Avoid having a bank holiday DIY disaster

UK residents together spent more than £22 billion on DIY projects in their homes over the past year, on average £1,085 each, according to recent research carried out by Sainsbury’s Bank Credit Cards.

With a bank holiday at the end of the month, many homeowners will be already thinking about what DIY projects they will be getting up to on their day off. It is a good opportunity to get done those jobs you’ve been putting off for ages, such as decorating, putting in new flooring or doing some tiling in the bathroom. But it is worth remembering that some careful planning and research will go a long way to help prevent any potentially costly DIY disasters and also importantly, get the job done.

One of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to property maintenance is underestimating the cost of the project. Also, damage to walls, ceilings, flooring and furnishings is another frequent DIY blunder. Research by Santander Insurance has found that 6% of people’s bodged home improvement resulted in burst pipes and 3% faced with damage to their lofts.

You need to be realistic with yourself about your skills and the time you have available to do the work.

One way to make sure that all the DIY jobs are finished properly is by calling in an expert property maintainer. They will have all the experience, skills and tools to make sure that every task is not only completed on time, but to a high quality.

But if you are keen to tackle some of the jobs yourself, then remember, preparation is key. Research is crucial to a successful DIY project. Make sure you know exactly what you are doing right from the start. Get advice from your local DIY shop, read a DIY guidebook or look online for home improvement advice and tips. There are even useful YouTube video guides that can show you how to do a variety of different DIY jobs. Make sure you don’t scrimp on any of the tools needed for the job either.

If you just decide to dive in with no preparation, then chances are you will end up having to go back over the work you’ve already done, or call in a handyman to repair what you’ve done and finish the job.

It is very important to never tackle a household job that could be dangerous or that needs a professional tradesman or maintenance expert. Complicated tasks such as electrical jobs, should be seen to by a professional at all times. If you do not know what you are doing and do not have the right tools or equipment, then you could seriously hurt yourself and cause a lot of expensive damage to your home.

If you do feel confident enough to tackle the DIY jobs yourself, you must never do it when you have had a drink. Alarming research from insurers Direct Line has discovered that 3.3 million people admit to having had two or more alcoholic drinks before undertaking home improvement work.

If you decide to do some DIY but it all goes wrong, don’t be afraid to call in a professional maintenance expert who will be happy to make any necessary repairs and make sure the job is completed quickly and to a high standard.

Better still, why not just enjoy your bank holiday with your family and friends and leave all the property maintenance to the experts. That way you will have the peace of mind of knowing that the work will be finally done, and you can just get on enjoying your bank holiday.