| By :
Martin Hofschroer
A concerning number of Brits have resorted to using household objects in order to get DIY tasks done. Figures in this year's Focus DIY 'Tools of the Nation' report revealed that the majority of homeowners do not know which tools are required for different DIY jobs around the house. A massive 84 per cent of people are in dire need of practical education through carpentry courses, tiling courses and plastering courses as these dozy DIYers have confessed to using kitchen cutlery to complete a chore. Furthermore, 43 per cent of householders admitted to using their fingernails and 24 per cent said they have used pennies to finish a DIY task as they have been unable to locate the correct tool. More imaginative makeshift tools have included nail files, shoes and even oven gloves as many homeowners do not realise the damage they could do by not using the right implement. The study found that homeowners who attempt amateur DIY to a poor standard often have to pay for their mistakes by employing a professional tradesmen to correct their errors. More than one in ten people have had to employ an expert to fix their DIY disasters and 80 per cent have paid up to £100 for a professional job, while nearly one in five have shelled out in excess of £150. Nasim Valli, Focus project manager, said: "The problem seems to be that most of us simply don't own the right DIY tools, or in some cases any at all. "48 per cent of us own ten or less tools, which is probably why some of us have resorted to using our toothbrushes and even saucepans!" The investigation into Britain's DIY habits discovered that the most common tool that people own is the slotted screwdriver, which was closely followed by the pozi screwdriver and a hammer. A related survey by Bosch found that Brits need to put their tools to the test as the United Kingdom is a nation full of homes which are in need of a lick of paint and are sinking into disrepair. The study revealed that Brits believe their homes are more in need of refurbishment and renovation compared to other countries in Europe. DIY expert Chris Tidy said that parents need to do more to encourage their children to take an interest in practical tasks as this will save them money in the future as they will not have to rely on expensive tradesmen. He added: "I believe that no matter who you are, or what the job, DIY can be time and cost-effective. What's more the personal fulfilment and satisfaction that comes from doing a significant job yourself is unbeatable." Bosch found that 47 per cent of Germans thought that their DIY skills were good enough to be called semi-professional.
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