Paint rationed to keep ‘stay home’ projects in pink

DULUX has been forced to limit paint purchases after a surge in demand for DIY projects during lockdown.

The company introduced a strict limit on the number of items that can be bought after they were flooded with orders.

Only tester pots can now be purchased online – and there is a strict limit even on those.

A message on the Dulux website reads: “We are now taking new orders for testers only via this website, however to manage continued exceptional demand, we are limiting the number of orders taken each day.

“If our daily capacity has been reached you will see a message displayed when trying to add items to your shopping cart, and we will ask you try again the next day.”

Last week, the company had to suspend shipping on tester paints completely as Britons made the most of working from home with DIY projects.

A message on the company’s website read: “We’re sorry. Due to overwhelming order volumes we have suspended taking further orders today. Please try again tomorrow.”

It comes after Homebase said its timber sales for items such as fences were double last year’s levels.

DIY projects have seen a major surge during lockdown with three in five 18- to 34-year-olds and over half of 35to 54-year-olds picking up tools to improve their home, according to research from Aldermore. Painting and wallpapering have been among the most popular pursuits.