There is however another strata of failed projects and ideas. These are so unbelievably bad you have to question the sanity of the people that produced them.

We thought it would be fun to highlight 8 of the worst DIY and Home Improvement fails that we’ve came across on the internet.

Radiator as a grill

Imagining the smell this would produce makes one cringe

Bulb still in the packet

The laziness of some knows no bounds – not exactly the brightest lamp in the shop this person….

Not the greatest advert for business

This lot must be busy……

Garage needs a bit more space……..

Not the ideal parking position

Make your own car badge

To be honest, there is an entire website in automotive DIY fails – we did like this DIY Merc logo……

Dual switch system fail

We can’t see this catching on to be honest, looks a little clumsy (not to mention dangerous)

We could be lifted……

Using a crane to lift a new bathroom unit? Best be sure it’s got a solid base………

‘Home Improvement’ Fails compilation

We were always big fans of Tim Allen’s Home Improvement show in the 90s – it has some great characters and scenarios. This video is a compilation of his many DIY fails, of which there were many!

Thanks for reading, if you have any DIY fails of your own or if there are others you think we should know about then please let us know…….

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The thing is armed with this knowledge you’ll be able to make sure that you don’t fall victim to any incomplete services or a service that generally just falls short of the mark. After all your boiler is a very dangerous appliance and if not treated properly could cause a lot of harm. Therefore it’s best that you know what’s required to keep it in tip top working order.

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One of the most expensive and common problems people face is their boiler going bust. Having experienced this last year, I am only too aware that a freezing cold house is not a fun way to spend the holidays. Yet last year I was one of 3 million households that experienced damage due to the adverse weather conditions.

So if you want to make sure you stay nice and cosy this winter plan ahead and get your boiler serviced by a certified professional. I’ve included this helpful video from Which.co.uk

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The best way to find out what is available to you is to check out the Energy Savings Trust website. The boiler scrappage scheme has just finished in England and Wales, but is now open to those living in Scotland, and offers money towards a new boiler in an attempt to reduce emmisions. But this is one example of a grant, and you can use the website to search the options suited to you.

If you’re looking for savings you should also hunt about to find the best deal – I found an offer on SSE Home Services offering £250 off a new boiler and two years free cover – saving me a massive £450. I also save money on my monthly bills because the new boiler is a lot more efficient than my old one. Bargain!

Finally, my last tip is to urge anyone getting their boiler upgraded to check the company doing the work is on the Gas Safe Register – when it comes to gas in the home, safety is paramount, no matter what the price is.

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But this isn’t going to stop me on my next decorating venture – which is re-wallpapering the halls. People often forget the importance of making their hallways look good, but first impressions count, so I’ve always thought that it’s just as important to keep halls looking as good as the rest of the house. Esepcially considering this is the only part of your house any nosey neighbours are likely to see. So I’ve been looking for something that is the right blend of fashionable and tasteful. These are my top choices so far:

Stripes

Simple and elegant, but bold enough to make a statement. This one is from Graham and Browns.

Polka dot

I like polka dot wallpaper, as it makes a fresh and modern feature out of something that is usually thought of as old fashioned.

Birds

There is a fear of this looking quite fussy (and is definately not recommended for anyone scared of the film The Birds) but with modern interiors and sharp lines this could look quite good.

Wallpaper’s been thought of as outdated for the last few years, but it’s comeback has been tremendous. Have you picked up any home improvements tips from the past?

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Except, when you live in Scotland, autumn doesn’t exist sadly. We shift straight forward to winter. But the good news is, it’s cold enough to be aware of the chill in the house at night, but the weather’s not bad enought to do any damage yet – the perfect time to think about central heating issues that need addressed before a deep freeze kicks in.

I say this because of an experience I had just a few weeks ago. It was one of the first nights I had really felt the cold in the house this autumn, but when I went to put the heating on I found that it wasn’t working. Now had the system had been tested a few weeks later I would have been in for some very cold nights. But as the chill isn’t yet too unbearable I could make do with blankets. I thought it just need a few repairs, but it turned out I needed a whole new central heating installation. Which is not only expensive, but it tends to take a couple of weeks by the time you find a good price, arrange a suitable day, get it installed, and of course, spend a good few days trying to figure out how to use the new system. After having thought about it, it wasn’t just the cold I could have had to deal with if I hadn’t got this sorted early – if this had happened during a freeze And in my rush to find a company willing to do the job as quickly as possible, I could make hasty decisions about something that is very expensive, and should ideally remain functional in the home long-term.

So there you have it, autumn is the perfect time to check out your central heating – don’t leave it until a time when the cold could do some real damage to your house.

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Tape Measure champion

There is one ubiquitous instrument for those of us working on DIY projects around the home – the tape measure.

However, very few of us who can handle this tool quite like the fellow in this video – he’s able to snag onto his target from all sorts of distances.

A note of caution – if you’re going to try this yourself make sure the coast is clear!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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1. Get some quotes

Compile a list of Corgi/Gas Safe registered plumbers in your area, ideally ask any friends or colleagues if they have used a particular company or professional plumber that they thought was good (i.e. not their mate Dave who failed an HNC in plumbing, but still “knows his way about”). Now you’re going to want to call at least 3 plumbers, and you can make a selection from there. There can sometimes be as much as 60% difference between quotes in certain areas of the UK so its well worth making the calls.

2. Don’t be shy; ask relevant questions.

• So here’s the minimum you will want to know:
• How much will the service cost?
• Is that inclusive of VAT?
• Will there be any additional callout charges, like parking?
• How long will the job take? This can vary by individual.

Now by getting answers to all these questions, there should be no last minute charges and you’ll have an accurate idea about the full price of the job.

3. Have the relevant information to hand.

By sharing this information with the plumber you will be able the get a more accurate quote. Here’s the basic questions you’ll want to have answers to:

• What brand is your boiler? Ensures the plumber brings the right parts etc.
• How old is it?
• What date was it last serviced.

4. Be sure that the plumber is certified.

This is pretty simple, once you have chosen the plumber you’re going to use look them up on the Gas Safe Register.If they aren’t on there then they may not be qualified to do the work, so it’s well worth checking.

5. The easy option. Get boiler cover!

If you would like to avoid all of the above, and don’t mind a monthly fee you can take out boiler cover, the majority of packages offer an annual service included and you have the peace of mind that if anything goes wrong you will get the best of care.

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Back soon with our first post……but for now, here’s a nice sketch of a house via http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1186691!

Home sketch

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