According to new research from leading tool firm Draper Tools, 53% of Brits said their recent DIY efforts had given them a greater appreciation for the skills talented tradespeople have. And more than 1 in 5 agreed that lockdown DIY had made them appreciate how hard tradespeople work too.
The Draper Tools research polled 2,000 UK adults to uncover which DIY jobs the average person will take on and which they’ll leave to the experts and why. The study found two thirds of people have a DIY job they’re too scared to do – with wall-mounting a TV, putting up a shelf and replacing a tap among the most fear inducing tasks.
In UK homes, the average person has four DIY jobs they’re actively putting off. Having not done the task before is the most common reason for the apprehension – followed by concerns they’ll make the problem worse and not having the right tools. The research also found the mere thought of doing DIY would cause 71% of adults to break out in a sweat.
The Draper Tools research found Brits would rather avoid tiling a kitchen or bathroom, plastering a wall, and laying decking. Changing a radiator, cleaning the gutter and fixing a leaky loo also gives them the shivers – and the same goes for fitting a carpet and laying a patio. And, perhaps these concerns are valid – when things go wrong they can be costly – with mishaps costing £130 to correct on average. A quarter of people even admitted they have injured themselves doing DIY because they weren’t skilled or equipped enough to do it.
As a result, the UK’s tradespeople could be in for a busy time. Almost half of adults are considering calling in a tradesperson before Christmas in order to tackle a job – of which the typical adult currently has three DIY tasks which need doing. In fact, half of people have noticed work which needs doing around the home because they are spending more time there.
