At Accurate Home Improvements, we’ve seen it all—wonky shelves, leaking showers, doors that won’t shut, and tiling that looks like it was done blindfolded. While we love a good challenge, many of the jobs we take on start with a well-meaning DIY attempt that didn’t go to plan.
Here are 5 of the most common DIY disasters we’re called in to fix—plus a few tips if you’re ever tempted to give it a go yourself!
1. “It Looked Easy on YouTube” – The Shelf That Gave Up
We’ve lost count of how many shelves we’ve refitted after they’ve come crashing down—often taking books, photo frames, and wall plugs with them.
What went wrong? The wrong fixings for plasterboard, no spirit level, or mismatched brackets.
👉 Pro Tip: Not all walls are created equal—stud walls, brick, and dot-and-dab need different fixings. Get it wrong and gravity wins.
2. Tiling Trouble – Crooked Lines and Crumbling Grout
Tiling is one of those jobs that looks deceptively simple… until the first row goes in wonky. Whether it’s a splashback in Southam or a full bathroom refit in Leamington, we’ve stepped in to re-do wobbly patterns, uneven spacing, and grout that’s already crumbling.
👉 Pro Tip: Precision is everything. A laser level and tile spacers are essential—and cheap tools don’t equal straight lines.
3. Leaky DIY Plumbing – “It Was Just a Simple Tap Swap”
One of the riskiest DIY areas is plumbing. We’ve seen a few innocent tap replacements that turned into full-on leaks under the floorboards.
From incorrectly tightened joints to forgetting to isolate the water supply—it can get messy fast.
👉 Pro Tip: If you’re not 100% confident, stop. Water damage costs way more than a professional fitting.
4. “Just a Quick Paint Job” – Walls Worse Than Before
Slapping paint over old wallpaper, flaking paint or damp patches might look good for a week—but it won’t last. We’ve been called to rescue all sorts of painting mishaps, especially in older Leamington and Southam properties where prep work is everything.
👉 Pro Tip: Good prep is 80% of the job. Fill, sand, clean, prime… then paint.
5. DIY Flooring – Lumps, Gaps and Bouncy Boards
Laminate and LVT flooring can be a DIY dream… until it starts clicking or lifting. Whether it's poor subfloor prep or boards cut too short, we’ve come to the rescue many times.
👉 Pro Tip: Measure twice, cut once. And always level and clean your subfloor properly.
Ditch the DIY – Call the Experts
We’re not here to judge—just to help. If you’ve started a project and it’s not going to plan (or if you haven’t started yet and want it done right), get in touch.
Whether you’re in Leamington, Southam, or anywhere in South Warwickshire, Accurate Home Improvements is here to get the job done properly, safely, and without the stress.
📞 07738 337 077
📧 Enquiry@accuratehomeimprovements.co.uk
🌐 www.accuratehomeimprovements.co.uk
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