Walking through your local hardware store can be quite overwhelming if you are new to DIY home improvement. There are lots of gizmos and gadgets that do everything from sand floors to carve intricate designs in wood, but spending thousands of dollars on tools you may only use once is not exactly sound financial advice. If you are preparing for a specialty project, then it’s probably best to check out your local tool rental establishment or consult with a professional contractor . Otherwise, make sure that you have all of these items on hand to complete any basic home repair project.
Let’s start with the obvious
Before commencing with the obligatory eye rolls, these 10 tools are absolutely essential in even the most basic of toolboxes.
- A hammer and nails
- Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
- Duct tape
- WD-40
- Pliers
- Adjustable wrench
- Tape measure
- Level
- Utility knife
- Hacksaw
Other necessities: work gloves, rags, a pencil, and safety goggles.
Upgrading from the basics
You can borrow most of these items or make do without them for a while, but eventually these tools should find their way into your permanent tool collection.
Electric drill
Once you start using an electric drill, it’s hard to remember why you ever settled for less. Not only did drilling holes and driving screws just get easier, but you can also sand and grind materials, stir paint, and a whole lot more!
A variety of wrenches
If you have to tighten or loosen a lot of nuts and bolts, then give your hands a break and get some of these babies:
- Socket wrench
- Pipe wrench
- Allen wrenches
Putty knife
Have holes in the wall that need patching? This is the tool for you! Putty knives are also great for scraping off old paint, prying up nails, and removing wall paper.
Stud finder
If you want to mount your new television without putting a million holes in the wall in search of a stud, then trust a stud finder to locate one for you in the blink of an eye.
Crosscut saw
Designed for cutting across the wood grain, these saws make quick work of cutting 2x4s down to size.
Other useful tools include: chisel, crowbar, rubber mallet, combination square, ratcheting screwdriver
Now you’re getting fancy
Finally, you are ready to upgrade to tools that run on more than just elbow grease (with the exception of the power drill, of course). These power tools make all household projects more efficient.
Staple gun
Need to secure some loose roofing or reupholster your favorite chair? No problem! A staple gun has a broad range of applications and comes in both manual and electric versions.
Nail gun
Driving a lot of nails with a hammer can really do a number on your hands, so if you are installing molding or intricate trim, an automatic nailer will save you a lot of time and effort.
Circular saw
The most common power tool out there, the circular saw can cut through masonry, tile, steel, wood, and just about anything else.
While this is by no means a complete list, it should definitely help you get started on your home improvement projects.
For helpful more tips on essential tools, contact our expert contractors at 732-810-1049 today!