Amateur Brits wreak ‘DIY havoc’

Published 15th Oct 2007

Three quarters of a million Britons have damaged their homes after trying to emulate something that they had seen on a home improvement TV show, according to latest research from Halifax Home Insurance...

And at an average cost of £484 per time to rectify the damage, these bungling Brits have had to shell out over £350 million for repairs.

The research also found that Britain’s love affair for home makeover shows continues, with some 12 million Britons saying that they’d been inspired to embark upon a home improvement project after watching one in the past five years - spending an average of £4,880 each time.

Changing Rooms, arguably The Godfather of makeover shows and famous for its liberal use of MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard), was cited as the show that most people had tried to recreate in their home. In fact a whopping one-in-four British adults (27%) said that the show had turned them into a Handy Andy or Mandy. Property Ladder was said to have inspired 22% of Britons into carrying out a similar home improvement, while DIY SOS, the show that puts DIY disasters right, has been copied by 21%.

Home Idol
DIY SOS presenter, Nick Knowles, was also crowned as Britain’s Home Idol with some 7.2 million Brits (16%) finding him to be the most inspirational home makeover television personality. Knowles pipped straight-talking presenter of Property Ladder, Sarah Beeney (13%) and the ultra passionate Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs (10%) to the post.

Most inspirational DIY TV personalities
Rank Presenter DIY Show
1 Nick Knowles DIY SOS
2 Sarah Beeney Property Ladder
3 Kevin McCloud Grand Designs
4 Ann Maurice House Doctor
5 Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Changing Rooms
Source: Halifax Home Insurance 2007

Most copied DIY TV shows
Rank DIY Show
1 Changing Rooms
2 Property Ladder
3 DIY SOS
4 House Doctor
5 Grand Designs
Source: Halifax Home Insurance 2007

Vicky Emmott, Halifax Home Insurance, said: “It all looks so simple on TV, making it easy to forget that the work on makeover shows is being carried out by highly trained and skilled professionals. But if you don’t know what you’re doing we’d advise anyone planning any major improvements that DIY should really stand for Don’t Involve Yourself.

“Indeed trying to tackle certain areas that you are not qualified for, such as electrics or plumbing could invalidate your home insurance and leave you liable for the cost of any subsequent damage. It’s far better to employ a reputable tradesman than to risk damaging your home by going it alone.”

Emmott continued: “Even Changing Rooms itself was not immune to the odd DIY disaster. Linda Barker once destroyed someone’s valuable collection of teapots after some shelves collapsed! So it’s certainly worth checking that your home insurance will cover you for accidental damage before carrying work out on your own.”

Source: ' Move Channel Ltd '

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