Million DIY jobs need attention, study shows

If you’re staying home over the next few weeks, will you be using the time to get into some chores that have been nagging at you?

According to research conducted recently by Draper Tools, it turns out that there are more than 430 million DIY jobs currently needing attention in Britain’s homes.

Lack of time and hectic lifestyles are partly to blame for the weighty to-do lists.

Giving the house a lick of paint, putting up shelves and wallpapering are among the tasks yet to be done. Other niggling jobs include changing light bulbs, fixing dodgy toilet flushes and cleaning the deck.

The study also found seven in ten people ‘long’ to cross off DIY jobs from their to-do list – including bleeding radiators, repairing fencing and clearing out the shed. Other long-outstanding tasks on the list included assembling flat pack furniture, fixing squeaky doors and tightening loose screws. Raking up leaves, changing fuses and boarding up the attic also remain incomplete for many of those polled.

For 59 per cent of the population crossing jobs off their list might take a while – they admit they have an ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’ attitude towards home improvement. Nevertheless, a further fifth described home improvement as something they really enjoy.

When it comes to ability, more than a third described themselves as ‘very good’ at DIY – although six in 10 said they are ‘not that good’ or ‘very bad’. As a result, many of those polled rely on others for help and advice – with dad the first point of call for four in 10.