Homeowners and landlords might be tempted to conduct their own property maintenance at the moment, as lockdown has made it harder than usual to get professional help to repair faults.
However, not everyone is handy with tools and many people end up making costly mistakes when they attempt to fit solar reflective glass film or fix tiles on their roof.
Here are just some of the most common DIY mistakes many people end up making that you should try and avoid.
Hitting yourself with a hammer
Although this seems like a simple mistake to avoid, it is surprising how many people are guilty of slamming a hammer into their fingers, even experienced handymen and women.
DIY expert and TV presenter Max McMurdo told Ideal Home that this “still happens to me”, adding: “A top tip of mine for avoiding this is to practice on an old piece of wood until you perfect your swing, holding the hammer at the end of the handle away from the head.”
Gluing things together
Another mishap that clumsy DIY-ers are prone to is gluing things together, including their fingers. Superglue is incredibly strong and can be difficult – and even painful – to remove. Therefore, it is important people take proper precautions when using it, making sure to be precise when applying the glue and washing hands immediately afterwards.
The article advised: “DIY mistakes are easy to make but can lead to injuries. So always take care when performing home improvements.”
Wrong measurements
Something most of us can admit to doing is taking the wrong measurements. We might have cut everything down to size or ordered certain furniture to fit the space only to find the measurements are slightly off. When it comes to DIY, a few millimetres can make all the difference, so it is essential to be precise with measuring and double check the results you take down.
Bianca White, founder of the DIYher Workshop, told Best Life Online: “Measure your space or item twice so you can make sure your finished product will turn out perfect.”
Rushing the job
Homeowners might have grand plans for their DIY project, only to want to rush the job once they begin due to it being bigger, more time-consuming or complicated than they anticipated.
However, it is essential they do not rush their project, as this can lead to many mistakes in the long-run. A rushed job is likely to be imperfect at best, and need re-doing entirely at worst, so take care with every step, even if you lose motivation.
Leah Maria of Leah Maria Designs told the publication: “It can be hard to stay motivated when you think your project will take you a day and it turns into a week.”
She suggests having breaks when taking it slowly to avoid frustration, adding: “You can bet the end result will be that much better because it wasn’t rushed.”
Cost-cutting on materials
Just like you should not cut corners when it comes to how much time you devote to a project, you should also not scrimp on the cost of materials.
While the most expensive items do not always mean you get the best results, buying the cheapest products could mean you have a lot of maintenance repairs to do in the future.
Ms Maria said: “Having quality materials will make your life so much easier.”
What’s more, it could end up more cost-effective if you do not have to redo the project in the future.