Summer is here and with it comes the urge in many to try to get some of those jobs around the house finally done.

If you are one of the nation's DIYers, it is important that whenever you decide to tackle a job - however small - that you are fully prepared.

Home improvement store B&Q recommends following these precautions to help keep any mess and disturbance to a minimum - and keep you safe while you're working.

B&Q say: "You'll probably think of moving your furniture and possessions and laying dust sheets in a room before starting a home improvement project. However, we don't always spend enough time to consider how to protect our wellbeing, or that of family and pets, before getting started on the task.

"Always bear in mind that home improvement projects are almost always messy, often noisy - and sometimes dangerous. So take some time to weigh up the possible risks. Protect yourself and, if necessary, those around you, and think whether your activities may disturb others too.

"Read all the instructions and make sure you understand them fully. Check you have all the necessary tools and materials to hand. Consider any heights or weights you might have to deal with. Will you need someone else to help? Think about how long will it take, and if the room you are working in will be uninhabitable while you're working there.

"If you're in any doubt about your capabilities, call in a professional to do the whole job or just the parts you're not sure about."

Once you've considered everything, and have decided to go ahead and do it yourself, there are many other things to think about.

Choosing the right clothing is an important consideration, and one you may not have even dreamed of.

For most DIY tasks around the home, it's best to opt for old, reasonably close-fitting clothing. This reduces the risk of your clothes getting caught in any tools or machinery you are using, or dragging in paint or cleaning materials. If you're looking for hard-wearing clothing you can wear again and again, consider purpose-designed workwear, or overalls you can wear over your regular clothing.

Consider sturdy safety boots or shoes with toe-cap reinforcement. These will protect your feet when you're handling heavy materials like bricks or stone slabs, as well as plasterboard, wooden sheets or large sections of timber. It's also wise to wear rubber-soled shoes when you're working on electrical installations.

The chances are your hands will get dirty. Choosing the right pair of gloves will help to protect your hands, especially if moving heavy materials like timber and paving slabs.

And what about a tool belt to keep your most useful and easily mislaid tools close to hand. They're ideal for holding tape measures, hammers and often drills as well as nails, screws and fixings.

Then you might need impact-resistant safety glasses or goggles are a must if working on tasks that will create dust and debris, in particular if you are using power tools.

Ear defenders are also a good idea when using noisy power tools.

A hard hat is a must when there's any danger of bumping your head or from falling objects.

Sometimes the job will create a lot of dust or fumes and you should protect your lungs from these by using a mask.

And if you are laying flooring or tiles, invest in a pair of good-quality knee pads. This will reduce the impact on your knees and make this a less painful task.

Now for what not to wear:

Any loose clothing or jewellery. This might get caught by a tool, or snag on a ladder or workbench.

Anything that restricts your movement.

Very woolly sweaters when you're decorating - the loose fibres will stick to the paint surface leaving an uneven finish.

Don't forget:

Good lighting makes a task easier. Make sure you can see your work clearly as poor lighting is hazardous and tiring.

Have a mobile phone with you whenever you're working alone, in case of an accident.

Keep a first aid kit to hand, containing essentials to help you deal with any minor injuries. Consider taking a first aid course to equip yourself with the skills to treat yourself or anyone else in case of an accident.

Beware of fatigue. You'll need to concentrate and not rush, especially if you're working with electricity, using power tools or beginning any new and costly job. Make sure you take frequent breaks.

And remember to clear your tools and keep your work area tidy as you go along. You'll find that paint, adhesive and mortar will be much harder (and in some cases impossible) to clean off when they've dried.