DIY Britain is back, says George Clarke

BRITAIN is becoming nation of DIY experts as homeowners increasingly turn their hand to big jobs around the house to save money rather than pay big bills to professional workmen, says Ideal Home Improvement Ambassador George Clarke.

"DIY is making a big resurgence in Britain at the moment. With the rising costs of living, homeowners are now looking for more ways to save money and cutting back on household expenses. So, with this increasing need to save, homeowners are now being encouraged to do their own DIY again" said George.

However, the experience of bad DIY can also put people off. With botched or unfinished projects often leaving your once beautiful home in a worse state than before you started, some homeowners are apprehensive about embarking on DIY for fear of devaluing the property.

According to a recent survey by B&Q just four in ten people believe they have the necessary skills to tackle DIY projects themselves. As a nation it is evident that we are getting worse at doing simple tasks such as fixing a light, tiling the bathroom or putting up a set of shelves.

"It's time we started giving homeowners the confidence to embark on their own DIY projects and teach the nation how to do DIY properly, as well as providing the tools to do it themselves" added George.

This year, George Clarke and the Ideal Home Show and B&Q are looking to encourage Brits to tackle their own DIY challenges, helping homeowners save money by showing them how to transform their homes on any kind of budget as well as teaching people the tricks of the trade of how to be a DIY expert.

The resurgence of DIY in Britain also comes at as Grant Schapps MP, Housing Minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government, also announced his ‘Tenant Cashback' scheme which will allow house-proud residents to take over more of their repairs budget and carry out their own DIY or choose a local handyman to do the work. Any savings made will be theirs to pocket.

"Companies like the Ideal Home Show and B&Q are mobilising the nation to help make DIY easier and value for money, quality products more accessible and affordable" said George.

This year's show offers a range of practical sessions in the ‘How To Theatre' in association with B&Q where all members of the family can learn new skills including energy saving solutions, plastering, painting, wallpapering, flooring and sessions on how to create fabulous and co-ordinated looks within the home, and how to do DIY properly, as well as offering a variety of brands and suppliers who can help people understand how to improve their homes or even self-build.

B&Q's team of You Can Do It instructors, all highly experienced DIYers who teach daily DIY classes at 15 You Can Do It centres located in B&Q stores around the UK will also be on hand offering a series of daily workshops throughout the 17 days.

It's not only inside the house where people can get back to DIY, but in the garden too. The gloomy outlook on the cost of landscaping and garden maintenance combined with some poor summers, has led to a decline in the number of people looking to invest in their outside space, focusing on more pressing household maintenance. But Alan Titchmarsh, TV presenter and Ambassador for the Ideal Gardens section sponsored by Hydropool at the Ideal Home Show is encouraging homeowners to take to the lawn and do it themselves in the garden:

Alan Titchmarsh commented: "A garden always looks better when it's maintained properly. But there are ways that you can make your money go further. I want to make people think and say ‘I can do that'. I want to inspire people with ideas, so that they get back into the garden and give it a go themselves".

Source : Let’s Do DIY.com
www.lets-do-diy.com/News/2012/03/DIY-Britain-is-back-says-George-Clarke.aspx