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diy

"Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and semi-raw materials and parts to produce, transform, or reconstruct material possessions, including those drawn from the natural environment (e.g., landscaping)". DIY behavior can be triggered by various motivations previously categorized as marketplace motivations (economic benefits, lack of product availability, lack of product quality, need for customization), and identity enhancement (craftsmanship, empowerment, community seeking, uniqueness).The term "do-it-yourself" has been associated with consumers since at least 1912 primarily in the domain of home improvement and maintenance activities. The phrase "do it yourself" had come into common usage (in standard English) by the 1950s, in reference to the emergence of a trend of people undertaking home improvement and various other small craft and construction projects as both a creative-recreational and cost-saving activity.
Subsequently, the term DIY has taken on a broader meaning that covers a wide range of skill sets. DIY has been described as a "self-made-culture"; one of designing, creating, customizing and repairing items or things without any special training. DIY has grown to become a social concept with people sharing ideas, designs, techniques, methods and finished projects with one another either online or in person.
DIY can be seen as a cultural reaction in modern technological society to increasing academic specialization and economic specialization which brings people into contact with only a tiny focus area within the larger context, positioning DIY as a venue for holistic engagement. DIY ethic is the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks without the aid of a paid expert. The DIY ethic promotes the idea that anyone is capable of performing a variety of tasks rather than relying on paid specialists.

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  1. emellish

    URGENT I'm a DIY homeowner repacing an outside toilet pan to a salt glazed spigot in concrete

    I'm a DIY homeowner repacing an outside toilet pan to a salt glazed spigot in a concrete floor. My guess is to cut through the mortar surrounding the spigot and continue cutting through the spigot. What are the pitfalls and tips to assure a clean cut through the spigot. Further will a plastic...
  2. B

    Get expert in or DIY

    Hi everyone, I am going to change the tap in my bathroom, is it quite straightforward to change a single lever tap, do I need any specific tools or should I get a plumber in to do the job, thanks.
  3. A

    Help with washing machine plumbing

    Help! complete novice! What do I need to buy/do to connect this cold water washing machine inlet valve to the pipe?
  4. O

    Leak from unusual bathroom tap

    Hi all, I have a leak coming from a bathroom tap. It's coming through the lever - I've circled where the leak is in red in the attached photo. I can't work out how to access this part of the tap or what I should be replacing. There is a small grub screw that you can also see in the photo, but...
  5. L

    Toilet Seat Issue With New Fittings - Seat No Longer Flat

    Hi I have recently replaced my old toilet seat hinges (old ones originally fitted by whoever previously owned the house) as one had effectively broken/rusted and so could not be tightened or loosened (had to be forcibly removed). The toilet seat is a quick release fairly standard soft close...
  6. J

    URGENT Help with tap pipe fittings

    Hi, can somebody help me with a link or a name of the fitting I need to be able to connect this pipe to the tails of the taps thanks in advance
  7. P

    Primary Ventilated Stack Replacement - DIY or Professional?

    Hello. We woke up in a VERY smelly house this morning. We'd been getting the odd pungent whiff here and there ever since we'd taken the dining room ceiling down to assess the condition of/replace some joists. ( - the internal waste stack runs through the dining room). After checking that the...
  8. L

    DIY Dishwasher not draining

    Hi new to the forum. I have just installed s trap and plumbing under my new sink and now my dishwasher won't drain. It drains perfectly before when I had it fed directly down the drain pipe. I've checked for kinks and ensured high air gap. I have a feeling it could be the location of the...
  9. J

    Gas stove DIY modification - is this safe?

    Hi all, I’m a hobby chef with a passion for Asian cooking, hence was looking for a way to tweaking my domestic gas hob to do a better job when cooking with a wok. The problem is that the largest flame on my hob is too widespread to generate the centric heat needed for a proper stir fry. I...
  10. A

    Converting flexible sink hose to attach dish washer

    I have a dishwasher that I can't plumb to a sink (renting and it's not an option) so I wanted to know what adapters I can use to convert my hose to go to my dishwasher. Please see images for what I have. Is it possible? Tia
  11. H

    DIY customers getting involved

    What do you do when the customer is a DIYer who insists on getting involved?
  12. Jimbob1973

    Which domestic plumbing course for DIY plumbing?

    Hi, Can anyone recommend a plumbing course so I can learn how to undertake DIY domestic plumbing myself? Thanks
  13. siricosm

    Cylinder for DIY thermal store

    I am looking to install a thermal store to replace my current vented cylinder. I plan to use an external plate exchanger for DHW and heat the store directly from my existing vented boiler. So what I am looking for is a plain stainless steel tank (no internal coils) with a variety of connections...
  14. R

    Not So Simple job for a body jet rail

    Hello All, I’m trying to build a simple 1/2” chrome rail with a 1/4 turn valve and two body jets for a fairly nice shower over my Xmas holidays. Finding the specific parts seems nigh impossible so I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Chrome nipples are easy enough to find, but...
  15. D

    DIY manifold with PEX and plumbing a bathroom

    Hello all, my wife and I have recently purchased a house in Edinburgh (move in date 6th dec hopefully) and I have been working hard to get a plan done for a diy manifold and I shall do a complete refit of the bathroom. I plan to do it all myself bar the electrics and boiler connections. The...
  16. T

    Electrician DIY plumbing in own house, advice needed

    Hi guys, before anyone jumps to tell me “get a plumber”, I’m extending my house and doing a loft conversion myself, so looking to save money, that’s my only reason for not getting a plumber. I see mixed opinions on whether to go plastic or copper, I’m happy to learn how to join copper, but at...
  17. D

    Thermal Solar Fill and Flush Tips

    Thermal Solar I have installed the above in my 3 bed simi with22mm pipe and an E and WEst panels into a cylinder with solar h/E and boiler H/e above . Is there and DIY way ( am not a proffesional) of filling and flushing , without buying and expensive fll and flush station please ? I used a...
  18. D

    Camray 5 DIY help required!

    Hi, Hoping someone can help me out, I'm stuck. I have a Camray 5 boiler, which will fire up and burn fuel for around 10-20mins, no heat to the radiators although I have an initial burst of hot water (10-20mins). I have changed the pump, this week, changed the thermostat about 10 months ago...
  19. C

    Greetings from a DIY hopeful

    I had an account on here before but it appears to have been culled due to inactivity. I'm an extremely average DIY hopeful, hoping to get some advice from time to time.
  20. Dan

    Terry Love Plumbing & Remodel DIY & Professional Forum

    Continue reading...
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