The rise of DIY

According to the 2018 Hiscox Renovations and Extensions Report, the number of people who chose to improve their home, rather than relocate, reached 26 per cent, compared to just three per cent in 2013. But how has this increase of at home renovators changed the building supplies industry? Here, Nick Cowley, managing director of PVCu windows and doors supplier, Euramax Solutions, discusses the rise of ’DIYers’ and the position of the industry. 

Nowadays, people want to do it themselves. The rise of ‘DIY’ or ‘do it yourself’ has been heavily influenced by DIY video tutorials and home renovation programmes, along with the difficulty some face getting onto the property ladder and the increasing availability and scope of builder’s merchants.

Taking it online

From learning a foreign language to learning how to build a table or remodel a bathroom, the internet offers an outlet to learn new things. This is particularly apparent, as searches for ‘how to’ videos on YouTube are growing by 70 per cent, year on year.

Traditionally, consumers would have had to rely on instruction manuals or hire a professional tradesperson to complete a home improvement job. Nowadays, many homeowners turn to their nearest device and are beginning to take it upon themselves to learn how to do home improvement tasks.

As a result, many home improvement stores, particularly across the USA, are adding their own content to platforms like YouTube to help inspire, educate and guide consumers in their DIY journey.

The screen influence

With popular DIY and home improvement television programmes like Grand Designs and DIY SOS attracting millions of viewers each week, it’s not surprising that consumer confidence in DIY is on the rise. Home improvement programmes showcase the endless possibilities that can be created, and the personal satisfaction and rewards that can be achieved from ‘doing it yourself’.

The worldwide appeal of real estate reality programmes can also be responsible for home design trends spreading across the globe, whether that be colours, materials or furniture styles. From glamourous expansive panes of glass to rustic and farmhouse style colour options, it’s clear to see the impact.

Materials matter

But what does all this mean for the industry? DIY, trade and builders merchant stores offer affordable products and are becoming an increasingly convenient and popular option for ‘DIYers’. It’s not just businesses that can use builders’ merchants, now they are opening their doors to individual ‘DIYers’ who are looking to renovate their homes.

With well recognised suppliers opening their doors to trade and consumers alike, it means that at-home DIYers can have access to industry leading products, such as those from Euramax. Making these types of products more accessible is further supporting the growth of the DIY market.

As the way people learn to do their own home improvements changes, television programmes continue to influence design trends and trade stores offer more choice to consumers, it’s easy to understand the rise of DIY.

With a 23 per cent increase in people that chose to improve their home rather than move in the short space of five years, it’s only likely that this number will continue to increase. We’ll all be installing new windows, knocking down walls for patio doors and renovating bathrooms before you know it.