Lay groundwork for successful DIY
Skills drain leaves one in three unable to do basics, says Harvey Jones
HALF of homeowners have suffered a DIY disaster, with wonky measuring, water leaks and personal injury the most common problems and it can often cost thousands to put things right.
The number of mishaps is rising as younger people’s DIY skills decline, so plan carefully if taking out your tool box over the spring bank holiday weekend.
POWER DOWN
While the older generation usually know how to play safe with power tools, many in their 20s and 30s struggle to do simple jobs.
Just a mere 41 per cent of 18 to 35-year-olds rate themselves as good at DIY, compared to 75 per cent who rate their grandparents as good.
One in three cannot do the basics such as take proper measurements, while assembling flat-pack furniture is the stuff of nightmares. More than a quarter have caused themselves serious injury, with 7 per cent visiting A&E, according to the research from First Utility Home Services.
Managing director Ed Kamm says the country’s DIY skills drain means that many find simple jobs too daunting: “Sixty per cent of Britons would prefer to pay for someone else to do their home improvements for them.”
First Utility offers an app to help you book local tradespeople, otherwise the following tips will come in handy.
Give yourself enough time to finish the job. A common mistake is to underestimate how long a piece of DIY will take, so it stays half-finished until the next bank holiday.
Decide what tools and materials you need and buy them in advance. The right tools make all the difference.
The old adage “measure twice, cut once” still applies, so get your measurements right. This should also save you money because you end up with fewer expensive off-cuts.
Drilling through a live electrical cable can land you in A&E so make sure you know what is behind the walls.
Electricity cables usually run vertically from a plug socket, so avoid drilling there.
Call in a professional for more complex electrical and plumbing projects.
DISASTER STRIKES
Households spend on average £3,000 rectifying DIY disasters, according to research from Towergate Insurance.
Every year DIY hospitalises 220,000 Britons, with ladders the most dangerous piece of equipment injuring 41,000, followed by saws, which injured more than 15,000, while 6,000 are treated for hammer-related accidents.
Natalia Freeman, insurance specialist at Towergate, warns that accidents and mistakes are not covered by standard home insurance policies. “Check your policy’s exclusions and contact your insurer before picking up your tools and getting to work.”
Adam Powell, head of operations at household insurer Policy Expert, says that while simple cosmetic DIY projects will not affect your home insurance, much larger DIY projects will. “You need to tell your insurer at least 30 days in advance if carrying out structural work such as rewiring your house, plumbing in a new bathroom or building an extension.”
Check whether you are covered for accidental damage, which comes as standard on some policies, but is an add-on extra on others. “This can protect you from DIY mishaps such as knocking down a supporting wall, which could affect the structure of your house and cost thousands to put right.”
You should also inform your insurer if any work changes your home’s dimensions. Powell says: “You could invalidate your policy if you do not mention the work has taken place and later have to make a claim.”
If in doubt, hire a reputable tradesperson, who offers the security of liability cover in case of mishaps.
Finally, remember that the biggest insurance claims are for escape of water. Powell adds: “Locate your stopcock and make sure it is turned off before dabbling in DIY plumbing.”