Just as the body needs medicine or exercise to heal and change, so does a house that need tools and DIY know-how to be repaired and renovated.
Having a set of tools is not a given thing, but rather it should grow on you when you become a homeowner, or you should have adapted to it if growing up in a well-organized household.
Whatever the case, having a set of tools and an appropriate workspace is one of the more important things for having a well-maintained home.
The list can be very long and broad, but also very short, depending on what your needs are and how handy you are with various materials.
Tools can be divided into various categories depending on their use: for measuring, cutting, drilling, forging, etc.
Also depending on if they are hand or power tools, what is the motor’s strength, and so forth.
Here we will try and summarize the ultimate list of tools anyone would need for home renovation and repair.
Man is the Measure of All Things
We have tried our best throughout the ages to find useful ways of measuring various things, length, mass, volume, time… with varying results.
So far we have mostly agreed that the metric system works very well, though some parts of the work stick to the old measurements that have a very natural feel to them.
Any DIY enthusiast worth their salt must have a selection of measuring tools at their disposal at all times.
For starters, a measuring tape of at least 5 meters/16 feet, but also a caliper, to be used for measuring thickness and diameter of pipes, or similar
You can also always stick to the old rule of thumb – where the average thumb is 1-inch thick, though that is a very unprecise way of measuring anything.
Cutting Tools
If you are repairing any furniture, making new windows or doors, or preparing metal piping – you will need a way to cut some materials.
Knives, saws, blades, and the like are all used to this extent and should be included in your arsenal.
Old-timey handheld saw blades can look very nice on the walls, but are a pain to sharpen and slow to use.
Today it’s much better to use circular saw blades that run on electricity, and if looking for the best Miter saw, take into consideration that it has to have an easy way of changing the blade for different materials.
Another key cutting tool you should invest in is a scalpel blade, used for fine cutting of smaller parts.
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How to Hold Items
With only two hands (and sometimes, unfortunately, even less) at our disposal, it can be challenging, or outright impossible, to hold an item while working on it with tools at the same time.
That is why we also need to include in our list a number of grips and vises.
The most important one to have is a medium-sized bench vise, one that can be bolted to a table or bench and is used for securing the worked material during heavy-duty work.
Also, you will have to have two or three different pliers for various purposes – locking pliers, pipe grips, and combined pliers.
Drills and Bits
The drill is one of the most common tools to be found in every home as it is used in a variety of scenarios, from masonry to electronics.
The old-fashioned handheld ones are a rarety today and have successfully been replaced with electronic ones that do the job much more elegantly.
Depending on where you are working, you will either need a cordless one or one with a cord.
The cordless ones are much more versatile and quicker to use, especially in places that don’t have a socket nearby, such as in the attic or the garden.
They, however, usually pack less of a punch than the corded ones and you may need to bring a second battery with you.
A good selection of bits for wood, metal, and concrete is also needed at hand at all times.
Basic Metalwork
Because metal is very difficult to shape we are used to buying it in pre-made form and don’t even think about the possibility of making it the way we want or need it.
Although this usually requires a bit more advanced set of tools, it is still manageable.
First – not only because of this but here it is essential – you will need hammers of different weight.
After that, you will also benefit from having a small anvil and angle grinder so that with these tools you can cold-work metal to a lot of subtle shapes to better fit your needs.
Gardening Tools
If you have a yard you will definitely be redoing it from time to time, from fixing a worn-out shed in the back to replanting the flowers around the house.
The three ultimate tools for any garden work are a spade, shovel, and rake. All of them have a million and one variation but they fulfill the main functions that everyone needs.
Make sure that they are properly cleaned and oiled after work as they can easily corrode away if stored incorrectly, and also see that they are sharpened from time to time with an angle grinder or a file.
The Workspace
Lastly, not a tool but the place where the magic happens – the workspace. You will want to have enough space to store most of your tools in appropriate places on the wall, as well as in drawers around the room.
Avoid shelves as they gather dust and are a nightmare to organize.
This workshop doesn’t have to be inside the house or apartment but should be close by if you need to carry the finished piece back to its place.
Every workshop must have good lighting above a bench and have the possibility of ventilation, as toxic and flammable fumes have been the end of many crafty, but uncareful, people.
Home renovation and repair come hand in hand with being a homeowner and wanting to live in a comfortable and respectable place.
Things inevitably become damaged due to everyday wear and tear, not to mention exceptional cases such as natural disasters, and it is best to be ready to take care of the damage done as soon as possible and not have to rely on repairmen to come to your aid.
