Top 20 DIY stores in Britain Maxwells: 10 north of England branches specialising in power tools 4.Hunts of Marlow: Family-run business near the High Street, offering key-cutting too Pickles: Home and garden DIY stockists plus fuel supplies from coal to sticks, in rural Devon Firn's: Long-standing Cumbrian family hardware and ironmonger with gift-wrapping service available Evans of Saltash: leading Cornwall hardware shop with extensive household section too ScrewFix: 255 stores selling 11,000 items and with a click-and-collect service Crocket The Ironmonger: From Black & Deckers to Barbours, this Glasgow DIY heaven has an equestrian section too 10.Toolstation: Over 50 stores from Inverness to Truro selling tools (of course), workwear and landscaping kit Langbridge Home Hardware: Bath's best, say customers - the website has a blog giving DIY and baking hints Homebase: 340 stores across the UK, mostly out-of-town with easy parking Worleys: Pet supplies as well as DIY, specialising in electrical equipment, plus a gift section. Cardiff-based Potters: Based in Hockley, Essex, with large garden, decorating, tools and plumbing sections as well as kitchen and cooking Partridges: On Ipswich High Street the shop has everything from home fencing to wheels and castors Lindleys: Family-run business in Castleford with extensive supplies and free local delivery Wickes: 200 stores aimed mostly at the serious well-informed DIY enthusiast Morrells: A DIY store just off London's Carnaby Street? Odd but true, with tools, decorating supplies and ironmongery Ray Grahams: Based in Newtownards, N Ireland, offering everything from duvets to downpipes Scats: Stores across South Wales and southern England, specialising in agricultural DIY - everything for those working on smallholdings and equestrian properties Easy DIY jobs... Decorating. Make sure you unscrew electrical sockets and light switch covers to get the best finish, use a long-handled roller for ceilings (and a mini one for behind radiators); Bleed radiators. Buy a key from a radiator shop, turn heating off and open each radiator valve - air escapes but as soon as water seeps out, the job is done; Putting up shelves. Get appropriate size and strength brackets and timber, use a spirit level to get it straight and rawl plugs to keep those screws in; Filling wall cracks. Apply the wet filler, let it dry thoroughly, then sandpaper flat and smooth before you paint over; Seal window draughts. Old sashes or loose-fitting windows leak hot air out so fill with self-adhesive foam weather strips. Use the smallest size to do the task to keep it neat. ...but leave these to the professionals any work involving gas can produce leaks, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning and must be left a a Gas Safe-registered professional listed on www.gassaferegister.co.uk; complicated electrical work can also be dangerous if botched so use a professional electrician with certification to handle Part P buildings regulations; frozen water pipes have to be replaced by a professional familiar with cutting, bridging and welding pipes if necessary (but you can lag the new ones to prevent a repeat); roofing should be left to those who understand building regulations and best eco-practice regarding membranes, bitumen and tiles, and with access to appropriate scaffolding; unblocking drains is easy with the right length, diameter and strength of brush, but most DIY-ers use small makeshift items which get stuck and worsen the problem.