Category Archives: DIY

How to… replace a light fixture

light-fixtureIn response to all the questions put to the DIY Advice team about home and garden DIY, weÔÇÖve decided to launch a new ÔÇÿHow toÔǪÔÇÖ series. And what more of an ÔÇÿilluminatingÔÇÖ way to start than with a step-by-step guide to one of the most useful DIY skills you can have ÔÇô fitting a new light fixture to the ceiling!

  1. The first step is to switch off the power supply at the mains – simply switching off the light you are going to change at its switch is not enough and could cause you serious harm. If the light was previously on, wait for the bulb to cool down
  2. Remove the old shade via the screws or clips. Unscrew the light bulbs to prevent them from smashing and then remove the fixture base via the bolts
  3. Using a non-contact voltage tester, double check that the circuit is off. ItÔÇÖs now safe to loosen and disconnect the wiring before removing the old fixture completely. Be prepared for some dust to fall on you!
  4. If the new light is of a fairly similar design (and age) to the old one, it might be possible to use the original mounting bracket. If they are different, remove the old one and attach the bracket that comes with your replacement light
  5. Wire the new fitting. Connect the brown (or if itÔÇÖs older, red) cable to the live terminal connection. Connect the blue (or if itÔÇÖs older, black) cable to the neutral terminal connection. Connect the green and yellow earth cable to the earth terminal, covering any exposed copper with earth cable sleeving.┬áNB. You might need somebody to hold the light fitting for you to take its weight whilst┬áyou connect the wiring
  6. Carefully push the wires into the ceiling box and, following the manufacturerÔÇÖs instructions, secure the light fixture base to the mounting bracket, making sure no wires are caught between the fitting and the ceiling
  7. Install the light bulbs and screw on the new light shade
  8. Turn the mains electricity back on, flip the light switch and stand back to admire your handiwork!

Installing a new ceiling light is not a difficult job or one that requires a great deal of DIY experience. The golden rule with DIY, however, is that if youÔÇÖre really uncomfortable attempting a task ÔÇô donÔÇÖt. Calling in an electrician might seem like an unnecessary expense but itÔÇÖs far better to pay up than risk injuring yourself or other people in your home.

Why DIY could cost you dear!

home-insuranceWhat kind of DIY enthusiast are you? Do you do it yourself because you love fixing, painting and building things? Or is your enthusiasm more about the pounds youÔÇÖre saving by foregoing a professional job?

If itÔÇÖs the latter, the bad news is that your dates with DIY could end up costing you a lot more than you expect. This is because if the job goes wrong, the repairs might not be covered by your home insurance, leaving you facing a potentially hefty bill.

Home insurance covers the policyholder for events such as loss, damage or theft. But if the loss or damage is caused by the policyholder him or herself, the insurance company might not be so eager to pay out! If you have accidental damage cover or household emergencies cover included with your policy, you might assume that you can make a claim if your have-a-go handiwork proves less than happy. But DIY disasters are a real grey area, with many insurance companies rejecting claims for damage that the homeowner has caused.

The key to any claim is reading through your policy thoroughly and understanding which eventualities you are and arenÔÇÖt covered for. ItÔÇÖs likely that your insurance policy will extend to repairing a pipe if you accidentally hammer a nail through it, but not to bigger scenarios such as fixtures or furnishings ruined due to poor workmanship or damage caused to mechanical fittings or the structure of the property.

If you do DIY regularly, it could be worth having a chat with your insurer to find out what your policy entails and whether you can add extra cover to a basic policy to protect against small glitches. As a rule of thumb, however, it is always wise to leave mechanical and electrical jobs to the professionals. Not only is it highly unlikely youÔÇÖd be covered for damage whilst carrying out such jobs, they could prove risky! Always keep boilers and electricals maintained and serviced where appropriate; if you or an engineer has an accident working on poorly maintained equipment, it could be another reason for a claim to be withheld.

And whether you do it yourself or call in the experts, donÔÇÖt forget to notify your home insurers of major changes. Adding a kitchen extension or converting a garage to a spare bedroom might not seem relevant at the time but could make a big difference to your policy if you later have to make a claim.

 

Homebuyers have Grand Designs on an easy life!

home-renovations

Home renovations

Whilst we like to watch the experts revamp crumbling cottages and transform terrible rooms, it seems weÔÇÖre not so keen when it comes to tackling the task ourselves!

Despite TV schedules being chock-a-block with home renovation, DIY and make-over programmes, a survey carried out for comparison site Gocompare.com found that more than four in five house-hunters look for properties that need very little work, whilst less than a quarter would take on a property that needed major renovations. And nearly a third of us would go one step further and refuse to buy anything other than a new build!

The survey, commissioned by Gocompare.com home insurance, questioned more than 2,000 people about what they would look for in a new home.┬á Although nearly two thirds (63%) voted for older properties ÔÇô which are renowned for needing a lot of TLC – most wanted a home they could move straight into, with 81% looking for a property that need very little doing to it.

Of those homebuyers up for a ÔÇÿhouse projectÔÇÖ, 39% said they would consider taking on a building project, such as an extension, whilst less than a quarter (24%) of people quizzed would be happy to buy a property that needed major renovation work.

Old versus new

Amongst the reasons for homebuyers preferring old properties were:

  • (48%) of respondents said that they thought older homes tend to have larger rooms than new builds
  • 35% were attracted by the character and original features of older homes
  • 15% didnÔÇÖt want to live on a new housing estate

New properties were popular because:

  • 34% thought that new-builds are well insulated and cheaper to heat than older houses
  • 28% think new homes are maintenance free
  • 24% liked their modern look

GocompareÔÇÖs Ben Wilson said: ÔÇ£While many people enjoy watching home make-over and renovation programmes on TV, our research suggests that most arenÔÇÖt that keen on undertaking their own ÔÇÿgrand designÔÇÖ project.┬áBut if you do feel inspired to undertake a major house renovation or are planning an extension to your home, you should speak to your home insurer before you start work.

ÔÇ£Often insurers will need to include specific exclusions or conditions on your policy during the build phase if there is likely to be scaffolding erected or walls and doors are being temporarily removed.┬áRenovation projects, particularly those that involve the installation of a new kitchen or bathroom, or the building of an extension, also usually increase the propertyÔÇÖs rebuild cost, whilst the addition of new furniture, household appliances and furnishings may push-up the value of your contents. So your insurer may want to review your sum insured, as well as making sure your renovation plans donÔÇÖt invalidate your cover.ÔÇØ

Gocompare.com has produced this guide covering home insurance and moving home, whether youÔÇÖre buying a project house or moving straight into a new build.