OV9

dinny_g wrote: Mon Dec 19, 2022 6:52 pm

Broccers wrote: Mon Dec 19, 2022 5:24 pm I pay people to do things properly.

As I’ve got older, I do the same if I’m honest. Even the simple stuff like painting. It isn’t that expensive to get a painter in and my time is worth more to me these days.

Let's be honest most of the DIY is a bodge. These I'm amazing at everything blokes are just not. .

I mostly enjoy working on cars and get a lot of satisfaction from a job well done. DIY I can't stand as I just find it extremely boring and will always rush to get the work finished. I'd rather pay someone to do it properly.

John wrote: Mon Dec 19, 2022 10:44 pm I mostly enjoy working on cars and get a lot of satisfaction from a job well done. DIY I can't stand as I just find it extremely boring and will always rush to get the work finished. I'd rather pay someone to do it properly.

I've friends who are property barons. Their work is piss poor to say the least, while they are qualified in certain skills.

Broccers wrote: Mon Dec 19, 2022 9:57 pm

dinny_g wrote: Mon Dec 19, 2022 6:52 pm

Broccers wrote: Mon Dec 19, 2022 5:24 pm I pay people to do things properly.

As I’ve got older, I do the same if I’m honest. Even the simple stuff like painting. It isn’t that expensive to get a painter in and my time is worth more to me these days.

Let's be honest most of the DIY is a bodge. These I'm amazing at everything blokes are just not. .

Yeah - I’m lucky in that I’ve built up dependable people for painting and decorating, electrician and plumbing (same guy), Gas Man, general building maintenance. My BIL’s a joiner and best mate can do just about anything (but is always really busy, work wise so can be hard to get)

I’ve always thrown them a bit more on top of payment so generally they’ll make space and do work pretty quick or in evenings or weekends. Worth every penny

Broccers wrote: Mon Dec 19, 2022 9:57 pm

dinny_g wrote: Mon Dec 19, 2022 6:52 pm

Broccers wrote: Mon Dec 19, 2022 5:24 pm I pay people to do things properly.

As I’ve got older, I do the same if I’m honest. Even the simple stuff like painting. It isn’t that expensive to get a painter in and my time is worth more to me these days.

Let's be honest most of the DIY is a bodge. These I'm amazing at everything blokes are just not. .

Have you never read PH threads about tradesmen? You’re lucky if they’re not bodgers
The thing about being able to fix a leak yourself is it’s done before the tradesman would even show up.

Our dishwasher stopped working the other day so I checked youtube after cleaning the filter and what not, then took the u bend off under the sink and had to replace it as you cannot but jut washers!!

Anyway dishwasher fixed. I put up a studwall in our spare bedroom and wired the new roof light in, but did got a spark to check the wiring *and fix it as whole house was double wired (i think that was what was said).

I also build a wee playhouse/double glaze shed for my kids which is still rock solid and that was made with reclaimed fence panels and posts etc so fairly decent at DIY, don't really do much on cars these days although I swapped out the rear wiper motor on the Mercedes last year.

I have worked on cars - changed spark plugs, brake discs and pads in the past but when it only costs about 30/40 quid to pay someone to change them I've not bothered since. Normally it's rounded off bolts and stuff that needs a bit of heat and I haven't got the tools or experience to do that so it ended up putting me off doing most things.

Done a few DIY things round the house, including painting and a little bit of electrical stuff, one being changing the extractor fan in the bathroom to a quieter one of the same brand so not much to do. I have built a 1.5 metre mud kitchen for the girls out of decking boards we had left over, which I'm pretty proud of!

Have a go at anything (except Gas and boiler as it's too dangerous) if it needs a cert I get my mate around to sign it. Car no problems, built a racing lawnmower, re-fitted kitchens, re-done bathrooms, built walls, built my office, scratch built a custom shed. Lack of time now is the thing that hinders me (and a lack of ramps although some quickjacks maybe something I buy soon).
I think I'll pay people to do most work on our extension though as I want it done quickly, but I'll take car of some of the finishing work myself and the odd job too.
Next car project is likely to be adapting S2000 seats into the TVR and then once I'm happy recolouring them.
My dad made me very practical as I'd watch him as a kid do all sorts of stuff and he started out a tradie but ended up and engineer so stuff was built well and to last. I miss his input massively and seem to have become my brothers sounding board for a lot of his house projects now my dad isn't here.