Nine out of 10 householders have a go at DIY in their homes - but end up shelling out over £150 a year getting botched jobs fixed by professionals.
That's according to new research by The Co-operative Insurance, which also found that bad DIY can damage not only the purse but also the person, with a significant number of enthusiasts ending up with injuries.

The survey revealed that while most people attempt DIY, 54% do so only because they don't want to pay for a professional to do the handiwork, while 11% don't want strangers in their home. However, DIY disasters are all too often the outcome, costing households on average £158 a year.

Topping the list of the most common DIY jobs is changing a light bulb (43%) followed by painting the walls (28%) and wallpapering the walls (16%).

The top 10 most avoided DIY jobs, according to the survey, are: replacing fallen roof tiles (59%); plumbing (58%); installing a shower (56%); plastering (52%); knocking down a wall (49%); laying a carpet (45%); paving the drive (44%); laying laminate flooring (41%); fitting a kitchen unit (40%); and clearing the gutters (35%).

Women are more reluctant than men to carry out DIY tasks in the home, with 68% admitting they rely on their partner for any handiwork. And despite the majority of the nation saying they do DIY only 36% own their own tool kit, with 9% just buying as they go along.

The research also found that over a third of people have injured themselves while doing DIY, with 32% needing medical treatment after getting the tools out. The top five DIY injuries are: cuts on hands (67%); hitting thumb with a hammer (41%); backache (29%); pulled muscle (23%); and falling off a ladder (16%).

Anthony Lewis, head of home insurance at The Co-operative Insurance said: "The research has indicated that whilst we're a DIY-loving nation, there are some people who are putting themselves at risk, as well as their home. Whilst simple DIY tasks can be rewarding, we would urge people to think of their own safety and the possible implications of the DIY job going wrong."