Category Archives: DIY

decorating-disagreements

Families divide over decorating disagreements!

decorating-disagreementsDecorating your home is one of the most stressful tasks you can do as a family and a huge cause of arguments, according to new research!

Nearly nine of out 10 people have fallen out with relatives about redecorating and refurbishing. Money is the main reason behind arguments, whilst more than half of those quizzed have rowed about colour schemes and textiles. And another area of contention is whether or not to bring in the experts, with ÔÇô perhaps surprisingly – more men wanting to pay a professional than their wives and girlfriends!

Interiors online retailer Furniture123.co.uk surveyed 1,000 Brits on their family home improvement feuds and found that:

  • Finances are the biggest cause of decorating disagreements, with 69% of respondents admitting to rows about money. One in three disagree over how much to spend, whilst one in 10 canÔÇÖt agree about who pays for what
  • More than half (54%) of those surveyed have fallen out about colour schemes, wood finishes, textures or fabrics
  • The third most common squabble involves whether or not to bring in professional decorating services. One in three families disagree about it, with women proving more in favour of a spot of DIY than men. More than two thirds of women (67%) are prepared to roll up their sleeves and do the job themselves, compared to 44% of their husbands and partners

diy-bathroomOther hotly debated topics include where to put personal possessions, trinkets and family photos, and what to use rooms for, such as a study, ÔÇÿman caveÔÇÖ or cinema room.

Furniture123 marketing manager Mark Kelly said: ÔÇ£The research has uncovered some interesting findings surrounding differences in opinion when re-decorating the home, such as the costs incurred or which colour scheme to go for.

ÔÇ£A family can be made up of many different personalities, so naturally people are going to have different tastes, but itÔÇÖs important to have a bit of everybody in the home you live in. Anyone looking to re-decorate their home should take time when making decisions, perhaps creating a mood board of ideas that all of the family has fed in to.ÔÇØ

Are your builder’s legs worth more than a million?

home-buildingTaylor Swift might have insured her legs for £26m, but British builders are also putting a high price on their body parts!

The average builder sees his or her legs as crucial tools of the trade, and as such believes they are worth £1,185,000*. Engineers and lawyers have put the price of their limbs at £1.2 million whilst, interestingly, telecoms workers value their legs even more highly, at £1.9 million!

The research has been carried out by family insurance brand There┬«, which asked 2,000 professionals in 20 different industries to put an insurance value on different body parts to highlight their impact on earning potential. From the results, a builderÔÇÖs legs would appear more valuable than those of a doctor or nurse, which were deemed to be worth ┬ú1,140,000 on average. Shop workers, meanwhile ÔÇô who are on their feet a lot – think their legs are worth ┬ú1,045,000.

Eyes were the most valued part of the body, followed by face, hands and legs. Engineers topped the table with an insurance value on their eyes of £3.4m, followed by plumbers and electricians at £3.1m and telecoms workers at £2.6m. Plumbers and electricians also put one of the highest price tags on their hands, at £2.2m, with their index finger alone being worth £1,196,107 in the event of them losing their income.

builders-on-siteThere┬« marketing managerPhilippa McLaglen said recent news of Taylor Swift insuring her legs for ┬ú26m ÔÇô or $40m – isnÔÇÖt as crazy as it seems. ÔÇ£TheyÔÇÖre part of the Taylor Swift brand and so can affect her earning power,ÔÇØ she said. ÔÇ£Similarly damage to a builderÔÇÖs leg or an engineerÔÇÖs eye could have a big impact on their earning potential.ÔÇØ

The research also highlighted a difference between self-employed and employed workers, with self-employed builders more likely to value their bodies. More than half (57%) of self-employed people think insurance against injury is a sensible precaution, whilst 64% feel more pressure to take care of their physical well-being because they are self-employed.

Your building project is unlikely to be worth £1m, but if you are sourcing a builder, here are some tips to consider:

  • Ask for recommendations from friends or neighbours. Do some online research and read reviews
  • Get at least three quotes, asking the firm to include the cost of things such as clearing up and waste disposal. The cheapest isnÔÇÖt necessarily the best value for money
  • Be clear about what you want, putting it in writing if necessary
  • Consider the start date. You might be delighted if the builder is available tomorrowÔǪ but good builders tend to be booked at least a few weeks in advance
  • NEVER book a builder who cold calls, and trust your instincts!

* Research conducted by OnePoll on behalf of There® surveying 2,000 UK workers across 20 industries, August 2015.

diy-painting

Avoid a DIY botch job this bank holiday!

diyThis weekend, chances are youÔÇÖll either be jetting off for some late summer sunshine, sewing nametags into school uniforms or indulging in a spot of DIY. The three-day August bank holiday is the perfect chance to carry out a big project or several odd jobs ÔÇô but, unfortunately, this favourite hobby can all too often end in tears!

Before you get started, read our guide to make sure your bank holiday plans are brilliant, not botched!

The best laid plans

DonÔÇÖt jump straight in without careful planning and preparation. Think about what you need to do and how long itÔÇÖs going to take; many DIY projects fail because they end up being rushed. DonÔÇÖt be embarrassed about popping to your local DIY store and asking for advice ÔÇô staff will be happy to help and youÔÇÖll probably come away with tips for other tasks, too!

Well equipped

Line up in advance all the tools needed for the job. If you donÔÇÖt already have a toolbox, buy an inexpensive one and fill it with basics such as a hammer, pliers, crosshead and flathead screwdrivers, a measuring tape, superglue and a spirit level, as well as spare nails and screws in a range of sizes.

A clean sweep

Think the cleaning is only done after DIY? Wrong! Cleaning the area you are working in beforehand will make the job go more smoothly and result in a nicer finish. Wash any surfaces that are to be painted, spend time masking off floors and covering furniture and vacuum up dust as you go along.

Dressed for success

ItÔÇÖs obvious that DIY should be done in old clothes, but think about safety too. DonÔÇÖt wear loose clothes that could get caught in power tools and tie long hair back. Dust masks are a good idea when sanding and painting, whilst safety goggles are a must when using electric tools and drills.

diy-paintingQuality counts

When it comes to painting, budget isnÔÇÖt always best. Very cheap paints can require more coats, whilst poor quality brushes will leave you peeling bristles out of your handiwork. Opt for at least the mid-priced range and always clean brushes and trays thoroughly after use.

Measuring up

Measure twice, cut once, so the saying goes. Be thorough and donÔÇÖt guess. Err on the side of caution and take a bit off at a time if youÔÇÖre not confident ÔÇô you can always cut more off but itÔÇÖs harder to stick some back on!┬á

Start small

If youÔÇÖre new to DIY, tackle a few small jobs first to get used to your tools and gain confidence. Re-grout tiles, put up a shelf or repaint a table before attempting to replace a radiator or install a new kitchen! A good tip is to practice on jobs in small rooms or out-of-the-way corners, such as the downstairs loo. If things go wrong, itÔÇÖs easily covered up and not on show in the best room in the house!┬á

Ask the experts!

ItÔÇÖs always advisable to hire a qualified professional if the job involves electrics or plumbing and, similarly, if DIY just isnÔÇÖt your ÔÇÿthingÔÇÖ, admit defeat and stick to what youÔÇÖre good at! Wait until you have several small tasks in need of attention and ask friends or relatives to recommend an odd job man (or woman!), many of whom charge a daily or half daily rate. Thousands of people are admitted to hospital every year following DIY disasters, and a botched job could even invalidate your home insurance, so donÔÇÖt let your pride lead to a monumental fall!

Also see: Decorating dos and donÔÇÖts