When should you avoid doing DIY in France

A reader has written to remind me of one of the reasons I started to learn DIY: because it is difficult to get artisans to do small jobs. 

The problem is certainly getting worse in rural areas. 

DIY, therefore, is not merely an option; it can sometimes be the only way to get a job done. This begs the question of what you should and should not attempt yourself. 

Partly, of course, it depends on physical fitness, problem-solving ability and handiness with a set of tools. Those provisos aside, I believe we can all do more than we think. 

It might be helpful to revise and pass on my own list of dos and don’ts, deriving from 20-plus years of trial and error. 

If I had to advise myself, when starting out, whether to do it or not, I would probably have said the following.

Firstly, be positive but realistic. 

If you give up before you start, you will never learn anything – but do not assume you can reroof or rewire a house between breakfast and lunchtime. 

Allow yourself to fail. You may have to make mistakes – learn how not to do it in order to know how to do it next time.

Be wary but not fearful. 

Some people are terrified of tampering with electricity or plumbing, but both subjects are within the scope of the average DIY-er. Of course, know where the stopcock is and familiarise yourself with the switchboard, but after that it’s a matter of looking and applying logic.

Aim to start and finish in one go, so the thing is not left hanging or the house without water. 

If necessary, break the task into manageable steps. For instance, assemble a new plumbing fitting one day and install it when you have time and are feeling more relaxed.

Ask for help. Friends and neighbours can be only too willing to guide you and some assistants in specialised shops can give wise counsel.

Make use of YouTube, too. When I started DIY there were only books to refer to. Now there are video tutorials galore – but be discerning. Find tutorials by professionals who know what they are doing and who are good at communicating techniques step by step.

It is important, too, to learn the language. I cannot stress this enough. Knowing the right words or phrases in French will enable you to get the right materials and information.

Pay someone (if you can) for the really skilled tasks that are going to drive you crazy and consume enormous amounts of time. 

I can plasterboard all you want, but I have never got the joints quite right. However, I know someone who does it for a living who can be persuaded to moonlight if the heavy part of the job is done. 

Learn about local techniques and materials. Trying to do things the British or American way can be a false economy, frustrating (you cannot easily buy a missing part) and can cause your work to fall foul of French regulations – which may also cause you problems with insurance.

When I first moved here, I was tempted to stick with three-pin UK electrical fittings because they are much more substantial than their French equivalents, but it would have been a mistake. 

Buy or hire the right equipment. You may have to splash out but it will make your life easier and you will still be saving on the hourly charges that you would otherwise have to pay to an artisan.

Finally, do not neglect safety – especially with ladders and scaffolding. I have a climbing harness, helmet and rope, which allow me to work at heights with some sense of security.

Are there any DIY assignments I would not tackle? Of course. I have employed professionals to do a number of larger jobs. 

Are there DIY projects that have gone infuriatingly wrong, causing stress and swearing? You bet. 

But 20 years of experimentation and practical education have left me with a great sense of achievement and self-reliance. 

If you have something you need doing, and you cannot get anyone to do it for you, maybe, with the greatest of care, and with respect to the rules above, you should do it yourself.