Britain is a nation of do it yourself rookies making mistakes in the home that cost a small fortune, according to new research.
The survey of 1,011 British adults carried out by home heating oil supplier, SuperSaverOil.com, found that 77% of Brits have committed a blunder that has cost them when attempting DIY in their home.
The most common mistake made by optimistic Brits is skimping on materials and running out mid-job – 72% confess to having done so.
63% of Brits admit to inaccurately measuring a space when attempting DIY in the home, while 61% confess to having damaged carpets or furnishings by not protecting surfaces properly.
59% of clumsy Brits have injured themselves during DIY.
More than half (52%) have used the wrong type of paint before when repainting a surface, while 51% have commenced painting a surface without preparing the surface adequately.
28% have failed to obtain the correct permits before commencing with structural work.
23% have incorrectly plumbed in an appliance in incorrectly, while nearly 1 in 5 (19%) have given themselves an electric shock in a bid to fix faulty electrics in their home.
1 in 10 inexperienced Brits have even caused a leak in their home by drilling through a pipe.
Mark Hackett, Project Manager at SuperSaverOil.com commented: “It’s fascinating to see just how many common DIY mistakes Britons are making in a bid to save money.
“DIY is a great way of keeping costs down but it’s important the correct procedures are followed to ensure both safety and the job is well done.
“While it’s encouraging to see so many are keen to learn the tricks of the trade, Britons should remember that attempting to fix something in the home themselves could be an extremely costly way of doing it, as they run the risk of making the issue worse. There comes a time when it’s best to bring in the professionals.”
Bristol is the DIY blunder capital of the UK, as 88% of locals confess to having committed a sin, compared to just 64% of residents in Belfast and 67% of those in Edinburgh.
Top 10 DIY blunders according to British homeowners:
1. 72% have run out of materials part-way through a job
2. 63% have measured up inaccurately
3. 61% have damaged carpets and furnishings
4. 59% have injured themselves
5. 52% have used the wrong paint
6. 51% failed to prepare the surface they were painting
7. 28% failed to obtain the correct permits
8. 23% have plumbed in pipes incorrectly
9. 19% have given themselves an electric shock
10. 10% caused a leak after drilling through a pipe
Super Saver Oil sells top quality home heating oil at competitive prices to new homes within Northern Ireland. For more information visit www.supersaveroil.com