Being a new homeowner brings a number of responsibilities to the table and includes many things you have to take care of on a daily basis. This is somewhat different depending on whether you have a garage, a garden, a backyard, some additional valuable property that needs maintenance and so on, and, therefore, people with all of these possessions need more skills than the others. In order not to call a plumber, an electrician and a carpenter every time you have a home emergency or a DIY project, you should know how to handle a few simple tools. Here are some of the most vital ones you will definitely need.
Screwdriver
Probably the single most used tool around the house, from the indoor area to the outdoors, and everywhere in between is a screwdriver. Some people use it more often than others, but everyone simply has a need for it from time to time – whether your chair’s bolts and pins are starting to feel loose, you are trying to hang some kitchen cabinets or change a light switch plate, a screwdriver is essential. With so many sizes and shapes, you should have at least two of those in your toolbox – an X-shape and a flathead. Also, universal screwdrivers with interchangeable tips are quite handy as well.
Measuring Tape
Just like a screwdriver, a measuring tape is vital when it comes to small house repairs or you want to build something like a new bookshelf for your collection or a bed for your children. Moreover, you cannot imagine certain tasks like painting walls, ordering new carpets or installing hardwood floors without a measuring tape.
Hammer
For more serious tasks that require more power and a usage of nails and spikes, do not even think of starting them without a hammer. But not any hammer will suffice as selecting ones that are too small or too big from the wide variety present at your local hardware store will only limit your options and its optimal usage. The most common one is a steel 16-inch tip hammer with a straight claw and its uses are wide: you can punch the nails in, but you can also remove them afterwards. Finally, do not spare a few extra dollars for a good hammer – a fine one can easily be passed from one generation to the next.
Cordless Drill
For all those who do not appreciate wasting too much time when repairing things around the house, a cordless drill is a great replacement. Usually packed with an additional battery, it will not leave you dry and lose power – moreover, you can even improve the battery on your own and make it last longer than it used to. This tool is indispensable for all sorts of home repairs and, if you purchase one with high quality drill bits, it will surely last you for a while.
Toolbox
Yes, this may sound too simple and prosaic, but everyone needs a great toolbox to store all their essentials. There is a substantial variety of those available at supermarkets, hardware stores and online, but you can just use a plastic paint can or an empty tub. Also, create storage options in your garage, too, and find a place to pack all your cables, clamps and other tools. Specific kinds need specific storing – for example, gardening tools such as soil knives, scissors, weeders and pruning shears are best kept in a plastic box, say people from Hoselink.
Staple Gun
While this may not be everyone’s first association of one of the essential tools for a homeowner, a staple gun makes so many jobs so much easier. From maintaining your furniture to all sorts of small repairments, a staple gun is sometimes the best solution when you need something to reallystick to its place. Ultimately, you cannot imagine certain jobs without one, especially when working with limber.
More Tools
Besides these tools, there are a number of them that are handy and quite useful from time to time, such as a level, a wrench, a nail set, pliers, an electrical tester, a handsaw, a utility and putty knife, a combination square, a wire cutter/stripper and so on. Depending on how handy you are, all of these will become irreplaceable in your home.