Users can remove all display ads (not sponsors) for a small fee. Click for info (must be logged in)

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.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. S

    Recommend a decent pipe bender for occasional DIY use?

    I can see plumbing becoming part of my DIY 'diet' in the next few years, so I've been looking at garnering a few tools together - one of which is a pipe bender. One for 15 and 22mm will do just fine. The options seem to be: A brand-new Hilmor or Record 'professional' type, A second-hand...
  2. G

    planning DIY plumbing next weekend,

    Im planning to do some DIY plumbing in my one bedroom flat which has currently S plan open vent CH and HW system (with 5 rads and heat only boiler) 1. Drain off the system 2. replace 2 old rads with new one 3. replace old style bypass valve (lockshield gate valve) with new Auto Bypass Valve 4...
  3. A

    God keep the DIYers safe from harm

    i apologise for the quality of my pictures, but i was having an argument with the customer while taking them. what they show is a DIYer who has cut into and adapted the flue of a combi boiler to combine the tumble drier out let with the boiler flue. while the boiler is on it sucks all the fluff...
  4. A

    Soldering for a DIY'er

    Hi All, I am planning on laying out two zones of Flow and Returns in my property in preparation for a plumber who will install my unvented cylinder and a system boiler. I anticipate requiring around 80-100 metres of 22mm which will need to be soldered in places. I may also require the 15mm...
  5. D

    Beginner DIY plumbing - help!

    Does this look right? Any advice before I add my Aqua plasterboard? I've checked there are no leaks for two days is that long enough to be sure? (Sorry...it's come out sideways)
  6. B

    DIY halfwits

    Had some chancer call to the house earlier,can you come look at my daughters boiler,their desperate she has a year old baby,normal drivel etc....,i tried to fix it my self put a load of second hand parts on ebay on,new dv,new phex,i pumped up the flue thing,assuming this is the EV,FFS,and...
  7. P

    DIY Garden Hose - Which approach is best?

    Hi, I want to install a garden hose from my kitchen to my backyard, preferably without having to hire a plumber. Thus I would rather not have to mess around below the sink. I have a long necked spray-tap head, which is removable. Here are some pictures: The spray-head: The base of the tap...
  8. P

    DIY Garden Hose - Which approach is best?

    Hi, I want to install a garden hose from my kitchen to my backyard, preferably without having to hire a plumber. Thus I would rather not have to mess around below the sink. I have a long necked spray-tap head, which is removeable. Here are some pictures: The spray-head: The base of the tap...
  9. O

    DIY project may have been the wrong choice

    Hi guys, After two heating engineers never got back to me with a quote to replace our rotting immersion heater tank, and a series of major let-downs from our builder, I decided to install a new tank myself. I was unable to find anything out about the existing tank but it essentially had the cold...
  10. B

    can you help? diy sos needs you

    DIY SOS Veteran's Special needs you! | BFBS Radio
  11. A

    Hot Water Copper Cylinder - Indirect ( DIY Job)

    Hi Guys, I want to replace my hot water cylinder with a bigger one and since I don't have too much space available it seems that I need a custom one. I did try to find one with the right diameter & height at local big DIY Shops but couldn't...hence I asked my best friend Google about hot...
  12. gassafe

    DIY descale pump :)

    I'm not sure use what other guys use to descale stuff but I made this awhile ago for descaling heat exchangers in situ etc & decided today to use it at home as my electric shower has been getting worse & worse & only ran scalding hot!! Used it today & the shower is like brand new again through...
  13. P

    where does a DIYer get there gas appliance parts?

    As a gas safe registered engineer (still waiting to join the closed forum) and quitenew to this forum, it has shocked me to see so many members not gsr saying they bought gas boiler parts and attempted some mickey DIY job on there boiler before running to this forum and expecting qualified gsr...
  14. J

    Diy boiler move. Notifiable?

    Went to fix a 'water leak' for homeserve. No water leak but boiler had been moved from downstairs and wasnt working properly. Owner/ son of owner/ told me this. Was about three degrees out from straight on the wall. Drop test went straight out so i IDed the installation and capped at the meter...
  15. O

    RE: Advice to DIY'ers

    Hi Fellas, One thing I can't fathom is why you guys are so helpful to DIY'ers. I'm not against helping the odd person out with incidental plumbing and heating problems, but as for giving people advice on plumbing, sewer, and heating installations, I feel it goes against yourselves. Fair...
  16. L

    DIY er New To Forum

    Hi Folks, I am new to this forum and just wanted to say hi. I have done various DIY plumbing projects in the past and occasionally have questions on the best way to do things. I work as an IT consultant but have refurbished properties in my spare time and installed bathrooms, radiators, taps...
  17. S

    DIY buddies

    did anyone see this tonight plumbing this week DIYER DONT WATCH THIS PLEASE lol Worth a laugh
  18. L

    diy and oil!!!

    just had a call, can you service my stanley range please, you have serviced it previously. Ok says I where are you, Torrington is the answer, to which I know I have no customers in that area so my question is, who and where are you, to be told, I have bought this range cooker you previously...
  19. K

    Diyers on plastic!!

    Customer whose duo tec I fitted earlier this yeas has had me back to sort his bathroom out. Could tell from tiling alone previous owner had DIY'd this bathroom badly. Found 22mm speedfit to bath taps, 6 joints in total with no inserts and badly cut with a hack saw. Then found to hep pipes...
  20. A

    DIY water harvesting!!

    Evening all, Thought I put this out there as a another one one of my hair brain schemes!! We have just moved to a new house and are on a water meter, so to save a bit on the bills I am proposing to set up a rain water harvesting system, but as it is a social landlord I'm not going down the...
Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock