Have People Turned to DIY Due to the Recession?
As a nation, we have always enjoyed a bit of Do It Yourself and the stores serving this hobby have never been short of customers. But trends show that more and more people are attempting to do jobs that would once have been done by a tradesman. Is this due to the recession or a changing idea about what we can and can't do around the house?
Getting on course
One of the biggest changes has been the number of women attempting DIY jobs, once the purview of the man of the house. In fact, more women are enrolling in courses to learn skills such as plastering, decorating and plumbing than before and while some of these are wanting to start their own business, many more are wanting to be able to do this work around their homes.
At JJ Roofing Supplies are aiming to educate DIY enthusiasts with new how-to guides on different roofing techniques ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert. These will range from learning about tools, tiling and slating, decorating, cleaning, maintenance and general DIY tasks. One study showed that in 2012, 3,200 people enrolled in this type of class compared to 592 in the year before.
DIY motivation
For some people, bad experiences with tradesmen have given them the urge to learn to do these jobs themselves. Whether directly or from other people, we hear horror stories about jobs that are botched, unreliable workmen and overprice jobs. Of course, this is a tiny minority ruining it for the vast majority but like many things in life, the bad stories stick and the good stories are forgotten.
Saving money is another massive motivation for taking up the DIY baton and with the recession, this thriftiness has been forced onto some people. Those who once had enough spare cash to call up a tradesman to do a job are now faced with undertaking it themselves because that spare cash is now needed for other areas.
Sometimes, the pride in doing a job yourself is also a factor. The idea of looking at a shed roof or a new patio, even a shelving unit and thinking that you have created this yourself is a great feeling, one that more people are embracing.
Internet factor
Finally, the availability of information on the internet is doubtless another motivation. When you can read a thorough and complete guide to something on the internet, you realise that it isn't beyond your abilities. With the development of smartphones and tablets, these instructions can even be carried around with you to refer to as you go. Take replacing roofing tiles €“ as long as you are okay climbing a ladder, you can refer to a comprehensive guide, slot your smartphone in your pocket and venture up onto the roof. If you are unsure how to complete a certain part of the job, you can secure yourself and pull out the phone to double-check those instructions.
The internet also plays another part in the DIY boom €“ access to a greater range of suppliers. At one time, you would have B&Q and its like, local trade suppliers and that would be it unless you had a specialist nearby. But today, if you want to order new roofing tiles, for example, you can go online, compare the various types then order from a website and have delivered to your door. The availability of suppliers over the internet means that costs are kept down even further and many websites have a wealth of helpful information to go with their products.
Conclusion
The recession has changed how many people view DIY €“ it has become a necessity rather than a hobby. But even for those who still have spare cash to employ a tradesman, bad reputations and the sense of accomplishment when a job is finished has motivated them to have a try themselves.
You'd be surprised how much you can DIY even when it comes to roofing. So stay tuned for our How-To guides and if you found this article interesting please use the sharing icons to share it with your friends.
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