You may only want to know how to change a tap, but let's start at the beginning: first, read the instructions.

In 1999 - the last time nationally updated statistics were made available – there were 200,000 DIY injuries in the UK and 70 deaths. There were 2,506 accidents with power drills; 1,920 accidents with circular saws and 622 with chainsaws.

And according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) the home can be a surprisingly dangerous place. Every year in the UK more than 4,000 people die in household accidents and nearly three million end up at accident and emergency departments. (www.rospa.com/CMS/index.asp). People aged 30 – 39 are the most likely to injure themselves.

And don’t forget that DIY and can be tricky. Half of those who embark on major DIY projects fail to finish them and most people who are inspired by TV makeover programmes find the job harder than they thought.

According to surveys refitting kitchens was the job most often abandoned half way through, followed by installing a power shower.

People in Scotland and the North of England were most likely to see the job through while people in the South and North East gave up most frequently.

Will DIY make my house more valuable?

In some cases DIY can seriously damage your wealth as well as your health. According to research carried out among estate agents, half-finished, poorly executed or 'inappropriate' home improvements can wipe off anything between £2,000 and 10,000 in a stroke. Top of the list is a poorly planned extension, which could knock up to £10,000 off the price if it is bad enough to need pulling down or rebuilding.

Botched DIY plumbing is another common problem, with bills in the region of £2,000-£5,000 to bring in a professional to sort out the mess, while even just having poorly finished or bumpy plaster on the walls can chip a couple of thousand pounds off the value. Another costly move could be partitioning off a big room in the house, be it a bedroom or reception room, which could devalue the house by up to £7,000.

If you haven’t been put off by the casualty toll and the threat to your property values, remember that safety is key. There is a wealth of comprehensive advice in books and online. If you look on an overseas website, remember that foreign regulations on, for example, wiring and ventilation may have no relevance at all in the UK.

The BBC have made a reasonable foray with www.bbc.co.uk/homes/diy/ which covers the basics and gives sound advice on how to engage a professional, how to get a proper quote, and also explains much of the jargon involved. There are links to professional bodies and it would be wise to check out the safety guide. Also take a look at the range of DIY Sites (www.uknetguide.co.uk/Homes_and_Gardens/DIY/) on UK Net Guide. Here you can find information, advice, DIY stores, tools and more.

Helpful Hints

• Most websites want to sell you things, and it is often only when like-minded individuals get together in community-based sites to swap advice that you can find the right solutions. The problem is, of course, that the person giving the advice may be a self-taught Mr Bodgit rather than a skilled Mr Fixit.
  
  
• Take care when listening to DIY enthusiasts!
  
  
• For general building issues, electrics, plumbing and a range of minor jobs like wallpapering as well as bigger projects (such as a barn conversion), you can get advice the sites listed in our DIY advice and Information page (www.uknetguide.co.uk/Homes_and_Gardens/DIY/DIY_Advice_and_Info.html).
  
  
• For hundreds of articles on decorating, electrics, floors & stairs, home security, insulation, plumbing, roofing & gutters, windows & doors, woodwork - as well as links to find a local expert who really can do the job, try www.diynot.com/.