DIY and getting older

[diy_fun_uk]

WARNING: not a cheery post!

I'm getting ever closer to 50. Although not old, I can tell a physical difference compared to myself 20+ years ago, yes I know, to be expected! And will only continue.

However this got me thinking. For those of us fortunate enough to be in reasonable shape throughout our lives and who enjoy DIY to whatever extent, the day will come when we're not physically able to do anything other than smaller jobs. For example, consider lifting and installing solid wooden internal doors around the house. The day will come when that door is simply too heavy for you. Or maybe contorting yourself to fit a new bath waste, again the day will come for most of us when we simply won't be able to do it. Even simple things like pulling the washing machine out to check something then push back in could be a no no.

I know we all age differently and no doubt our outlook on things like this will be different once we are older e.g. upper 60's and over. E.g. if I'm lucky enough to reach old age, I might have the philosophy 'the last thing I want to do is replace that bath waste, where's my phone to call a plumber!' nevertheless I think it'll be a sad day when I can no longer do these tasks whether I actually want to or not.

I imagine a scenario of something simple needing done and having to pay someone to come in and do it for me, perhaps not even to the best standard!

Just thought I'd cheer you all up with my thoughts

 

[Stivino]

When I want to pull out the washing machine, I spray some surface cleaner on the tiles in front of it. The soap in the cleaner helps the machine to slide.

 

[Brigadier]

One the last couple of years, I have acquired "dolls ' eyes"

That, or my arms have grown shorter

 

[bernardgreen]

pull out the washing machine

my Dyson washing machine has rollers and braking system

but yes as time goes by one's physical abilities do reduce, but one's skills and knowledge acquired from DIY can be passed on the to next generation as they do the physical things you need doing,

 

[Old Salt]

I’m 68 and today I have fitted a SS balustrade with 6 posts and 4 rails and shifted 1 tonne of 10mm gravel, stripped a sack truck ready to repair a puncture tomorrow and collected some heated towel rail valves from toolstation. Yesterday I plastered a small wall and made 2 unicorn horns (don't ask) on my 3d printer. Tomorrow I am having an easy day fix the puncture and build a wooden compost bin.

The problem is if I stop I seize up so its just easier to keep going

 

[durhamplumber]

WARNING: not a cheery post!

I'm getting ever closer to 50. Although not old, I can tell a physical difference compared to myself 20+ years ago, yes I know, to be expected! And will only continue.

However this got me thinking. For those of us fortunate enough to be in reasonable shape throughout our lives and who enjoy DIY to whatever extent, the day will come when we're not physically able to do anything other than smaller jobs. For example, consider lifting and installing solid wooden internal doors around the house. The day will come when that door is simply too heavy for you. Or maybe contorting yourself to fit a new bath waste, again the day will come for most of us when we simply won't be able to do it. Even simple things like pulling the washing machine out to check something then push back in could be a no no.

I know we all age differently and no doubt our outlook on things like this will be different once we are older e.g. upper 60's and over. E.g. if I'm lucky enough to reach old age, I might have the philosophy 'the last thing I want to do is replace that bath waste, where's my phone to call a plumber!' nevertheless I think it'll be a sad day when I can no longer do these tasks whether I actually want to or not.

I imagine a scenario of something simple needing done and having to pay someone to come in and do it for me, perhaps not even to the best standard!

Just thought I'd cheer you all up with my thoughts

Im 57..lifting combi boilers on and off walls is not as easy!.

 

[conny]

I'm 64 and just started a new job doing maintenance at a local college. Big difference to maintenance on multi-million pound machines in a fast paced factory but just as physically demanding. I often 'choose' to walk up 4 flights of stairs instead of using the staff lift unless I am taking something heavy up to another floor. I can beat my boss to the top floor even though he is almost 10 years younger and a non smoker. Last week I had to move a heavy filing cabinet and as I prepared to tilt it back on the truck one of the students asked if I needed a hand. I replied, "Thanks for the offer but I can manage." I smiled to myself as they stood there as if ready to grab it when it fell and enjoyed the comment by one young lady who whispered to her mate, "F**k me! He's fit!" as I gripped the front of the cabinet and tilted it backwards onto the trolley. As I walked past I said to her, "It's technique that counts."

BTW, I'm 5'8" tall and weigh around 11st so no big hulk by any means.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Good to read the more positive quotes and yeah I agree it's important to 'keep going'

I suppose what I was driving at is, whether it's 65, 70, 75, 80+ years of age, when things become too physically difficult, it will be a bitter pill to swallow, especially if you consider yourself 'handy' when it comes to odd jobs etc. Folk that haven't lifted a screwdriver in their puff won't be put up nor down when it comes to that side of things.

 

[^woody^]

You can always Dignitas It Yourself.

 

[securespark]

I'm feeling old at the moment.

We are having our bedroom (an extension over a garage) renovated from the floor up to the roof.

I can no longer do what I used to. For a start, I can't climb ladders, which discounts countless (often simple) tasks.

Because I can't do stuff, I want other people to do the job the way I would.

Doubtless there will be split opinion about this, but I feel that if you are being paid to do a job for someone and they specify that you do the job in a certain way using certain materials, you should stick to that.

Mrs Secure calls me a perfectionist, but I feel annoyed that I am compromising on the quality of the work.

The roofer was a nightmare. He promised he had engaged BC but as we got near the end of the job, it became perfectly clear he had not.
As we had insisted on BC being involved from the off, we told him he would not get a penny until BC had signed it off. He did some work inside to strengthen and stiffen the roof and billed us extra for it, despite it being included in the list of roof works on the original quote.
He then told us that the skip and scaff he hired would remain on hire until we paid him and if extra charges were due, we would be liable. The delays were his fault because he did not engage BC. He hired the skip and scaff, so we told him the contract was not between us and the companies, but between him and the companies, so he could sing for that.
He ordered a larger skip than was needed, told us the skip co did not have a smaller one and when I asked if the skip co were charging us extra, he said, "Of course!"
Then he turned up one day and while loading a pile of his daughter's rubbish into the skip (on our own driveway) generously told us we could put our own rubbish in the skip we were paying for.
He also turned up on several occasions and dumped stuff in the skip from other builds.

We threatened to prosecute him for trespass to stop him, but he still made one more visit, caught on our neighbour's CCTV.

He did a real rough job on the GRP roof, used Summer rated resins instead of Winter and the insulation was only 100mm.

Plus, when I asked about insulating internally, he told me that as far as he was concerned, he had done a warm roof and that was it.

Nightmare.

Then the plumber came and first fixed the en-suite. I asked him to use copper and run the pipes straight through the ceiling to the garage below where all the pipework is, but he said no one uses copper these days and it was easier to run the pipes under the floor.

Then the flooring guy came. I asked him if he had done this sort of job before and he said many times. He cut the rigid insulation so badly it looked like he'd used a teaspoon.

It turned out he didn't use the glue I bought (well, he used half a bottle), didn't use as many screws as I wanted him to, he started laying the 2400 x 600 sheets so the short sides were completely unsupported.
Instead of using an off-cut of timber to protect the flooring when tapping it into place, he would smack it with a hammer.
Where he cut round the soil pipe and the basin pipework, it was really rough, instead of cutting a "U" round the soil pipe, he just cut a corner out of the sheet, leaving a large area uncovered.
How do we lay the floor on top of that?

I asked him to cut out a larger hole for the fan, and he smashed out the block supporting the inner part of the window lintel.

These are tradesmen who have been recommended by people we know as excellent workers.

The only trade to do a faultless job was the plasterer, who quoted less than half the amount the other two plasterers we got to quote.

I now realise this has turned from a post about me not being able to do stuff into a rant and for that I apologise!

 

[ellal]

Hate getting people in to do a job I 'think' I can do

Not 'old', but no spring chicken either.
And the aches and pains are getting worse!

But what I've learnt over the years is that experience (and has been mentioned technique) can overcome physical shortcomings.
In particular finding different ways of using your 'toys' - both power and hand tools!

Plus you can never have enough clamps to give you a helping hand!

 

[Mikefromlondon]

Good to hear most of you have survived Corona Virus, but hey guys you need to look after yourself especially if you are past 60, Corona virus has killed more older people than younger generation, glad to say that I beat it, I just had mild symptoms like fever and loss of smell, aches all over my body, I isolated myself and rested for a few days and it was gone, but the loss of smell lasted about a month.

Yes I am 67, and glad to say I am still fairly active DIYer, been on to my roof to change some tiles, and I hate heights, but with the help of a small light weight tower, I felt very comfortable once it was secured tightly. I have a choice between hiring a cowboy roofer or do it myself and enjoy bodging it up myself and save my money, why pay others to bodge it up! Yes, as long as my bones allow me I will stop at nothing, sometimes this week i will be changing a ****ing bog , tenants broke the toilet pan and claim they have no idea why it broke and claim it is normal wear and tear as it has been there for so long! They sent me a picture and one can clearly see it has been struct by a sharp object!

 

[sodthisforfun]

Dad in law is 91, and his birthday wishlist present this year was a pillar drill... so he can mend a few things before their fishing holiday next year.

Sure, not moving heavy things so much these days, but I love that he's never been a bloke to sit still, nor pay someone to do anything if he can help it. About 5 years ago he was up on the roof, inspecting the tiles that needed fixing - we weren't too happy to learn that he had been up there but we were quite impressed .

my Dyson washing machine has rollers and braking system

but yes as time goes by one's physical abilities do reduce, but one's skills and knowledge acquired from DIY can be passed on the to next generation as they do the physical things you need doing,

Is that a roundabout way of saying 'get the kids to do it'?!

 

[durhamplumber]

BTW, I'm 5'8" tall and weigh around 11st so no big hulk by any means.

Im 5ft 9...13 stone..need to lose a bit

 

[durhamplumber]

F**k me! He's fit!" as I gripped the front of the cabinet and tilted it backwards onto the trolley. As I walked past I said to her, "It's technique that counts

Lol...Top stuff.