The art of DIY is becoming lost on younger people, many of whom are turning to professionals to carry out simple home improvements they could do themselves.
According to Saga Home Insurance, today's 25 to 34-year-olds are adopting a YDI or 'You Do It' culture instead of taking a 'Do It Yourself' approach.
This attitude could cost them during the winter, when essential repairs and maintenance are most important.
Indeed, while 38 per cent of over-50s are willing to cut back trees and bushes to prevent damage to their properties in high winds, just ten per cent of younger people would do the same.
Furthermore, just one per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds would have a go at repairing loose or missing roof tiles, compared to more than a quarter of older people.
"The older generations are far more willing to get hands on when it comes to preparing their home for winter," said Ros Altmann, director general of Saga.
"In contrast, the younger generation is less willing to give it a go themselves. Whether this is due to a lack of know-how or time constraints is not clear."
A separate survey carried out by Comcero.com recently showed that 3.5 million modern men would struggle to put up shelves, while 2.2 million can't change a light bulb.
Posted by Barney Marshall
