Dont Do It Yourself

A home is generally the largest financial investment most people will ever make. Buying a house or flat is a costly process but one that can, and usually does, pay off in the future. Whether the benefits are financial such as when it comes to selling it on and gaining equity, or practical by simply ensuring a family home for years to come, they will generally be welcome.

It is inevitable then, that so many people wish to undertake a little home improvement. As property is viewed more and more as an investment in recent years than ever before, the inclination to continue to improve is also stronger than it ever has been. In fact, the DIY and garden market was worth ?16 billion in 2003, almost doubling in size since 1993 and meaning it is the fourth largest retail market in the UK after food, clothing and footwear, and electricals.

That market includes products for the construction, adaptation, decoration and fixing of bathrooms, furniture, windows and floor coverings, buildings, gardens, hardware and lighting. Each sector is catered for extensively by the three major retailers in the country – B&Q, Focus/Do-it-all/Wickes, and Homebase, who own over 1,000 stores between them and represent the vast majority of the UK industry.

However readily available the right tools for the job may be, there are seemingly still many ways to get that job wrong. It is estimated that DIY mistakes cost homeowners around ?850m a year, simply to pay to have a professional do the job they should have been employed to do in the first place. Even more worryingly, around 70 people die each year from more dramatic mishaps caused by attempts at ‘doing it yourself’.

Personal injury is possibly the second most common problem encountered, after financial cost, but is arguably the most serious. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the most dangerous DIY tools are knives and scalpels (causing 21,300 accidents in the UK each year); saws (causing 15,100 accidents); grinders (6,400); hammers (5,800); chisels (3,900); screwdrivers (3,400); power drills (3,000); axes (2,200); planes (2,100) and welding equipment (2,000).

Even despite this, it was estimated in 2006 that men spent an average of 25 minutes per day on repairs. Fortunately, there are simple methods of making sure accidents are avoided, and RoSPA advise that DIYers should, firstly, spend more time on planning and, secondly, ensure that safety gear — such as gloves, masks and goggles — are worn whenever necessary.

For those who just can’t help themselves tackling that small niggling job, a good home insurance policy may well be the only protection against any accidental damage caused by misled attempts to ‘fix’ or ‘improve’. In general, it’s usually best to at least consult an expert prior to completing any work on a building, no matter how small. If possible, unless you know exactly what you’re doing, it is seemingly better to never do it yourself.

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.