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"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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Recent contents Top users
  1. D

    Advice needed on radiator valve

    Hi all, this is my first post so hoping I've got it in the right section. I'm a casual DIYer so this may be a simple question to most.. looking to replace the old head on the photo for a new TRV head. Do I simply need to undo the nut at the top & slot a new head on or does the old fixing need to...
  2. Unfeed

    Diy wind powered water-pump

    I am a end semester student and was sent in civil services on remote places in my city. It was a rural undeveloped beach area, the people there mainly lives from selling solar dried beach salt. I was thinkin to making wind powered pump that connected to some sprinkler in hope to make the salt...
  3. Dan

    DIYDoctor | DIYnot | UltimateHandyman – DIY Plumbing Advice – Why it can be dodgy!

    Continue reading...
  4. Dan

    DIY Forum for DIY Plumbers?

    Should I create a DIY forum to direct people away from this forum who are doing DIY jobs? I could then make our three main forums (tilers, plumbers and electricians) all for professionals and trainees only. I think that's how most networks are doing it. So perhaps we do the same? Your thoughts?
  5. J

    Just joined the forum

    Hi, I'm Jim and just joined the forum (well re-joined because my old username wasn't recognised). Not a trained plumbers just occasionally have to fix things at home.
  6. S

    DIY advice - saddle clips

    Hi All, Easy (and probably stupid) question. I have to run the pipes for a rad from above on the surface. I'm intending to run chrome pipes down behind the radiator and into some right angle valves to hide most of the pipework. Is it ok to use saddle clips to keep the pipes as close to the...
  7. E

    DIY Draining down system

    Hello, I have an open vented boiler with a gravity hot water circuit and a pumped central heating circuit. I want to drain the central heating system to remove a radiator and give the system a flush. Will the gravity hot water part of the boiler still work as I intend to leave the central...
  8. P

    DIYer - need help with toilet pipe air-valve install

    Hi, New to the forum - hoping to get some help here. I am rerouting my toilet to have the pipe work hidden in the eaves. Bath/shower/basin waste connects to the toilet drain via Barco Bos. I need help with the air vent. - Do I need one for toilet, and another for shower/bath/basin...
  9. W

    Please help - connecting water pipe to sink tap

    Hi, complete beginner requiring some advice please! Would like to connect water from pipe to the sink (cold water only at this stage) - was going to remove the tap and then use something like a flexi pipe to connect them? I've attached images below. Would something like this work...
  10. J

    Advice needed on DIY central heating plan

    Hi all, I'm hoping to install a simple central heating system in our new house being constructed in 2019. I want a 'bare bones' system to keep it as simple as possible. I will be running a single underfloor loop and 9 radiators from a woodfired boiler. I would appreciate any comments/advice...
  11. tonyt

    Hi, old DIY idiot joining forum

    Hello! I thought I would at least put in a Hello message before I ask a question - it seems more polite. I'm an enthusiastic DIYer or probably more accurately rather than "enthusiastic" read "addict". I suppose I started by helping my Dad with DIY before the term was even invented in the early...
  12. T

    Hi all - new member intro "enthusiastic DIYer"

    Hi folks, I'm a DIYer. Can plumb neatly and very very slowly, but not ashamed to contract out large jobs like my heating to people who can do it quicker and more compactly :) Cheers Tim PS here's some stuff I've actually done: Fitted a bathroom from scratch. Designed a new heating system...
  13. G

    Hello DIYer here in a new (but old) property

    Hello, I’m your general run of the mill DIYer, I’ll have a go at most things with good instruction. I’ve just moved into an old property and I’ve encountered a problem already. I’ll post in relevant section. Thanks
  14. gingalig

    G3 diy install who do It report to.

    Hi, Not sure if its the right forum, please feel free to move if not. Went out to a leak on an unvented cylinder and found all sorts of horribles, There was no benchmark, the PRV/ temp valve, PRV expannsion valve and Pressure reduction, all linked into the same 15mm pipe, terminating into an...
  15. EcoSol

    renewable energy/solar heating technical question.

    Hi guys, I’m designing a new kind of solar heating system. I’m just an amateur and don’t know enough about technical terms to run google searches for pieces of equipment to see if what I need exists, so I was wondering if you could help please? What I’m designing is a solar water heating...
  16. P

    Good Friday tea time call out Diy disaster

    Phone rang at 6:20pm water streaming down walls and ceiling after he's been screwing down creaky floorboards. Regular customer a couple of miles away, I had technically a couple of hours to do it before we were going out so I went over. The floor was 18mm tongue and groove OSB rubbish nailed...
  17. moonlight

    My Husband used to do all the plumbing? What is the worst DIY plmbing you have seen?

    Had a customer the other day with a blocked sink. she said it never used to get blocked before, her husband used to do all the DIY jobs. Look at this mess.
  18. S

    Going to be nvq2 but still not allowed to DIY at home?

    I was hoping for some clarification, I've just moved into our first home, and there a lot I want to do with it. One job is to install a wet room/small corner shower. I am currently employed as a general maintenance guy, and so a lot of plumbing at work. I'm confident I can do all the work...
  19. P

    Diy stud, electric wires and pipe finder

    Hi Has anyone used a stud, electric wire and pipe finder? It looks really good but is it as great as they say? Does anyone have any experience in using them? Thanks Paul
  20. MarkAqua

    Oh dear.... another DIYer

    And this ladies and gentlemen will end in tears. £30 to remove a rad and refit potentially 2 more?? Makes me want to cry
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