With winter drawing on there are lots of jobs that will need to be done around the home to make sure it is winter-proof.

This year the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is warning people to be careful if they are thinking of doing any winter preparations themselves as each year more than 200,000 people are injured while carrying out DIY activities.

"There are many seasonal jobs that may need to be done to get your property ready for winter, such as checking the roof for missing or broken tiles before any wet weather sets in and clearing leaves and debris from pathways and gutters," said Brian Berry at the FMB.

"But doing it yourself could be a false economy; not only may you end up seriously injured, you may not do anything for the value of your property if the work is unprofessional.

"As well as the seasonal tasks, it is also worth considering having insulation added as this will provide you with some protection from the rising cost of heating your home."

Building Regulations state the minimum recommended level of loft insulation should be 200mm or eight inches. If your current insulation is 100mm, or less, you should invest in having it topped up.

Without insulation 25 per cent of heat already paid for is going through the roof.

You could also be losing a further 35 per cent of your heat through the walls of your home.

What can be done to prevent heat loss through the walls depends on the type of walls.

"Most houses are timber-frame construction, solid walls, or cavity walls and a good builder should be able to advise you on the best course of action," added Brian.

A quarter of heat can also be lost through windows and doors.

"Check that they close properly. If there are gaps either use a draught excluder or fit draughtproofing strips around the sides of the doors and windows. Alternatively heavy, properly fitting curtains around windows and doors will reduce draughts.

"But make sure you do not drape your curtains over radiators as this will stop the heat circulating round the room and will instead send heat straight out of your windows.

"If you have any seasonal jobs that need to be completed but you don’t want to run the risk of messing up or even worse hurting yourself, we would recommend visiting the FMB’s find-a-builder website for an FMB member in your area or asking friends and family.

"We also always recommend that you get at least three quotes, use a contract and agree a payment plan with your builder before work begins."

Findabuilder.co.uk is a resource for homeowners wanting details of FMB member builders in their local area.

It features a "Be inspired" section which has tips and hints, articles and handbooks such as "The essential guide to home improvement" and "practical tips for building success" that are essential reading for any homeowner thinking of taking on a building project.