'Do not' warning issued to any homeowner doing DIY this weekend (2025)

Anyone renovating or fixing issues in their home is being urged to follow this advice

With more time on our hands during this four-day bank holiday weekend, many homeowners will finally be getting round to tackling those DIY jobs that they have been putting off around the house.

Whether you are in the midst of a renovation or have some issues in your home that need fixing, doing the work yourself can often save a lot of money.

But before you grab a drill, there are certain DIY jobs that experts recommend that you do not take on yourself. Which? Trusted Traders have revealed which botched DIY jobs they are most commonly called out to fix.

Changing light fittings, wiring sockets and fixing leaks are among the most common jobs that homeowners have unsuccessfully attempted, so you might be better off leaving them to a professional.

DIY jobs you should not attempt to do yourself

With any DIY task, what's reasonable for you to attempt will depend on your level of skill and experience. Whilst some people are more than capable of changing a washer on a tap, for others this could lead to DIY disaster.

DIY electrical and plumbing jobs seem to cause the most issues and are the most common jobs that Which? Trusted Traders reported being called out to fix after a failed DIY attempt.

Electrical jobs such as replacing a light fitting, changing or installing sockets and switches, installing electrics in garages and sheds, repairing or replacing home wiring and installing an electrical appliance were amongst the most common DIY failures.

Plumbing jobs such as fixing a leak, plumbing in appliances, plumbing in a bathroom suite, changing taps and plumbing in a kitchen sink are also amongst the jobs that DIYers should avoid.

If you're considering doing one of these jobs yourself, you make sure you know what you're doing before you start.

Which? Trusted Traders also described some of the biggest or most obvious mistakes they'd seen in a DIY job. These included lone homeowner's attempt at wiring in a light switch left them unable to turn the light off, and when trying to repair a leak, a homeowner didn't support their radiator valve, which meant they bent the pipe and created a much bigger leak.

DIY jobs that should always require a professional

While it might be tempting to test your skills and avoid calling out a trader, there are certain jobs to steer clear of that should only be completed by qualified professionals - unless you are one.

Some electrical jobs need to be signed off by local authority building control, unless they're done by a registered electrician who can sign off the work themselves. These jobs include installing a new circuit or replacing a fuse box.

It is recommend you hire a registered electrician for all work that must comply with part-P regulations. If you don't, you must tell building control first and pay a fee for an inspection.

Similarly, any jobs involving gas should only be done by Gas Safe-registered engineers so you don't put yourself or others at risk. All gas businesses must be on the Gas Safe Register by law.

While plumbing jobs don't usually have the same potential for dangerous errors, DIY plumbing mistakes could still leave you with injuries or cause flooding and water damage in your home.

Jobs that are best for DIY

For those who are new to DIY, it's important to stick to what you're comfortable doing and check that you have the materials and equipment to finish the job before you start work.

Allow yourself more time than you think you need to complete your project, as tasks often turn out to be fiddly or have unexpected complications.

Jobs that most DIY beginners should be able to do include painting and decorating, bleeding radiators, straightforward draughtproofing measures, checking or topping up the system pressure on your boiler, regrouting tiles or resealing around a sink, bath or shower.

You can also have a go at cleaning carpets and sofas, putting up pictures or shelves, patching plaster after a rewire or minor damage and fixing some appliance problems.

However, it's still important that you only attempt jobs you have the skill and experience to take on. Always read the manufacturer's instructions on materials and tools before use.

Make sure you have the necessary protective kit for the tasks you're attempting, for example eye protection when doing jobs that create dust or debris, a dust mask for sanding or other jobs with products that give off small particles or fumes, gloves to protect your hands and sturdy shoes to protect your feet if you drop something on them.

Take care when laying dust sheets so they don't cause any slips or trips, and make sure you know exactly where wires, gas and water pipes are before you take a hammer or drill to a wall.