Home improvement skills 'being lost over time'
Friday, 3 December 2010 12:15 PM
DIY knowledge that used to be passed down through the generations is now being "lost in the midst of time", Homebuilding & Renovating magazine has said.
The comments follow research by Saga Home Insurance, which found that younger people are now far more likely to rely on professional help to fix problems in the home, rather than carry out work themselves.
According to the report, 18 per cent of adults under the age of 40 would pay a tradesman to repair leaking or broken pipes in their property, compared to five per cent who would attempt to mend them personally.
Jason Orme, editor of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, said that many younger homeowners now work such long hours that performing home improvement tasks in their spare time is the "last thing they want to do".
"There is no question that many young people don't tend to have those basic DIY maintenance skills anymore and it is disappointing," he added.
The research from Saga revealed that over-50s were three times more likely than under-35s to repair leaking or cracked pipes.
Meanwhile, more than a quarter of the older age group would replace missing roof tiles, compared with just one per cent of their younger peers.
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Tags:
- building ,
- decorating ,
- diy ,
- home improvement news ,
- painting ,
- renovations
