Don't do it yourselfThe data also revealed that a staggering one in four people have injured themselves whilst undertaking DIY (28 %), which may explain their reluctance to put up shelves, lay flooring or tile walls.
- Over half of the population don’t ‘do it themselves’
- One in twenty DIY enthusiasts need to call a tradesman in to correct their work
- One in four are injured doing DIY.
Almost one in three homeowners (29%) enlist their long-suffering partners and spouses, who are expected to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in to home improvements and renovations, whilst a further one in five (19%) prefer to pay ‘a man who can’ and call in the professionals. Parents are likely to be enlisted to help too, with one in three of those in their early twenties turning to them for DIY help in the house (29%).
Other key facts about the nation's DIY:
- Men are the most accident-prone, being twice as likely as women to injure themselves (35% vs 15% respectively)
- The worst offenders for getting someone else to do it are in the North East (35%), with the Welsh (55%) being the most eager to do it themselves
- However the Welsh appear to be the clumsiest nation (35%), followed closely by the South West (34%). However, ‘Not-So-Handy Andys’ in the North East (13%) are more likely to have an accident that requires hospital treatment, which could explain why they are more likely to rely on the professionals!
Experience clearly counts for a lot – nine in ten (90%) of those aged 50+ have never had to call in a tradesman to correct their shoddy work, whereas only 63% of those aged 18-24 could say the same!
Saga Home Insurance advises DIY enthusiasts to make sure they do not attempt home improvements if they are not confident in their abilities, and to always take their time, wearing suitable clothing and footwear. And finally check they have full accidental damage cover added to their buildings and contents insurance just in case they do make any mistakes!
*Research carried out by YouGov for Saga Home Insurance between 7th and 12th September amongst a UK representative sample of 2231 respondents.