Kingfisher survey shows Russian homeowners top DIY league tables

Homeowners in Russia are keener DIYers than people in Britain, France, Germany or Spain as the emerging Russian middle classes look to make their homes more comfortable, a survey has found.

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Retailer Kingfisher, which owns the B&Q chain in the UK, interviewed 15,000 homeowners across the eight countries that it runs stores in about their DIY habits.

Just under half of the Russians polled said that they are planning to spend more money doing up their houses next year than they did this year.

This compares to 44 per cent of people in Turkey, 34 per cent in Poland, 29 per cent in Britain and the Republic of Ireland, 28 per cent in Spain, 26 per cent in Germany and 25 per cent in France.

Meanwhile nine out of ten Russians said they are more likely to spend money on doing up their homes than on holidays, treats for their partners, a new car or a new hobby.

The popularity of DIY in Russia can be put down to the country’s drab housing stock. Seven in ten homes in Russia are in apartment blocks, many of which date from the communist era.

The poll found also that consumers in Russia are bold when it comes to DIY. One in five of them are prepared to tackle structural alterations to their homes without the help of a tradesman.

Ian Cheshire, Kingfisher’s chief executive, said that sales of thick wallpaper are particularly strong in Russia as walls in people’s houses are not always flat, meaning that they look blotchy when painted.

Kingfisher’s survey – called the European Home Report 2012 – found that a third of people buy DIY products online. Internal painting and decorating was the most popular DIY activity, followed by 'home furnishing', and installing a new bathroom or kitchen.

It also found that Britons are the least bothered about living in an eco-friendly home than people in other countries.

Kingfisher said that 72 per cent of Britons believe it is important to live in an eco-friendly home, compared to 89 per cent of Russians and 96 per cent of homeowners in Turkey.

Source : James Hall – The Telegraph
www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9727576/Russian-homeowners-top-DIY-league-BandQ-owner-says.html