Britain has room for improvement in its DIY knowledge after a survey revealed 92% of respondents could only name four out of 15 ‘handyman’ tools correctly.
The survey from tradespeople directory MyJobQuote.co.uk surveyed 1,073 Brits to determine their DIY tools awareness.
The most recognisable tools were chainsaw (recognised by 100% of respondents), hammer (100% of respondents), screwdriver (100% of respondents), and drill (97% of respondents). Indeed, 3% of respondents weren’t able to name a drill when shown a picture of one.
More than half of people in the UK avoid DIY, according to a report from last year, and this was illustrated by only 2% of respondents being able to name more than 10 of the 15 tools.
The most difficult tools to name were:
- Calliper (named by less than 1%)
- Bench vise (1%)
- Stud finder (less than 2%)
- Bar clamp (2%)
Men named the correct tool 6% of the time, on average, while women named the correct tool around 2% of the time.
When to do it Yourself
You may be able to make significant cost savings on your next self build or renovation project by choosing to go it alone on DIY. Many choose to hire professionals for renovations or home improvements, but DIY can help to cut costs on a building project, and end up adding overall value to the property.
It can also eliminate costs you would otherwise pay for labour. Research by Homebuilding & Renovating shows that this typically accounts for between 45-60% of total costs.
However, it’s important to only commit to DIY projects you are confident and experienced in, and know what to leave to the professionals.