OFF TO B&Q FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS?

We might think summer is the time for holidays, but it is also the most popular season to tackle DIY.

A third of us believe it’s the best time to get those niggling jobs sorted around the house – spending thousands of pounds and precious holiday time doing it.

While staycations have increased in popularity over the past few years, research from insurance firm Towergate reveals many people are choosing to stay home to do a spot of DIY, rather than chilling.

We spend an average 6.5 days doing jobs around the house each year. Londoners splash the most cash doing up their properties at an average £4,965 a year, followed by people in Northern Ireland spending £4,623 and the North East coughing up £4,533. Scots and the Welsh spend the least at £2,467 and £2,789 respectively.

Natalia Freeman from Towergate said: “It is surprising to see that across the UK people are giving up sunnier climes and are favouring staycations to spruce up their home.”

But be wary if you are about to get your tools ready – because huge numbers of DIY jobs go wrong.

Almost a third of people who attempted a kitchen refit said they had to bring in the experts to sort out their bodged job.

Bathrooms cause chaos too as a quarter of people had to get their mistakes fixed – as had a fifth who tried painting and decorating.

Natalia added: “Whether inspired by Pinterest, a DIY show, or you’re simply trying to save money, it’s worth seeking the advice of a professional for those slightly bigger or trickier jobs.

“It’s also important to remember that work you carry out in your home may not be covered by your standard home insurance policy. So it’s crucial that you check your policy exclusions and contact your broker.”