The cost of doing home improvements has gone up by 20 per cent because of a shortage of tradesmen and rising costs of transport, according to Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics)

Rics'' Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) launched its Property Makeover Price Guide today, which gives homeowners an insight to how much a DIY project will cost them.

It shows that the average price of home-improvements has risen by 20 per cent in the last two years, with the price of crude oil cited as one of the biggest contributing factors.

Experts have suggested that the price of oil could have a bigger effect on the cost of DIY than the current credit-crunch; but people aren''t flooding to their estate agent to bag a better property.

BCIS executive director Joe Martin said: "The current downturn in the housing market is forcing some homeowners to become more creative in meeting their accommodation needs.

"Many are choosing to stay put and renovate or extend in order to upgrade their property rather than taking on more debt in a falling market."

The Property Makeover Price Guide includes information on the cost of windows, roof tiles, guttering and double glazing.

It also contains advice on how to budget for emergency repairs and things you must consider when employing a contractor to carry out building work.