The holiday period is a great time to sink your teeth into home DIY projects. Just don’t bite off more than you can chew.

You’ve been thinking all year about doing up the kitchen. Now it’s crunch time. The holidays are here and Santa’s even brought you a brand spanking new belt-sander to get you started. But before you rush in, ask yourself this question: Are you up to the task?

"The first thing you need to consider is whether you’re capable of doing the job, and whether you’ve got the time," says David Doughty, a DIY instructor.

Indeed, if you’ve only got a couple of weeks up your sleeve, the last thing you want to do is create a monster. With most tradesmen shutting up shop over Christmas, you may find yourself up the proverbial very quickly, and nothing stinks more than kicking off the working year without a functioning toilet.

For this reason, David recommends taking on small projects rather than major works. Think simple maintenance and repair jobs that won’t cause too much disruption to the household, like the three Ps: painting, plastering and polishing.

"The most popular DIY class we have at this time of year is how to sand and polish a timber floor," says David. "That’s something anyone can do. You can hire the equipment so you don’t need to spend a fortune on tools, and it will only take a few days."

It’s also the perfect time of year to turn your attention outdoors.

"Outdoor decking, pergolas and retaining walls are all popular holiday projects that are relatively simple and fun," says David. "It’s is also a good time to think about putting in grey water systems and other devices that help you save water around the home."

But if you’re hell-bent on tackling a major project, then be aware that most jobs will require a building permit, and that’s not something you can organise on Christmas Eve. Plans will need to be drawn up, fees will need to be paid, and the building surveyor will need time to process it.

According to the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), every year 15 Victorians are killed and at least 2000 are seriously injured carrying out DIY work.

"Too often people jump in without really appreciating the risks and reading up on how to do the job properly," says Erin Cassell, Director of the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit at the MUARC. "Remember that if you’re injured on the road or at work you’re covered by insurance, but if you’re injured at home you don’t have that coverage, so you should actually be extra careful."

Contact a hardware expert in your area to find out how you can get your home DIY projects ready for the holiday season.