Judges convened last month at the Dulux Academy at Akzo Nobel’s UK head office in Slough to discuss the entries and test out products, resulting in 27 products being shortlisted across nine categories.

There were some tough decisions to be made across a host of great entries and our stellar judging panel stood firm in their brief, judging products on innovation, quality, function and price. 

Our judging panel this year comprised:
• Paul Andrews, DIY Product Manager, Home Hardware Southwest
• John Cosford, Buyer - DIY, Wilko
• Mike Farrants, Buyer, Wyevale Garden Centres
• Paul Garland, Associate Buyer – DIY & garden, QVC UK
• Andrew Georgiou, Buying Manager, Robert Dyas (Theo Paphitis Retail Group)
• Steve Guy, Category Director – outdoor, B&Q
• Gary Hayman, Group Buyer, Capital Gardens
• Vicky Nuttall, Director, Garden Industry Manufacturers Association
• Paul Warren, Owner, Broad Street DIY

The products shortlisted for the 2018 DIY Week Awards (in alphabetical order) are:

Decorating Product of the Year
Akzo Nobel Dulux roller tester
PlastiKote chalk (water-based spray paint)
V33 Easy Furniture Paint

DIY Product of the Year
Everbuild Hand Armour barrier cream
Fix-A-Floor UK, Fix-A-Floor
Henkel UnibondNo More Nails Click & Fix
Silverline Tools Lock Rod drain rod system
What More Wham Bam Upcycled toolbox

Electronic DIY Product of the Year
Bosch Universal Inspect
Bosch Universal Level

Garden Leisure Product of the Year
Panacea Products Rosette Modular Fence System
QEP Homelux Colour Changing Cube/stool

Garden Care Product of the Year
Elho Green Basics Flower Bridge Grow House
Riverco Trading Frogsuit wood treatment
SBM Life Science Solabiol Bug Free ready-to-use 1litre

Hand Tool & Accessory of the Year
Olympia Tools Gorilla Block Buster
Olympia Tools Roughneck Pallet buster
QEP Vitrex Diamond drills & guide kit

Home & Kitchen Product of the Year
Croydex Flexi-Fix toilet seat
Evo Lifestyle Products Scrub Daddy
Henkel Unibond Aero360 Moisture Absorber & scented refills
What More Wham Upcycled 62-litre

Power Tool of the Year
Bosch Easycut 12
Bosch Easyprune
Makita HP457DWE10 18v combi drill

Security Product of the Year
Masterlock2650EURD PushKey Padlock
Yale Conexis L1 Smart Door Lock

The overall winners in each category will be announced at the 2018 DIY Week Awards luncheon on Friday, May 11 at the Park Plaza Victoria in London, along with a Judges’ Choice accolade to be awarded to the product that our judges felt stood head and shoulders above the rest.

To book your place, go to www.diyweekawards.co.uk

• The judging for the retailer categories, which was set to take place at the end of February was postponed due to poor weather but has been rescheduled for later this month, with the finalists set to be revealed in the March 23 issue and in that week’s online newsletter.