The UK’s Worst Home DIY Disasters to Avoid

Guest Blogger #758, Entry #1775, October 31, 2012

Hiring a tradesman to remodel your house can be quite costly and when money is tight, it is understandable why so many homeowners set out to improve their property by themselves. DIY projects have been around since the dawn of time but over the years, accidents have happened.

There is a fundamental reason why you should hire an expert- it can be dangerous. And there are many aspects which you need to take into account- is planning permission required; do you need insulation; what material is the most energy efficient?

Try to avoid these DIY failures at your home!

It may seem more desirable to carry out the work solo but it is important that you thoroughly research the renovation beforehand and get expert advice to avoid a disaster. Everything has to be properly organised because a mistake can have damaging effects on the house as well as your health.

One can argue that installing windows by yourself is acceptable but under no circumstances should you install your own solar roofing panels. A ‘botched job’ can cause a leak and a hefty repair bill so beware the pitfalls of DIY.

Here are 3 of the UK’s worst DIY fiascos – make sure you evade the following scenarios.

Fence failure

What’s the worst that could happen when building a garden fence? Plenty! One homeowner in Cambridgeshire was left very much out of pocket by British Telecom (BT) when he accidentally sliced through a telephone cable. David Brown was landed a whopping £25,000 repair bill.

Ensure you don’t have a fencing failure

Painting problem

Have you ever come to redecorate a room and found it extremely time-consuming and boring to peel the wallpaper off each wall? Well one man from Canvey Island in Essex attempted a shortcut that only caused a massive problem.

The homeowner tried to burn the old paint off the walls but accidentally set the property on fire. The damage? Over 60 fire-fighters had to tackle the blaze and he was left stranded without a home for 2 weeks.

This painting job is flawless, unlike other homeowners.

Timber trouble

Everyone at some point in their lives has needed to move house or expand the property to cater to a growing brood. Well this is the case for one man called Christopher Pendery who tried to transform his existing living space. He set out to turn his loft into a bedroom for his kids and started sawing through the timbers- only to accidentally saw through the ones that were holding up the roof!

The price he paid for being a DIY enthusiast? The repairs cost the housing association £15,000 and he was given 160 hours’ community service.

Use the catastrophic mishaps as a warning when considering DIY in your home. Certain jobs are risky and should be left to the professionals.

This article was provided by Myredlandroof.co.uk, the UK’s leading roofing experts. Visit the site today to find a reputable local roofer to carry out your roof repair and replacement work.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.