The joy of DIY is quickly forgotten
as yet another costly mistake is made. We enjoy the challenge of doing it
ourselves but there are an almost comically high number of mistakes made every
year in Britain as clueless homeowners follow one bad decision with another.
The result is a disastrously bad job, a hell of a mess and a large bill. And to
think, we perform DIY tasks to avoid paying high bills for tradesmen! Below are
a list of the most common DIY mistakes seen in thousands of UK homes each year.
Look Behind The Nails!
Hands up if you’re guilty of
hammering nails or screws into a wall without checking to see what’s behind it
first. It’s amazing how
few people remember that there are water pipes possibly located there.
Suddenly, a ridiculously simple job such as hanging a picture turns into a mess
that costs hundreds of pounds to repair. You can purchase a device that detects
wires and pipes and this could save you a world of frustration. Although the
detector is not 100% accurate, it does give you a fighting chance of avoiding
pipes and wires.
Snakes And Ladders
You’ve probably heard to one about the
guy who cut a branch off a tree but failed to realise that he was sitting on
the branch at the time. This clichéd DIY mishap is actually frighteningly
commonplace as is using the wrong sized ladder for a job. Do not pick a ladder
that is too short and try to make up the shortfall by reaching for your target.
If the ladder is too short, leave it and find one that is longer. While you’re at it, get
someone to keep the ladder secure. After all, you don’t want a simple window washing job to
led to a spell in hospital.
Bad Fittings
Falling fixtures are a menace and are
common amongst British households where DIY has been performed. Lights and
other things start falling down if they are not attached properly. The most
obvious culprit is use of the wrong sized screw or bolt. When you do this, you’re not only
asking for the fixture to get damaged, someone could get seriously injured as
well.
Illegal Structure
Don’t begin to add an extension to your
home or perform any DIY work which alters its exterior without contacting your
local housing authority. Begin the project without following this step and you
could find that a neighbour objects to the project and it gets shut down
immediately. Seek permission and a permit and remember that these are two
separate items. This step must be followed even if you’re only installing replacement
windows.
This is far from a comprehensive list
of DIY mistakes but they are among the most common. DIY can be rewarding but
also problematic. When a simple task starts to turn into a nightmare, you know
you’re on the
wrong track. Although you cannot become a DIY expert overnight, you can use
some common sense and know when to cut your losses. And sometimes, these losses
include asking for professional help.
