10 DIY tasks British people struggle with most

Replacing roof tiles, fitting new doors and fixing leaking windows among most challenging tasks, survey finds

Over 60 per cent of those surveyed said they "have a go" at DIY jobs to avoid paying a tradesman (Getty)

One in six British people have never tackled a DIY job at home, a survey claims.

The poll of 2,000 adults found a fifth of people cannot hammer a nail, rising to a third among those aged 35-44

One third said they would struggle to use a stopcock to turn the water supply off while 15 per cent said they are unable to change a lightbulb.

The survey, commissioned by double glazing manufacturer Independent Network, found British people are twice as likely to use YouTube rather than ask their parents for DIY tips.

A spokesperson for Independent Network said: “Our research found that there is a lack of confidence from Brits when it comes to DIY.

“Changing a lightbulb and turning the water on and off are relatively easy tasks but they clearly make some people nervous.

“But unlike in the past when you had to rely on friends, family and manuals for help, novices are making use of the internet to polish up their skills.

“Almost half of those surveyed said they watch clips on YouTube, while blogs and specialist forums are also hugely popular – it is something we didn’t have a few years ago.”

Nearly half of those surveyed said they feel nervous about doing DIY. While one fifth said they have a "slapdash approach" to doing odd jobs around the house.

But 67 per cent said they "have a go" at DIY jobs to avoid paying a tradesman to do the task.

One quarter of those surveyed said they find the experience of doing DIY so frustrating they have broken something as a result.

And more than 20 per cent said they have fallen out with their partner while doing odd jobs.

Top ten DIY tasks British people struggle with:

1. Replacing roof tiles
2. Fixing pointing
3. Fixing a leaking window
4. Fitting a new door
5. Fixing a swelling door
6. Fixing a window lock
7. Fixing a door lock
8. Fixing a leaking tap
9. Hanging wallpaper
10. Changing a fixture

SWNS