D.I.Y.

METRICATION:  90% complete
	Metric	Non-metric
	Metric-only tape measures available from online stores	Imperial units are predominant on dual unit tape measures in D.I.Y. stores
	Compost and soil in litres	Turf sometimes sold in strips of one square yard
	Timber and board in millimetres	Skip hire – skip size given in (cubic) yards
	Paint and other wood coatings in litres
	Bricks, blocks and slabs in millimetres
	Cement and sand in kilograms

Timber

From 1 April 1970, the sale of timber switched to metric sizes. Starting with 1800 mm, lengths were available in increments of 300 mm.

Wood and Board metrication leaflet – 1973

The new metric range of widths and thicknesses were direct conversions of the old imperial sizes. To calculate every new metric size, each inch was substituted by 25 mm, with the result being rounded to the nearest millimetre.

Standard metric sizes for sawn softwood – 1970

	75	100	125	150	175	200	225	250	300
16	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
19	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
22	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
25	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
32	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
38	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
44	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
50	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
63		⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
75		⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤	⬤
100		⬤		⬤		⬤		⬤	⬤
150				⬤		⬤			⬤
200						⬤
250								⬤
300									⬤

The switch to metric units for hardwood was more gradual:

• From 1 April 1970, hardwood suppliers agreed to supply invoicing in metric upon request, but sales remained in imperial units.
• From 1 January 1971, stock-keeping and sales switched to metric units.

The new metric range of thicknesses for hardwood were a subset of those adopted for softwood. In millimetres, the available thicknesses were:

19, 25, 32, 38, 50, 63, 75, 100, 125

Paint

Paint in metric cans was first available from merchants and retailers in June 1971.

A demonstration metric paint can – 1970

Five metric sizes replaced the previous sizes of pints, quarts and gallons:

Old imperial size	Size change	New metric size	Date introduced
1 gallon	10% more	5 L	June 1971
½ gallon	10% more	2.5 L	mid July 1971
1 quart	12% less	1 L	end August 1971
1 pint	12% less	500 ml	October 1971
½ pint	12% less	250 ml	October 1971

The first available metric size was the 5 L tin – which replaced the old 1 gallon size. The whole metric range was available by December 1971. However, existing stocks of imperial cans remained available for some time afterwards, especially the slower moving colours. To avoid confusion during the transition, new cans were labelled in dual units – metric first with imperial equivalent in brackets.

Paint metrication leaflet – 1973

The new metric tins’ spreading capacities were given in square metres.