really good at the demo aspect of it. There was just something so pleasing about swinging the sledgehammer around in there. Then my husband and brother-in-law did the rebuilding of it. Our bathroom looks like a dream. We've also painted the entire house, I actually helped with that one a lot. Our next project that we are overtaking is to put new insulation in the attics. There are two side attics and one upper attic. We've already bought the insulation, now we just have to put it in. Some other projects that we have planned for the next year include: remodeling the kitchen, new flooring in the office and hallway, new gutters. . . I don't think we would be such big DIY'ers if it wasn't for the absorbanant amount of money that we are saving by doing it ourselves.

I'm terribly hopeless in manual work, especially fixing bathrooms and washrooms. Luckily, my husband was a very handy man. He's not up to it now, but he used to fix everything "broken" thing in the house. He would fix them in such a way that they became brand new. A lot of time and money are spent fixing them, sometimes I wonder if it's not faster and cheaper to get the professionals in for the repairs. Mind you, I'm not complaining, it's nice to have someone willing to fix things right away. I'm sure your landlady appreciates what you do for her. I would love to have someone like you in one of our leased flat. Cheers!

Yes I must admit I am a huge DIY lady!!! A lot of my friends get shocked of the fact that I can even configure how to get through electrical stuff. I know a lot of things around the computer too so I don't need to call for professional assistance. I remember early this year when I decided to renovate our house, my mom and I were the ones who finished painting the whole house!!! I really enjoy fixing stuff a lot because I get to learn more. The price of having stuff fixed or done by others is so overwhelming too so I would rather do them my self.

You sound like a great tenant to have! I rent from a housing association so I can just give them a ring and they will do it for free. I am female and of course some woman are just as capable as men at doing DIY, but I am not one of them. I managed to successfully attach a coat rack to the wall and felt very proud of myself and it has been OK for 8 years now. I did have a panic when I drilled the holes too big but my dad suggested putting matchsticks in them - I thought, aha, I have learnt a new trick! When I first left home I couldn't even change my own plug so I am slightly better now.

i try to!:) i try to fix things myself and i like it better that way because i dont feel frustrated if it's done incorrectly by somebody else. but whenver i dont get to do it right, i look for someone who does it better. being a do it yourself enthusiast helps me learn about a lot things and at the same time, helps me save money because instead of paying other people to do it, i do it on my own. And honestly, it feels good to have accomplished someting by the end of the day. Like seeing your torn pants being mended and to see the shoes are polished, they might be a little tiring but the reward of seeing them done and the fulfillment of having done it yourself is something you irreplaceable.

I think I am pretty handy around the house and learn something new with every new venture I try. I have always had a propensity for decorating, so painting, papering, installing new trim, and things like that seem second nature to me. With the DIY books and the free weekly "how to's" provided by Home Hardware, I have installed dry wall, hardwood flooring, basic plumbing repairs, and so forth. I would love to know how much money I have saved over the years - lol. It is time consuming and sometimes quite difficult, but you are right when you say it is a great achievement. There is something about a job well done that is truly satisfying.