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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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Recent contents Top users
  1. marvoni

    Having Fun With Some DIY Plumbing

    We're in the middle of a drought with 'day zero' estimated around May next year so I've decided to go off grid, or partially off grid in an effort to ensure I still have water at home. I decided to use my borehole water for most of the house and just use council water for human consumption such...
  2. G

    Rookie DIY Mistake - Advice needed

    I've recently refitted my bathroom which included a towel rail. I plumbed this in using a couple of JG speedfit braided hoses. Typically after I tiled this all in I noted on the packaging that this was not suitable for central heating and states a maximum heat rate of 65 degrees C. The obvious...
  3. L

    Hi guys and Girls, new to this whole diy thing and looking to learn over time

    HI there, I am joining this site in order to hopefully gain some knowledge in order to maintain and or replace some items within my house. I hope once I have some knowledge to help others where I may be able to. My first query is to try an identify a power shower from a picture I have, I will...
  4. G

    New DIY "Plumber" needs advise for loft water tank supply nut and olive?!?

    Hey guys I've "repaired" my mums loft water tank from leaking but I'm unsure if I've done it correctly so thought I'd join this great forum and ask some advice from some people much smarter than me. Basically my Mum was worried that her overflow from the loft kept running water so I went...
  5. L

    DIYer updating plumbing fittings in cloakroom toilet - Help needed

    Hi Guys We've recently moved and are in the process of updating the cloakroom toilet. I've taken the sink out and there's pipes attached in multiple ways. Could someone suggest which modern pipes and stop-taps I need to replace what I've discovered in order to fit the new sink? Photo...
  6. ShaunCorbs

    Diy or not :D thoughts

    I think my hot water cylinder hasn’t been plumbed in properly I'm sure he's done it him self but open to different thoughts
  7. F

    New DIY'er in Birmingham

    hi all Just thought I'd drop in and say hi, not a qualified/expert in the plumbing world but not a useless person either I'm here to soak up all the tips and tricks, product views and opinions as well as the knowledge. Looking forward to it Kind regards
  8. S

    A DIYer saying hello from Cheltenham

    Hi all, a DIYer here. I've plundered the site as a lurker and now it's time to join :) Hoping to pick up more tips and advice. Liz
  9. cr0ft

    Surely a DIY install right?

    Salamander pump hot water starved. Call me a cynical bugger.
  10. J

    DIY Hi

    Hi everyone. I'm a DIYer who knew nothing about plumbing until a year ago. I've been renovating an old cottage in Aberdeenshire, and use the forum for various bits of advice. I've now installed most of the plumbing in the house and it seems to be holding true for now! Feel free to say hello.
  11. H

    DIY novice! Sink connection advice please.

    Hi all, I feel defeated as cannot find a simple solution to this problem. I have installed a new sink in my kitchen, it is 12 bowl with a 90mm opening in the main sink which has taken a standard strainer waste however the 1/2 bowl has a 45mm opening which will only take a basin waste.The...
    • Hatt11
    • Thread
    • advice connection diy female fittings novice opening please problem sink waste
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board
  12. B

    DIY by neccesity.

    Here in the sparsely populated north of Scotland, skilled men are always busy and often hard to get. Hence Granddad is called on to fill the gap for simple jobs. (Is any plumbing job simple?) Lying under a bath changing the taps, I have to get help from a more flexible grandson. Being an...
  13. D

    Help needed DIYer looking for advice boiler has been looked at by a professional

    Hi everyone. Signed up to post this as i am at my last tether. The details Ideal isar he30 combi (i am saving for a new boiler as i know this thing is utter trash) Boiler is losing pressure when no water is being called for and ch is off. I had to take out and clean the heat...
    • Daveleaver
    • Thread
    • advice boiler diy help help needed looked looking losing needed oil pressure professional still water
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board
  14. J

    DIY toilet repair - in need of brownie points from the Mrs..

    Hi all, Toilet is leaking when flushed from the toilet to cistern seal and its my job to fix it tomorrow. I'm a graphic designer.... :-/ I know its probably the big rubber seal (spud?) But I don't know what size will fit. I'll have to take it to bits and then take the old seal to the...
  15. C

    DIY Ensuthiastic

    Hello all, good to be here. Can't wait to get some professional advice. Should have seen this forum earlier.
  16. B

    DIY Purge stacks

    Anyone got any pics looking for ideas got a few of my own . Going to use a old camera tripod 35mm pipe with t in and two Iso valves just wondered what everyone else has. doing a job Next week where for some reason HSE are wanting to be there also anyone heard of having to use nitrogen opposed...
  17. Russel

    Any point in over-speccing BTU vs. what is required? Read more: http://www.diynot.co

    Hello guys, my first post, so go easy on me haha :) KEY INFO: ABOUT ME: DIYer who doesn't know much about plumbing BOILER: Potterton Combi 28 HE, installed 2012 PROPERTY: Ground floor mid-terrace flat approx. 80 sq m / 860 sq ft TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW RADS: 9 I'm self refurbing a...
  18. D

    Diy sos

    Anyone ever done one? Doing one in the next town to me the missus has always said you'd help wouldn't you if they where local now they are worried she might bully me into helping
  19. K

    Diy outside tap

    Some of the weird and wonderful things I'm finding lately are too good not to share. Yes it is what it looks like!
  20. gassafe

    DIY water softener...

    I was at a property last week doing a job... The customer asked me whilst I was up in the roof space to drop a Harvey's salt block into his cold water storage tank!! I was pretty surprised, but he reckons it does the same job of a softener without the expensive machine lol!!! He reckoned it...
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