DIY has evolved from simple tasks to ambitious home builds, with more homeowners than ever taking on major projects themselves.
According to data from Buildsafe, 70% of DIYers cite cost as the biggest factor when taking on large or tricky projects around the home. As tradespeople have predicted, they will increase their prices by 9.5% in 2026 due to material costs, industry demand, and macro factors such as inflation. Homeowners are looking to themselves to build the home of their dreams.
DIY Hindsight
BuildSafe analysed 900+ comments from Reddit’s DIY (UK) threads to determine how homeowners feel about home improvements and what they wish they had known before starting major tasks around the house.
Time was a big factor, with 79% of comments saying how long a project took was underestimated before setting out, with 68% saying they wish they had factored in cost overruns and hidden costs from delays into the build, with one Redditor saying, ” When building an extension:
“[I] wish I’d known how much time it actually takes. Everyone says ‘8–12 weeks’, but that’s full-time tradespeople, not someone doing it evenings and weekends.”
Overall management of the project was an aspect that DIYers had underestimated, with 51% of comments mentioning they wished they knew how to manage trades and 43% not realising the importance of the sequence of work that needed to be completed. A Redditor told of their horror story that resulted in work being redone.
“The order of work. I tiled before I realised the walls weren’t plumb [in]. Gutted them. Do it right: frame, insulation, boarding, then finish.”
DIY Confidence
The growing trend for more people to attempt their own home improvements doesn’t reflect their confidence in their skills. Just over a quarter (27%) of comments mention they have confidence in their own ability and have had experience in completing DIY tasks. 47% of commenters said they are ‘cautiously willing’, where they want to try DIY in their home but are nervous in doing so. 25% of homeowners mentioned the thought of tackling home improvements previously reserved for tradespeople was met with uncertainty and not sure where to start.
What needs to be left to professionals
According to CheckaTrade, 50.4% of tradespeople say that fixing DIY disasters accounts for 10–30% of their callouts, with the most common fails being: tap installation (43%), pipework (41%), door fitting (34%), leaky roofs (33%), and kitchen installation (33%).
According to the DIY community on Reddit, more homeowners are confident in simpler tasks such as decorating, tiling and garden clearance, whereas tasks such as insulation installation and brickwork are seen to be trickier, with fewer novices confident in doing these tasks.
Tasks that are deemed not to be worth trying to complete as a novice are roof tiling, larger rendering and underpinning foundations. Jobs that are recommended to hire a professional (and in some cases, the law) are electrical, plumbing, roofing and structural steel installations.
The constant rise of material costs, the cost of living and the average wait time for tradespeople rising to 18 months, there are several factors to take into account why homeowners feel the urge to try themselves. Alex Lyons, Commercial Director at Buildsafe, a construction insurance specialist, states:
‘More and more homeowners are feeling the pressure to improve their homes on a budget and without long wait times. Smaller tasks, such as decorating or landscaping, can be doable for most novices.
From the research we have conducted, a lot of homeowners have DIY remorse about attempting to tackle the more complicated jobs. This can be due to a lack of knowledge, experience and foresight, which could end up delaying the progress and putting the property at risk.’
Tips for homeowners who are thinking of taking out a large home improvement loan:
- Do your research: Make sure to understand what the project entails and assess if you have the right experience or knowledge to tackle it at each stage. This will give you a realistic idea if an expert will be needed or not.
- Speak to a professional: Even when looking to attempt a home improvement project on your own, it is still worth consulting a professional. They will be able to weigh up the cost and risks involved and give you an idea if it’s worth doing the project yourself or hiring a professional.
- Be realistic with timings: A professional tradesperson who would be working on a project 40 hours a week, compared to a DIYer working weekends and evenings, means that it could take three times as long to complete. If time and cost are crucial factors, you may only be able to choose one as a priority, especially when it comes to large builds like loft conversions, kitchen extensions, or self-builds.
The increasing number of homeowners who are attempting their own projects, large or small, has not shown any sign of slowing down. TikTok analytics show #HomeBuild dominates with 45% of home-related posts, with the social channel becoming a source of education and inspiration for others.
Ultimately, while pursuing large or tricky home improvements is appealing for cost savings, homeowners should prioritise careful planning, education on the scope of their projects, and seek expert advice for complex tasks. By preparing thoroughly and embracing support where needed, they can maximise their chances of success, avoid costly mistakes, and confidently achieve their dream home.
