Avoid DIY disaster this weekend - OliverFinn

Do-it-yourself disasters cost Britons ?4.4 billion a year and men cause more damage than women.

Brits are forking out billions to put right bodged ?home improvements?.?For 10% of Brits DIY will end in disaster and cost them an average of ?166 to put right.

However for Londoners the average cost ?324 ? a scary statistic in view of the DIY frenzy expected over the Easter weekend.?The findings also showed men were worse than women, causing around ?30 more damage.

New research from Allianz Your Cover Insurance reveals that over the Easter bank holiday more than a third (36%) of DIY-ers will dust off their paint pots and power drills and get stuck into home improvements.

The study shows household belt tightening has forced us to take on more jobs around the home over the last 12 months ? but that means more can go wrong. And men are bigger bodgers than women, causing around ?30 more damage than their other halves.

Despite being left with a large repair bill, over half (56 %) of Brits rate their DIY skills as either ?good? or ?excellent?. ?Around?86% said they couldn?t afford to pay professionals or were just trying to save money.

Unfortunately a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing and DIY damage can cost more in the long run. Top five DIY disasters are:

1. Spilling paint/glue (35%)
2. Damaging a wall (29%)
3. Breaking a window (25%)
4. Breaking furniture (23%)
5. Damaging a ceiling (22%)

Top five jobs Brits would employ a professional for:

1. Building e.g. an extension (82%)
2. Large scale electrics (80%)
3. Large scale plumbing (79%)
4. Plastering (76%)
5. Installing something large e.g. shower or bathroom (75%)

Top five DIY jobs:

1. Small odd jobs (88%)
2. Painting a room (86%)
3. Putting up shelves (78%)
4. Wallpapering a room (73%)
5. Putting up a decorative feature (61%)

DIY damage can often be claimed back on home insurance but this will result in higher premiums. It?s therefore best to get some expert help or better still, identify potential faults before they become problems such as gutters and roofs.

In separate research by home improvement retailer Wickes, it appears that 1 in 5 of us admit to ?botched? home improvement jobs. When it comes to DIY, both women and men prefer to trust the wisdom of their fathers or grandfathers rather than ask for professional advice.

For DIY-ers who could do with some extra help here are some ?how-to? videos and Good Idea Leaflets, with expert tips and advice.

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