Shy about DIY? HIPPO and TV's Robert Bent urge young householders to develop household skills

New research, commissioned by waste removal experts HIPPO and championed by TV carpenter and tradesman Robert Bent, has revealed that more than half (58%) of Brits aged 24 and under believe their generation is losing vital DIY skills.

Meanwhile, more than a quarter (28%) of Brits wish more people would pass on their DIY skills.

While older generations may have memories of learning the basics of DIY from their parents and grandparents, it seems younger Brits are missing out, with almost two-fifths of young adults aged 18-24 admitting to having at least two DIY jobs waiting for their parents to complete.

TV's Robert Bent: 'Keep these household skills alive'

Robert, a father of four who is well-known for sharing his DIY creativity and carpentry know-how on TV and his social media platforms, is passionate about keeping DIY skills thriving in the UK. Robert and HIPPO are on a mission to reverse the trend among young Brits by producing a series of easy-to-follow videos outlining how to approach common DIY jobs.

He said: “In the first 30 years of life, we master all sorts of skills including learning to walk, going to school, and driving our first car – but for many adults, DIY isn’t on that list.

 “We’re very lucky to be surrounded by books and online resources that provide us with a steady stream of DIY guidance, but nothing quite beats sharing DIY skills face-to-face with family and friends.

“My family has been sharing tips for many generations and I’ve loved passing the DIY tricks and hacks I’ve learned from my parents and grandparents to my own children.

“It’s important that we carve out time to create our own DIY legacies, not only to support the generation below us, but to learn from them too.”

What jobs do young people struggle with?

According to the research, the jobs Brits aren’t learning by the age of 30 include:

·       Putting up a shelf (18%)

·       Fixing a leaking tap (17%)

·       Building flatpack furniture (49%)

·       Unblocking a sink (54%)

·       Bleeding a radiator (60%)

·       Wallpapering (63%)

·       Putting up a garden fence (77%)

With 52% of Brits believing parents should be teaching young people DIY skills and over a fifth (22%) of Brits admitting to feeling stressed and anxious about doing DIY without the support of other people, HIPPO is calling on the nation to start sharing old tips and new tricks with family and friends to ensure our DIY skills live on.

How can HIPPO and Robert Bent help?

Robert has shared the DIY skills and tips he has learnt and passed on through the generations in his own family with HIPPO.

The top tip passed down to Robert from his parents is planning and preparation.

“My Dad is a plumber by trade, he’s incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to general DIY and has passed on plenty of helpful nuggets over the years,” Robert said. 

“He’s a real advocate for planning and preparation – that’s why you’ll rarely find me without a sharp pencil and tape measure in my back pocket!"

A DIY tip that has stuck with Robert is unblocking a sink, which Robert lays out simply in this handy video.

Remember, as with any household or DIY task, health and safety is paramount and you must assess each scenario based on your tools, skills, and experience. If in doubt, always defer to professional advice.

Learn from the next generation

Learning goes both ways, and Robert says he has learned a precious skill from his children. He said: “The art of upcycling. My children are naturally influenced by their generation and peers, and thankfully are much more sustainably aware than previous generations might have been.

“They often direct me towards social/selling platforms where bargains can be picked up, with a view to upcycling or using unwanted furniture for scraps and parts rather than buying things new.

"Take an old wooden chest of drawers for example. Important initial steps are removing all of the drawers, taking off the handles and giving everything a good clean with sugar soap where required.

"Then you can sand it down – depending on the age, material or condition, you will need different grits of sandpaper.

"You then have a few choices for the aesthetics – you could either varnish all over, if the item is made of natural wood, to bring out the unique wood grain, or prime, undercoat, and then paint.

"For other materials such as veneered pieces, carry out a light sand using 120 grit sandpaper and then undercoat using the appropriate paint ready for your topcoat."

Gareth Lloyd-Jones, managing director of HIPPO comments: “There’s something really special about putting up a shelf just how our mum taught us or using a hammer passed down by our grandad.

“Sadly, as our research shows, it seems this tradition is dying out, so we’re calling on families to spend a little more time together to create their very own DIY legacies. 

"We’d love to see older generations passing on their DIY hacks and younger generations sharing new tips that might just save their parents or grandparents a bit of time or energy when it comes to home and garden projects.”

For more DIY Legacy tips visit HIPPO’s Instagram @hippowaste.