Brits are clueless when it comes to DIY

16:44 01 March 2011

Brits are spending a whopping £5.6 billion each year calling in help to fix the simplest of DIY tasks according to a new report.

Findings suggest that while most British households do own a toolbox, the vast majority have absolutely no idea what to do with the contents.

The report, carried out by TV channel Home to launch its Seize the DIY campaign, reveal that although the vast majority of households own £340 worth of tools, a massive 70% of British homeowners now rely on a handyman to complete simple DIY tasks, such as putting up a shelf or fixing a leaking tap.

A quarter of people also admit that they have shelled out for help on a simple DIY job that they could have actually completed themselves.

Astonishingly, the survey also found that:

• 14 per cent of homeowners believe that a spirit level is a device used for measuring alcohol
• More than a fifth of people think that a monkey wrench is a tool used by zookeepers during primate-mating season
• One in 10 people stated that a ‘spannerÂ’ was a term used to describe someone of limited intelligence

According to the results, it's Londoners that are the most likely to come unstuck when it comes to DIY, with 25 per cent not knowing what a spirit level is.

However, those living in the North East are the most clued up about what to do with their tools, as only 5% did not know what the real use was for the instrument.

Home Channel Head, Clare Laycock said:

"Our TV channel Home is dedicated to helping the nationÂ’s householders develop their DIY skills to maintain their homes and ultimately save them time and money.

"ItÂ’s staggering how much cash we spend on simple household tasks that could be spent elsewhere. Our Seize the DIY campaign on TV and online will show Brits how straightforward it is to do it themselves, as well as being fun, cheap and very rewarding.

"We want to build a nation of DIY Heroes throughout 2011!”