Buying your first home is a fantastic achievement, but after all the excitement, comes the difficult task of home improvement and maintenance. Of course, you can always resort to your conventional repairman, but not everyone has that extra money to shell out for simple repairs like a leaking faucet or a broken cabinet door. And with exorbitant rates of almost 70 dollars per hour, you’re better off doing the dirty work yourself.
If DIY is more your drift, then there are a few essential tools you require to assist you in your day-to-day repairs and maintenance. These tools are super handy, readily available in most retail outlets and are relatively inexpensive compared to professional services.
These eight vital tools are recommended for every homeowner to facilitate common household repairs.
1. Manual Screwdriver Set
A manual screwdriver set is a fundamental tool for home repairs with a myriad of uses. This set can be used for installing and removing covers for light fixtures, assembling of furniture, fixing door knobs among many other applications. These screwdrivers come in a variety of sizes with varying tips. Ensure you purchase a complete set with a good range of sizes.
2. Cordless Drill
A cordless drill is an absolute must for any homeowner. Without this handy contraption, it’s hard to get anything fixed around the house. Whether you are tightening door hinges, screwing the TV mount for your flat screen, drilling holes for photos or artwork, the cordless drill is your go-to tool. Since it’s cordless, this drill will not limit your freedom of movement and won’t cause any tripping accidents.
3. Claw Hammer
The claw hammer is the most common tool known to man. The great thing about this tool is that it can remove nails firmly fixed on wood without damaging the nail and the surface itself. Look for claw hammers that are made of extra durable material and are resistant to harsh weather.
4. Digital Tape Measure
Yes, even the tape measure has gone digital and for the better. Gone are the days when you had to squint your eyes to get the correct measurement which ended up being wrong in the end. This digital tape measure will accurately record measurements and convert them to your desired units. In fact, The Tool Report praises the digital tape measure as among the best tool inventions of the century. Some brands also have a memory feature to store measurements, so you don’t have to put them on paper each time you take a measurement.
5. Adjustable Crescent Wrench
What’s the point of having a whole set of wrenches when you can have just one adjustable wrench. The jaws of this beauty can be adjusted to fit any nut and bolt. Some even come with a self-ratcheting mechanism so you don’t have to remove the wrench while using it.
6. Staple Gun
If you need to tack your carpet, fix your calendar firmly or combine various fabrics for decoration, then the staple gun is the tool for you. Very efficient and easy to use, the staple guns are a better alternative to the conventional stapler and even beats its pneumatic counterpart. Moreover, staple guns are inexpensive and available in most hardware outlets.
7. Level
A simple level will save you from the embarrassment of having angled frames and skewed artwork. This comfortable and inexpensive tool utilizes laser technology to make sure everything that needs to be straight is precisely that straight. You can even opt for the more expensive models that will help you with correct spacing intervals and check on both your horizontal and vertical alignments.
8. Tongue and Groove Pliers
A pair of tongue-and-groove pliers or even the needle-nosed variety will always come in handy, especially when you need to twist wires or nail that are hard to reach. They can also be used for crimping and fastening operations around the house among other uses. Moreover, these handy tools are very cheap, so it doesn’t really hurt to lose one or two of these in your lifetime.
To conclude, it is crucial to exercise extreme caution while using these tools. Wrong use of these tools may result in accidents that may sometimes be severe. In cases where complex electrical or plumbing operations are required, please seek help from professionals. Any mistake may end up costing you more than what it costs to hire a plumber or electrician. Have fun with your tools and check out YouTube for exciting and informative DIY tutorials.
These eight handy tools can be purchased at your local store for a very reasonable price. They are both useful and efficient and are guaranteed to get the job done no matter how complex it is. If you have just purchased your first home, make a point of having these eight tools. They are worth every penny.
