Men's 'tool envy' means DIY disaster

Male pride has sparked a new syndrome among those who confess to being DIY dunces - tool envy.

Hiring another man to tackle jobs they cannot do feels like failure to them.

Nearly three-quarters say they hate getting a professional to finish tasks, while two-thirds admit they compensate by adopting a macho attitude to tradesmen.

Which may explain why homeowners spend an average of 159 hours a year on basic plumbing and electrical tasks, carpentry, decorating and gardening - saving nearly £3,000.

Pride stops men shopping round for quotes and, even when they do call in the experts, their know-it-all manner leads to problems, according to a new report.

'It's tool envy. Far from solving problems, we believe it causes them,' said researcher Sian Callaghan. 'It is part of the reason jobs go wrong and complaints about cowboy tradesmen are growing.'

While women tend to be more diplomatic, just one in six get the chance to handle key negotiations, such as haggling on price or solving problems, studies by Barclays Bank and British Gas showed.