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Brits spend additional 44million hours on DIY in January

Tuesday, 25 January 2011 10:59 AM

More than a quarter of householders have DIY chores planned for January, contributing to an additional 44 million weekend hours spent in the home.

Research from Halifax Home Insurance found that more than a third (39%) of Brits will be staying in more than usual this month, mainly because they don't have the cash to go out (58%) or are trying to save money (47%).

While many will use this time watching DVDs and playing video games, a significant number, 28%, said that they will be embarking on DIY projects.

Many will be ‘making do and mending’, with 37% saying their DIY will involve fixing items and fittings that they can’t afford to replace.

Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance said: "DIY can prove a false economy. Our research shows on average more than one in six DIY jobs go wrong, each costing £426 to fix.”

This amounts to £540million worth of botched DIY jobs.

Halifax Home Insurance recommend homeowners check their policy terms and conditions for adequate accidental damage cover before embarking on DIY projects, calling in professionals for larger jobs such as plumbing or electrical work.
 

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