May bank holiday is one of the biggest DIY weekends of the year but what’s the drill when it comes to getting your hands dirty these days? Do men still do the hard work, while women do the soft furnishings?
A new survey by thecaliforniacompany.co.uk reveals what’s in store for UK households this coming bank holiday and it’s clear DIY is no longer a man’s game – in fact the internet could make them surplus!
It’s Do-able
The gap is closing when it comes to ‘who does it.’ Not only did nine out of ten women surveyed say they own power tools, they are not afraid to use them either with 67% saying they ‘do’ the DIY. Additionally, a surprising 41% of women said they have stepped in to complete a job left unfinished. However, women are not as quick when it comes to completing tasks with over two thirds saying it takes over four weeks to finish jobs compared to the 48% of men who get the job done within seven days.
The research did however show there is a difference in attitude between younger and older women. Surprisingly, the 40 + age group were more likely to take responsibility while younger women see home improvement as a man’s job.
Twenties, plenty of time
Only a third of the 16-26 age group actually ‘do’ the DIY jobs with over 83% preferring to come up with the design concept and the style of the room, as opposed to carrying out the hands-on jobs.
Thirty – hands dirty
The 30’s age group is increasingly hands-on with 70% saying they do DIY and 63% seeing DIY as both a woman and man’s job. Almost half of the women surveyed in this age group said they find themselves stepping in and completing a DIY job that has been left unfinished.
Forties Fixer
71% of this age group actively do the DIY, making them the most prolific group. A staggering 95% also own tools while two thirds say they are the first to notice that a job needs to be done.
Nifty Fifty
This group is the first to spot and embrace the job with 67% of women stating they actively do DIY but they are less confident to go it alone with over 74% preferring to assist while others take the lead.
Sam Tamlyn of online shutter retailer www.thecaliforniacompany.co.uk said of the research; “Women are undoubtedly no longer intimated by home improvement and are finding the confidence to give it a go themselves. Many manufacturers now offer a range of products designed specifically for this rapidly growing audience with everything from lighter weight hammers to floral tool sets. The internet is also a huge factor with video master classes and blogs providing all the practical and visual guidance necessary to grow in confidence and get things done. Gone are the days when you had to struggle with complicated instruction leaflets, you can now Google the task in hand for a wealth of easy-to-follow advice. It makes you realize things are not as difficult as they first appear.”
Exposing a softer side
The survey also showed that men are keen to express themselves with 48% saying they like to get involved with design concepts and styling of the room.
Tired of hired help
Whether it’s down to the recession or just because Brits are embracing DIY, a surprising one in ten said they would hire help to get a job done. Instead, they are turning to online ‘how to’ videos and advice from family and friends with 60% and 41% respectively. It also appears the net is closing in on where Brits buy their DIY goods with over half now saying they would shop for tools online.
Case studies
Zoe Robinson, 35 from London says:
“I grew up in an all girls household and with the three others all being very creative I had to be the practical one else nothing would work. I’ve continued to embrace this all my life and will now do everything myself from changing the hard drive on my computer to re-wiring the electrics. You can get everything you need on the internet so there is no need for a man, apart from with the heavy lifting.”
Anne Seaton, 46 from Surrey says:
“Time is short and I’d like to get things done rather than stare at them, wishing them finished and hoping for someone else to do it. My brother gave me my first set of tools when I was 19 and now I own every power tool possible so I can get things done. I read up online to find out how to do things and chat with other DIY enthusiasts to avoid making mistakes. Everyone has had at least one DIY disaster but it’s so much cheaper to do it yourself but what’s more, it’s even more rewarding when you’ve done it yourself!”