Homeowners who take on DIY tasks themselves by researching the topic - which may involve plumbing courses - could stand to save themselves some money.
This is the view of Anne-Marie DeSouza, editor of Build It magazine, who pointed out that people can always ask a friend or neighbour to explain how a certain project is carried out.
She suggested that approaching a task well prepared is important, which means training such as plumbing courses could be beneficial.
"In this period of austerity, every homeowner should really be doing their best to do what they can at home themselves, make do and mend and complete the minor tasks," said Ms DeSouza.
She described it as concerning that many people hire a tradesman every time they need a simple piece of DIY done and claimed they are wasting their money.
Her comments were made in response to research by Comcero.com, which indicated that many men would not know how to bleed a radiator or rewire a plug.
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