Majority of Brits admit to botching DIY

The upcoming bank holiday on May 25^th could lead to another spike in home emergency cover claims, as people across the country look set to attempt DIY despite risking damage to their property.

Indeed, recent research from Nationwide Building Society found that 56% of have-a-go handymen have previously botched a DIY job, with this seemingly regardless of the particular job undertaken, and that 80% of people saying they would perform home improvements themselves rather than pay for a professional’s help.

According to the study, the most commonplace types of property damage caused during DIY are:

• Spills, such as white spirit, glue or paint (35%)
• Marks on the wall (22%),
• Damage to flooring (10%),
• Broken windows (10%), and
• Damage to furniture (10%)

What DIY work causes these home emergencies?

Typically, Brits are happier to perform relatively manageable work than anything particularly complicated. The research found that the tasks DIY enthusiasts most regularly get involved in are:

• Painting or wallpapering (70%),
• Bleeding radiators (65%), and
• Gardening (62%).

However, some people are a bit more ambitious or confident, and are happy to get involved in more difficult tasks. These include:

• Knocking walls down (24%),
• Insulating their loft (21%),
• Fitting a kitchen (12%), and
• Fitting a bathroom (12%).

But a DIY disaster can prove to be a costly mistake – Nationwide said that 19% of people with DIY horror stories ended up with a bill of more than £200!

Head of General Insurance for the company Martyn Dyson said that Bank Holidays are a prime time for people to get stuck into home improvement jobs, but warned that DIYers can end up with “more damage than good”, especially if they are not experienced.

He advised people that intend to DIY this weekend to ensure they do not rush into the project and that they stop and think about it, and said people ought to be “realistic about their capabilities”.

Get protected with home emergency cover

At 247 Home Rescue, we know how disastrous home emergencies can be. Our home emergency cover is an ideal solution to this issue – we will protect you from emergencies and breakdowns involving your plumbing, drainage, electricity, security, gas supply, central heating system and much more!