site stats Brits have forked out more than £5billion to fix their botched DIY attempts – Posopolis

Brits have forked out more than £5billion to fix their botched DIY attempts

Illustration for an article about home DIY disasters, showing a cutaway of a house with various rooms and yellow warning triangles indicating problems, and a red box with the title "Home DIY disasters".

A POLL of 2,000 people found 93 per cent have attempted to ‘give it a go’ when it comes to the likes of installing pendant lighting, replumbing a radiator, and even knocking down a wall.

But many were unsuccessful in their endeavours, with 40 per cent having to spend an average of £239 calling in the experts to clean up their mess – a total of £5,082,996,813 across the nation.

Illustration of a cutaway house with "Home DIY disasters" and warning signs in different rooms.
Not known, clear with picture desk

A poll of 2,000 people found 93 per cent have attempted to ‘give it a go’[/caption]

Young man kneeling and assembling new furniture with a screwdriver.
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A man attempting to build furniture[/caption]

Overworked man covering his face with his hand while sitting at a kitchen counter with open paint cans and a paintbrush during a remodel project.
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A man looking exasperated after starting a DIY job[/caption]

Of those who have made a hash of a job, 69 per cent admitted that, in hindsight, they shouldn’t have tried to attempt some of them.

And 28 per cent admitted they are now more cautious in taking on bigger DIY tasks.

The research was commissioned by UK electrical certification and training body NICEIC which is encouraging people to call in the experts rather than giving it a go.

A spokesperson said: “Most of us have had an attempt at DIY, but it’s not always gone as planned.

“DIY going wrong can not only hit you in the wallet if there’s an issue, it can also be genuinely dangerous.

“This is particularly true when it comes to electrical work which really should be left to the professionals.”

The research also found in a typical year, those who have had to call in a pro to fix a job will do so on two occasions.

With top reasons for giving up on DIY tasks including simply finding themselves stuck halfway through (24 per cent) or not having the right tools (23 per cent).

After botching a job, 47 per cent were left frustrated, 38 per cent with feelings of stress and 33 per cent beset with regret.

More concerningly, 43 per cent reckon they’ve made a mistake when fixing their homes that was downright dangerous, according to the OnePoll.com figures.

This includes bursting a pipe or leak (37 per cent), receiving an electric shock (31 per cent) and falling off a ladder or stool (19 per cent).

The spokesperson for NICEIC added: “DIY can be incredibly rewarding, but when it comes to jobs that involve electrics, the risks simply aren’t worth it.

“Calling in a professional ensures the work is done safely, correctly, and in compliance with regulations, protecting your home and your health.”

A person's arm, wearing a grey knit sweater, paints a wall white with a paintbrush.
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Someone repainting a wall[/caption]

A family of four renovates a room by removing old wallpaper, with a mother on a ladder and her children helping or playing.
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A mother redecorating with three children playing[/caption]

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