[Misc] Mucked up again

[Normal Rob]

This weekend, in our new home, i managed to drop a heavy slate bathroom worktop onto the loo, smashing it to pieces. Not only that, it turns out that the loo needs a a rather unusual flush pipe that you cannot buy in the shops. To be honest my ineptitude is getting me down a little, as i frequently seem to muck things up when all I'm trying to do is help (this time i was trying to put put a disinfectant block in the hidden cistern). I've always been crap at this sort of thing, starting aged 2 when i flooded my parents house whilst playing in the bathroom.

Can people please post stories of their DIY disasters to prove that I'm not the only one, and put a smile back on my face. I've been thoroughly miserable ever since.

 

[Is it PotG?]

Danny Baker's books have a few nice ones.

Painting the bedroom ceiling by jumping up and down on the bed, being over zealous with the tap when washing the lid of a paint tin and screwing his socks to the floor when constructing a flat-pack.

 

[m@goo]

This is why I don't do most DIY. If I can't do it and if I can't afford to get it done then it doesn't get done.

 

[lawros left foot]

I generally have to do things twice, once to learn from my mistakes, and once to do it properly.
It’s a bit of a family joke.


I excelled myself recently though. I bought an 8 foot trampoline for the back garden for the grandkids.

4 goes to build it.

It was amazingly easy, once I read the instructions properly.

 

[BLOCK F]

Rob, sorry to hear of your woes.
I found out a long time ago that I was generally useless at all things to do with DIY and now leave everything to the professionals who have not only got the know how, but also the right tools for the job.
I can assure you that you aren’t the only one.
Hope you get it all fixed soon.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Not really a DIY disaster, but the most numbnuts thing i have ever done...


My Dad is an electrician - One birthday he asked me to get him a screwdriver that has a bulb inside, which lights up when it's touching a live wire.
I managed to get one and decided to test it by taking the back from a plug and then pushing it into a socket!

Quite an exhilarating second or two.
Think I was about 13 or so,

 

[BBassic]

I once called an electrician in to look at the light in the hallway. It had blown and I couldn't get the bulb out to change it. Naturally I thought it must be some special type of bulb that you needed special tools to work with.

Turns out I was just turning it the wrong way.

 

[nickbrighton]

My entire family are DIY experts, my father in particular. He would have no hesitation in deciding to knock walls dow3n, remove chimney breasts , all sorts. He was a master carpenter and cabinet maker. A proper highly skilled master of his craft.

Consequently I KNOW how to do almost everything, I certainly know how long things should take, and how they should be done. The one problem is I simply can not do anything more adventurous than paint a wall-but not the edges or woodwork.

I find in incredibly frustrating when Mr Nickbrighton does DIY, which he does very well and to a high standard, but when it takes him all afternoon to do a job that I know my Dad, or Brother, could do in an hour, and he doesnt do it the right way I get very irritated, and have to basically leave or I say something. Its the only thing that causes real tension between us, and its daft cause i simply can not do any of it. I just find it almost impossible to say "why dont you do it this way"

I am in awe of these people who can just do this stuff, and I hate the fact that I simply cant even though I know how

 

[vegster]

This weekend, in our new home, i managed to drop a heavy slate bathroom worktop onto the loo, smashing it to pieces. Not only that, it turns out that the loo needs a a rather unusual flush pipe that you cannot buy in the shops. To be honest my ineptitude is getting me down a little, as i frequently seem to muck things up when all I'm trying to do is help (this time i was trying to put put a disinfectant block in the hidden cistern). I've always been crap at this sort of thing, starting aged 2 when i flooded my parents house whilst playing in the bathroom.

Can people please post stories of there DIY disaster to prove that i'm not the only one, and put a smile back on my face. I've been thoroughly miserable ever since.

If it's any consolation I'm as bad as you, tried various home " Improvements" over the years and they have either gone badly wrong, or needed purchase of special tools or equipment you never need again or just look like a bodge job at the end, Unless its incredibly simple I pay to have it done as It's not worth my stress, anxiety and despair. About the only thing I trust myself to do these days is to paint.

 

[Poojah]

I feel your pain. I can assure you, and my wife will absolutely attest to this, I am the most useless man alive when it comes to anything remotely practical, particularly anything that involves finesse or dexterity. I was born this way - my brain just isn't wired in a way that makes practical tasks, especially DIY, viable. What might seem like a straightforward task or series of processes to most people is utterly mindboggling to me - I genuinely couldn't even tie my own shoelaces until I was about thirteen, that's how bad it is.

My dear old mum has always told me that she thinks I am 'dyspraxic'. I'm not sure whether it's even a medically recognised condition, but it's essentially dyslexia for doing 'stuff'. My head doesn't communicate with my hands, and vice versa, in a smooth or logical way. It's like the messages my brain wants to send get scrambled along the way, so what happens at the other end bares no resemblance to what was intended. I have always been monumentally clumsy.

I make up for my flaws in other ways, but it's nevertheless quite emasculating having to 'get a man in' to put up a couple of shelves, or something equally rudimentary. The fact you're having a go is something in itself. I do, just about, have a go at flat pack furniture but that seldom ends well - the amount of times I've had to return things, half-built, because..."err...it was faulty", you wouldn't believe.

Just remember, no matter how bad you are at something, there's always someone out there who is worse than you. Except me. I am pretty sure I am the worst person in the world at DIY.

Don't sweat it, you're no doubt better than a lot of other people at something else.

 

[timbha]

This weekend, in our new home, i managed to drop a heavy slate bathroom worktop onto the loo, smashing it to pieces. Not only that, it turns out that the loo needs a a rather unusual flush pipe that you cannot buy in the shops. To be honest my ineptitude is getting me down a little, as i frequently seem to muck things up when all I'm trying to do is help (this time i was trying to put put a disinfectant block in the hidden cistern). I've always been crap at this sort of thing, starting aged 2 when i flooded my parents house whilst playing in the bathroom.

Can people please post stories of their DIY disasters to prove that I'm not the only one, and put a smile back on my face. I've been thoroughly miserable ever since.

Those disinfectant block are no good for the cistern. They can cause limescale. I’m useless at DIY too

 

[BN9 BHA]

This weekend, in our new home, i managed to drop a heavy slate bathroom worktop onto the loo, smashing it to pieces. Not only that, it turns out that the loo needs a a rather unusual flush pipe that you cannot buy in the shops. To be honest my ineptitude is getting me down a little, as i frequently seem to muck things up when all I'm trying to do is help (this time i was trying to put put a disinfectant block in the hidden cistern). I've always been crap at this sort of thing, starting aged 2 when i flooded my parents house whilst playing in the bathroom.

Can people please post stories of their DIY disasters to prove that I'm not the only one, and put a smile back on my face. I've been thoroughly miserable ever since.

I don’t think you need the unusual flush pipe if you have smashed your bog

https://www.toiletspares.co.uk/flush-pipes-seals.html

I know it’s being wise after the event but what sort of block were you trying to put into the cistern?
Some of these blocks can actually damage the components of modern cisterns.

 

[Boroseagull]

Those disinfectant block are no good for the cistern. They can cause limescale. I’m useless at DIY too

Yes, better to use Toilet Duck gell patches in the actual bowl. Far less chance of causing serious damage!

 

[pasty]

Not really our own fault, but had a paint tin handle snap at the top of the stairs down to the basement, resulting in 2 litres of white emulsion splattered all down the stairs

 

[BN9 BHA]

Not really our own fault, but had a paint tin handle snap at the top of the stairs down to the basement, resulting in 2 litres of white emulsion splattered all down the stairs

View attachment 139315

Is that Brighton wallpaper?

 

[The Rattler]

Not really our own fault, but had a paint tin handle snap at the top of the stairs down to the basement, resulting in 2 litres of white emulsion splattered all down the stairs

View attachment 139315

God’s way of telling you Red and Blue must NEVER go together.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mr Bridger]

I don’t think you need the unusual flush pipe if you have smashed your bog

https://www.toiletspares.co.uk/flush-pipes-seals.html

I know it’s being wise after the event but what sort of block were you trying to put into the cistern?
Some of these blocks can actually damage the components of modern cisterns.

This. Avoid toilet blocks

New builds have to have a non return valve on bottom entry cisterns due to back siphoning of these things.

 

[Rowdey]

Those disinfectant block are no good for the cistern. They can cause limescale. I’m useless at DIY too

Not sure about scale but they do break down into lumps, and then block the flush valve/syphon so you have constant running water, and then need a plumber to sort..
Always use one which goes in the pan, not cistern..

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

God’s way of telling you Red and Blue must NEVER go together.


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Excellent And sorry to hear pasty, and Rob

 

[BN9 BHA]

This. Avoid toilet blocks

New builds have to have a non return valve on bottom entry cisterns due to back siphoning of these things.

I believe Fluidmaster flush valves have a warning in the instructions to not use toilet blocks.

I curse every time I have to change anything in a cistern that has a blue or green toilet block, I’ve had blue hands, blue tools and blue towels