DIY off the agenda this Easter weekend

Tuesday, 18 March 2008 8:32 AM

Many male homeowners are not the DIY gurus their partners expect them to be, according to new research from Halifax Home Insurance.

Contrary to popular belief, men in the UK are not excited about the prospect of spending this Easter weekend carrying out DIY tasks around the home - with over a third of men (37 per cent) claiming to dislike the pastime.

A further third of males (32 per cent) said they feel under pressure by their partners or other family members to be able to perform such tasks.

"TV home makeover shows make it all appear so simple, and it's easy to forget that these are highly skilled professionals," said Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax.

"In reality, trying to tackle certain areas you are not qualified for such as electrics or plumbing could invalidate your home insurance policy, leaving you liable for any subsequent damage."

"We'd recommend using a reputable tradesman rather than going it alone."

With almost a third of women (31 per cent) expecting their men to be competent at some form of DIY, and nearly half (49 per cent) rating DIY skills as highly desirable, many men could be coming under some close scrutiny this Easter weekend.

Conversely, only two per cent of men said they expect their partners to be able to undertake DIY tasks, suggesting double standards among co-habiting couples.

However, the research also suggests, in a bid to impress their partners, many men may be planning to attempt ambitious and potentially dangerous home improvement projects this Easter involving building, gas or electrical works.

Halifax figures show that over a quarter of men have attempted electrical wiring at home, while almost a quarter of men surveyed (24 per cent) have attempted to fit an entire new kitchen.

Finally, further research findings showed older people are more confident at attempting the bigger DIY jobs, with 47 per cent of over 55s happy to tile a bathroom compared to only 30 per cent of 25-34 year olds.

Londoners are least likely to attempt DIY, with over a quarter (26 per cent) saying they'd rather call in a professional compared to only 16 per cent of people living in the Midlands.

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