Press Releases 2009

FLAT PACK BACKLASH

One in 10 injured during self–assembly

Putting up flat pack furniture has become the most dangerous DIY job in Britain, even though it uses few tools other than an Allen Key and screwdriver, according to new research.

One in ten Britons has suffered an injury as they try to follow the diagram details to construct a wardrobe or chest of drawers. In the long run however, it may be a skill worth mastering, as 27 per cent of women say being good at DIY is something they look for in a partner!

Even though self–assembly is meant to make life easier, it has also become one of the most hated DIY chores of all with only hanging wallpaper despised more, said the study by search engine Ask Jeeves.

Bank Holidays are the time when many people in the UK take to their tools with more than half of Britons (57 per cent) using a Bank Holiday weekend to put up their latest flat pack purchase, which could be why 14 per cent said it was the job they hated most…

But it may not simply be the sheer frustration of following complicated instructions behind the hatred, as the survey revealed 10 per cent of adults had injured themselves while flat packing.

Overall, the survey of over 1,000 adults found 28 per cent had suffered an injury doing DIY, rising to a third (32 per cent) of those aged 45 and over.

Despite the more obvious potential pitfalls, only six per cent have ever hurt themselves building a wall or a fence compared to only five per cent while varnishing or sanding.

The most common injuries from DIY disasters are cuts, splinters and bruises though six per cent of Britons have been hurt badly enough to need hospital treatment.

The survey comes during what is generally seen as the peak season for carrying out improvements to the home and for completing the small but niggly jobs around the house that have been put off for a long time.

This Bank Holiday will typically see up to a third of all adults taking on DIY work – 32 per cent did so on the May Day weekend and 28 per cent will do on the three day break at the end of this month. On hand to help this Bank Holiday will be Ask Jeeves, providing answers to DIY questions during the nation’s flurry of handyman activity.

Ask Jeeves spokesperson Nadia Kelly said: "Flat pack furniture is a truly modern household phenomenon, helped by the rise in popularity of stores like Ikea.

"But judging by the number who get injured doing it, perhaps it is not quite so idiot–proof as it looks, so it may always be worth taking advice. Ask Jeeves can certainly help and is working with celebrity handyman Craig Phillips to answer your DIY questions before the Bank Holiday weekend."

Ends