Many people are quick to point out that getting into DIY home renovation projects are a great pastime, improve your outlook on life, and all the while increasing your home’s appeal and value. However, many of these people fail to inform you about the necessary equipment you need to get started. As a result, a lot of willing individuals end up tossing their projects aside because they weren’t prepared to take the job in the first place!
So, instead of beating around the bush, we’ve decided to make a quick and comprehensive checklist of tools and equipment you’ll need. From the most basic to the technical, we can assure you that this list will check all the boxes.
#1 Layout Tools
For starters, we always begin with our layout tools, and whether you’re a large commercial landscaping and lawn maintenance franchise or a simple dad wanting to start a project, everyone will always come back to these essentials. These tools lay the groundwork for more intensive projects and ensure that everything fits right, and you don’t end up ruining something.
- Tape Measure: Chances are you probably own one already, but to make sure it’s always good to double-check. You want of quality, sturdy, and a length that matches the extent of your DIY project. For good measure, try to get a longer one to prepare for future projects.
- Carpenter’s Square: When dealing with lots of cut-off work, straight edges, and right angles, you’ll need a carpenter’s square. Sometimes called a framing square or steel square, it comes in handy in different carpentry situations.
- Chalk Lines: If you need to draw temporary straight lines and work a larger surface area, you’re going to need chalk lines to make the job more manageable. And when you’re done cutting a surface or lining things up, you can easily erase it afterward.
#2 Construction Tools
After the layout, we go directly towards construction, and these tools are among the most used if you don’t count the more comprehensive work that requires a lot of detail. They’re relatively easy to get your hands on, and they usually come bundled in plenty of toolboxes.
- Hammer: The good old hammer, a versatile tool perfect for all projects, and is a great all-purpose choice. You can use them for tear down, hammering in nails, assembly, and so much more. Make sure that you invest in a sturdy and quality one that will last.
- Chisels: From working with doors to notching trims, and fitting in hard to assemble pieces, a set of chisels goes a long way in home renovation projects. Chisels also come in handy when shaping and dressing all sorts of solid build material.
- Pry Bar: Often referred to as a crowbar, these sturdy steel bars work best in teardowns, removals, disassembly, and prying things open. Especially when dealing with difficult objects, these bad boys can force anything apart.
- Hand Saw: As you’ve seen in most films, a sharp hand saw is good to have for all general-purpose cutting. They’re easy to manipulate and come in handy in most DIY projects.
#3 Power Tools
Next up, we have power tools, the cream of the crop, and the master of more intensive DIY projects, detailed work, and large-scale renovation. Of course, we won’t deny that these come at a premium price point, so they’re generally more expensive. So, choose the ones you need if you don’t want to splurge.
- Cordless Drill: When it comes to assembly and making quick work of putting together components, the cordless drill is a must-have under those circumstances. You can pretty much carry them anywhere and can attach different heads for all types of projects.
- Circular Saw: Complex woodwork needs the right tools, and when it comes to making quick cuts on plywood or any solid material for that matter, the circular saw takes the cake. Plus, you can switch out the blade depending on the surface, which makes it more versatile.
- Tablesaw: If you’re planning to rip stock to the width and engage in larger-scale projects, then consider investing in a good quality table saw. From crosscuts to dado cuts, it doesn’t get more precise than this. ;
#4 Safety Equipment
And lastly, as with all forms of heavy-duty work, you need the necessary safety equipment and protective wear to keep you from hurting yourself. And before you get any funny ideas about skimping on this part, if the OSHA requires it for construction, you should also be just as responsible for personal projects.
- Safety Glasses: Since you’ll be dealing with a lot of debris, the last thing you’ll want is for any of it to get into your eyes. Plus, you don’t want to run the risk of accidentally rubbing them, so better to be safe with a pair of safety glasses.
- Dust Mask: Again, many fine particles and debris will start filling the air when you start a DIY home project, and whether it’s significant decorative work or small projects, you don’t want to risk inhaling something dangerous. So, get yourself a good dust mask to keep you safe at all times.
- Work Gloves: Last but not least, we can’t forget our hands. We use them to manipulate and control all of our tools, which means they’re essential. So, invest in quality work gloves that will keep you from hurting yourself. You don’t want us to tell you about the horror stories with hands and blades.
And with all that said, you’re pretty much ready and set to go on your DIY adventure. Always remember that it’s better to be prepared to void any last-minute shopping and compromise, so refer back to this list whenever you need it!