It's not uncommon for them to wait months, adding to their stress and inconvenience.

According to the website Checkatrade, 1.3 million new skilled workers and 350,000 apprentices are needed to meet demand in the next decade.

Its report said the home improvement and repair sector is forecast to grow by 40% with an improving economy, lower interest rates, and accelerated planning processes.

However, this growth is at risk due to a severe skills deficit exacerbated by an ageing workforce. The report said more than a third of current workers are over 50, and many plan to retire within the next decade.

The 1.3 million figure includes 377,000 workers to replace those retiring and 734,000 to meet current home improvement, repair, and construction demand. Due to the promised growth in housing, another 200,000 jobs are likely to be needed.

The problems were also acknowledged in a report by the Construction Skills Network, published in May.

It said the industry needs to reduce the number of people who leave for other jobs and boost training and retraining.

In June, a study revealed how 415,000 householders have waited more than a year to find a builder to work on their homes.

A further 301,000 waited a year for plumbers and heating engineers, 294,000 for a roofer and 274,000 for a carpenter.

Last year, bricklayers, plasterers, roofers and carpenters were added to the Home Office’s ‘shortage occupation list’.