So, you just bought your very first home. Aside from celebrating a new home, whether a brand new house or a fully renovated one, you must remember to maintain your abode. Every homeowner would do well to keep tools at home they can pick up for specific projects. This toolkit will serve as “first aid” to fix, spruce up and prevent damage in your new (or not-so-new) house. After all, your home is one of the greatest purchases of your life.
To help you out, here are 10 essential tools you should keep in your property.
Claw Hammer
One type of hammer is a clawed hammer you can find in any repair shop nearby. Its claw part allows you to pull out bent nails either on wood or on concrete. Getting a clawed hammer also helps with simple demolitions like pulling out a misplaced wooden plank.
Philips Screwdriver
There are different options of screwdrivers out there, but for light house repairs, a Philips screwdriver is a handy tool to have. It’s great when you want to remove or tighten up a screw with grooves specific to the Philips kind.
Needle Nose Pliers
Pliers come in handy for fixing or knotting electrical wires such as in your car, an appliance and in lighting. The perfect types you can get are needle nose pliers, slip-joint or cutting pliers.
Self-Retracting Tape Measure
Having a tape measure in your toolbox is essential for when you need to get accurate measurements of materials you’re working on. Most home repairs need a self-retracting metal tape measure that can be easily rolled in as opposed to using a plastic tape measure. You are sure to need this when putting up art and nailing down shelves. This can also be helpful when deciding on where to put your furniture and for so many other things.
Utility Knife
In every project, you should always be ready with a utility knife for cutting, scraping and other tasks that require a sharp blade. A utility knife is just what you need for getting stubborn adhesive marks off the floor, for instance, or for scraping off that bit of candle wax you spilled on your front porch.
Plastering Tools
Plastering tools and basic equipment are great to have around for minor repairs or renovation, say to your existing dry wall. You may want to smooth the surface to repair minor scratches or do spot work on damaged areas of the plaster. Keep these tools and accessories like grit sandpaper on the ready for smoothening out rough or uneven surfaces.
Metal Hand Saw
A hand saw is a superb choice for general repairs and improvements at your home. It makes clean and quick cuts and is very easy and light to handle. You do not typically need a mechanical saw that is most commonly used for heavy construction and industrial repairs.
Cordless Drill
Another essential tool for home repairs is a cordless drill. It can be utilised for purposes such as drilling into walls or driving down screws. Since it’s portable, you can carry it without the danger of tripping over long cords.
Duct Tape
Duct tape is an essential for every toolbox. You can use it for patching wiring, as a temporary fix for leaks and as an adhesive for different items at home. It’s so versatile, it even makes for a great first-aid remedy in the event you cut yorself.
Flashlight
When doing major repairs around the house, using the flashlight on your smartphone may not be of much help. A medium-sized flashlight should work or a LED lamp to have a clear vision of what you are working on.
There are just some of the most common and convenient tools you should have at home for minor overhauls. You can easily find them in tool shops or online delivery stores that can readily ship items to your desired address.