Plumbing - ''Unskilled should not do DIY''

28/05/2008

Homeowners looking to spruce up their property with DIY projects to kitchens and bathrooms should only attempt tasks they have to ability to do well, experts in the area have claimed.

The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) said as people keep a closer eye on their finances because of the credit crunch, it is more tempting use DIY to save money.

However, the average homeowner should only attempt basic jobs, such as hanging wallpaper, painting walls and putting up cupboards, to avoid risk to themselves and their property.

Andrew Leech, technical consultant to the NHIC, commented: "If you don’t have the knowledge then you shouldn't attempt things like re-plumbing or electricity - that’s out of the frame these days - and anything above roof level or guttering because these are all dangerous activities."

Research from Zurich Insurance suggests that 16 per cent of homeowners have had to call in a professional fix their DIY mistakes, while ten per cent of people who made a mistake waited more than one year to correct it.