A little planning and preparation could help DIY enthusiasts avoid a similar blunder to that experienced by a German pensioner recently.
The 64-year-old, who has not been named, decided to seal off his cellar with bricks in an effort to save money on his heating bills.
But as he built the wall, he failed to realise that he was on the wrong side of it.
Trapped in his man-made dungeon for two days, he eventually decided to break through his neighbour's wall with a hammer drill to get out.
Having heard the commotion and grasped what was happening, the neighbours called police officers, who were waiting for the pensioner as he emerged through the wall on the other side.
As well as facing possible prosecution for trespassing and criminal damage, the man could also be hit with a large bill for the repairs.
And he's not alone. According to a recent survey by Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank, UK homeowners spent a total of £235 million fixing their DIY disasters last year.
Posted by Jenny Summer
