The Best Tools for your DIY Projects

Every home project – even the small ones – requires some tools to accomplish the task. Tools come in a variety of shapes and sizes which can make it a challenge to figure out which ones you need.

Thankfully, we have found the thirteen best tools for do-it-yourself projects around the house to help you get started on your next project!

Basically, every project you work on in your home requires different tools, but there are some tools that are used so often, you’d be smart to invest in some of these. Let’s think about some common jobs around the house, from hanging pictures or installing doorknobs to laying down flooring or putting together furniture.

Now for some of you trades workers, these may be obvious, but there are plenty of people who have jumped into homeownership and they don’t know anything about tools, and when things go wrong, they aren’t equipped to deal with even basic issues.

1. Measuring Tape

I’d suggest you buy a measuring tape.  No matter what you’re working on, there is a good chance you will need to measure something at some point. Often, when we guess distances, we fail miserably, and the accuracy a measuring tape provides is priceless.

3. Screwdrivers

Get yourself a couple of different screwdrivers. There are 4 mains types of screwdrivers. Slotted screwdrivers are flat. Philips screwdrivers are the X shape. The square ones are called Robertson. And Torx screwdrivers are more of a star shape. These should be pretty adequate for most jobs around the house. Just have a full screwdriver kit on hand.

4. Protective Eyewear

If keeping your eyes healthy and free of rocks or wooden splinters sounds good to you, buy some type of protective eyewear. I feel like basically every time I say “I don’t need glasses, this’ll just take a minute” I get something in my eye and it’s never fun. Any tools like sanders or saws 100% require safety glasses. Trust me on this – it’s not worth losing an eye over!

5. Work Gloves

Get yourself some work gloves. You can buy some pretty thick ones for those times where you don’t want to injure your hands, and also some lighter gloves for those times when you’re handling tools such as hammers. If you work with tools then gloves will be your new best friend!

 6. Cordless Drill

Next on the list of tools for do-it-yourself projects is a cordless drill.  You can do so many things with a drill, from putting together furniture to setting up shelves. It’s helpful to have a little bit of knowledge about how to properly hold and use drills before you get started. Drills are powerful and could cause some injury to you or structural damage to your house if used sloppily.

7. Ladder

If you have any project you can imagine doing that aren’t at ground level, you should definitely get a ladder. A ladder is a necessity for any DIYer. You can get so much more done on a ladder than if you’re just standing on the ground. No more having to climb on random unstable objects!

 In fact, having a few ladders can be smart. A shorter 6 footer is great for most people inside the home, while an extension ladder is great for easy access to the roof, or gutters.

8. Tool/Utility Belt

You want things that will help you tackle any home improvement projects that may arise while you’re working. Like using a tool belt or utility belt. Tools can get pretty heavy and numerous and it’s nice to have some tools with easy accessibility instead of having to go all over the place trying to find what you need.

9. Wrenches

Purchase a set of wrenches. These guys are always useful for gripping, fastening, turning, tightening and loosening things like pipes, pipe fittings, nuts, and bolts. There are lots of different kinds of wrenches, but the most commonly used are basic adjustable wrenches.

10. Utility Knives

Next, get some utility knives. Utility knives are great tools to have around. You’ll need something sharp and strong enough to cut through tough material like carpet or caulking. Have some extra blade on hand because they do get dull over time.

11. Saws

Having some saws will be essential. There are lots of tools that you can use for sawing things like wood or metal, but the most commonly used tools are hand saws. Once again, there are tons of saws available. I personally use my hand saw, an oscillating saw, and a mitre saw the most.

12. Stud Finder

Consider picking up a stud finder. When drilling into the walls of your home, you want to both avoid electrical wiring, while you find studs to support your photo or whatever else you’re hanging securely into a stud. A stud finder will do both and they aren’t overly expensive either.

13. Hammer/Mallot

Don’t forget about these magnificent tools. No toolset is complete without a hammer and mallot.

There you go everyone, those are some of the best tools and items for DIY projects.