This is the time when there is a D.I.Y surge, when Brits make the most of their Bank Holiday by rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck into home maintenance.
Today, new research commissioned by home emergency service provider Dyno, reveals that more than a third of UK homes have been dubbed a ‘hazard’ by their owner. This is due to bodged D.I.Y jobs or neglecting home maintenance issues. Easter weekend is a popular time of the year when Brits start putting things in order around the house. However, only one in thirteen homeowners believe they are an ‘expert’ when it comes to D.I.Y, so the nation needs to ensure they have the correct skills and tools before tackling a D.I.Y job.
WHERE ARE THE DANGER ZONES?
The survey reveals the regions that have the most hazardous homes across Britain, with West Midlands coming out on top with almost half believing their homes to be a risk zone (46%), ahead of London (45%), the South West (38%), Yorkshire and Humber (38%) and East Anglia (37%).
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
It seems as a nation we lack basic D.I.Y know how, West Midlands came bottom of the class declaring their own lack of knowledge, being ‘clueless’ (30%), followed by East Anglia and Ireland (both 29%). Overall a whopping 70% of Brits questioned, said they wished they were more knowledgeable about home maintenance and paid more attention to every aspect of their home not just focusing on beautification.
D.I.Y (S.O.S)
When it comes to calling on those in the know for help with a D.I.Y issue or a home maintenance problem, 40% of Brits believe that the best person to call is a local engineer or tradesman, which is followed by turning to dad for his D.I.Y wisdom (18%); however half of females questioned look to their partners for help.
DON’T LOSE MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN
Over a third of people polled (39%) admitted that the most common D.I.Y mistake they make is underestimating the time or cost of the project. It can also be costly for customers when these jobs go wrong, as the Dyno engineers revealed the most common home emergencies they attend are caused by drilling a nail into a wall that then goes through a pipe, or pulling up flooring and causing water damage.
Top 10 areas of ‘home ignorance’ by UK homeowners;
* How to fix a burst water pipe (64%)
* How to test your water heater’s pressure relief valve (46%)
* Plumbing in/connecting the washing machine (40%)
* Plumbing in/connecting the dishwasher (40%)
* Changing a fuse in electricity means (35%)
* Checking your exterior drainage (34%)
* Resetting a boiler (33%)
* Unblocking a water pipe (31%)
* Adjusting lawn mower blades (30%)
* Bleeding a radiator (23%)
