As the owner of a custom design-build company, my goal is simple – I want you to love everything about your home. The way it looks, the way it feels, the way it works for your lifestyle and meets the changing needs of your family.
It’s essential that you have all the tools before you begin to undergo any major remodel project. Especially if you’re doing a lot of the work yourself. In today’s guide, we’re breaking down all of the must-have tools that we’re always using on our job sites.
Keep in mind that buying all of these tools can be really expensive if you are undergoing a project in your home. It may be easier or more beneficial for you to rent tools instead of buying them outright. Here’s a list of some high-quality tool rental locations in the greater Boston area.
Must-Have Remodeling Tools
Here are the tools that you’ll need to get the job done right!
Protective Equipment
Before we get too far into the list, we have to talk about protective equipment. If you don’t take the necessary steps to protect your body during the work, you could regret it at some point. The last thing you’ll want is to be heading to the emergency room or dealing with problems related to the remodel work that you did.
Eye Protection – Safety Glasses
First up is eye protection. Most construction workers will forget about eye protection or ignore it completely. But, eye protection is one of the most important things. In most cases, if your eyes get hurt, they face permanent damage. You only get two eyes, so be sure to take care of them!
Ear Protection
Like eye protection, ear protection is also critical! There’s a lot that can be loud and hurt your ears or cause hearing loss. You won’t need to wear ear protection all the time, but be sure to wear it when you’re using loud tools or doing demolition work.
Lung Protection – Mask
A mask can help keep dust and harmful particles from making their way into your lungs. Again, this isn’t something that you’ll have to wear all the time. But having a mask handy when you need one is very helpful!
Coveralls or Protective Clothing
Protective clothing will help keep you clean and free from scratches and damage to your skin from sharp materials.
Gloves
There’s nothing more valuable than a good pair of gloves to protect your hands. Many carpenters choose not to wear gloves but having a pair on hand when you need them can make a big difference.
Hand-Held Tools
This list of tools is far from extensive. There are so many different tools that can be useful through projects. To make sure you have the right tools, be sure to ask around. Different jobs will always require different tools, but this list is a good place to start.
Hammer
No matter the hammer you choose, having one is a must. You might even want to have a couple of different sizes. A sledgehammer for the demo is a great tool to have in your arsenal.
Pouches, Bags, or a Tool Belt
There are many lingoes out there for different tool belts that construction workers like to have on them. Not to mention the competition between different crews based on the quality of the tool belts that they purchase and use. Having a tool belt to keep everything handy is key to getting tasks done quickly.
Tape Measure
Measure twice and cut once. It’s the quintessential rule of the carpenters. Invest in a good tape measure that’s long enough and durable enough to handle what you’ll be throwing at it. There’s no use in wasting materials because you’re not able to measure them correctly.
Plenty of Pencils or Marking Tools
Pencils, pens, markers, and all sorts of other tools will all help you mark out the job and mark out materials for cutting. You’ll need plenty of marking tools for a remodel project.
Catspaw
A must-have remodeling tool is the catspaw or claw nail puller that you can use to remove nails, hold different items in place, or pry away different materials during demolition. There’s truly no carpenter that would be caught without a catspaw in his or her tool belt.
Speed Square;
Finally, a speed square will help you cut angles, ensure lines are straight and help with some minor measurements. You can pick up this handy tool for cheap at most hardware stores. Find the set above by following this link.
Clean Up
A big part of remodeling and home renovation is the clean-up. Many times homeowners are living in the home during the home improvement project. If you’re doing the work yourself, this can especially be the case. Here are the tools you’ll need to make cleanup a cinch.
Push Broom
Everyone likely has a broom, but having a big one that you can use throughout the project will help when you need to clean things up at the end of the day.
Shovel or Dustpan
A shovel will work well to clean up large amounts of debris and scraps left out. You can also use it as a dustpan or buy a separate one.
Trash Can
There’s not much to share about this one. A job site will never flow well without a place to put the garbage.
Shop-Vac
Shop Vacs are great tools to have around any house. They can suck up dirt, dust, and even water if you need to. This is a must-have tool.
Tarps and Drape Cloth
Any interior project will need lots of tarp and drape cloth to protect elements that aren’t being remodeled. These should be placed on the floor to help keep everything spic and span!
Saws
The right saws will allow you to make the demo and construction much smoother. If you’re caught without the proper tools, then you’ll definitely spend more time working on things that you don’t need to.
Skill Saw or Circular Saw
A skill saw is a great tool to have, and there are plenty of really good ones out on the market today. There are corded and cordless battery-powered saws that you can use to get the job done efficiently and effectively.
Sawzall
Sawzall, unlike a skill saw, is a tool made perfect for demo days. With these, you’re able to make rough cuts through just about any material, allowing you to make quick work of anything in your way.
Pencil Saw
This tool is great for making quick and very precise cuts.
Saw Blades
Having some replacement saw blades on hand is going to be essential on any project. Sawzall blades can wear down quickly, and a dull skill saw won’t cut straight.
Sawhorses
A pair of sawhorses will help you cut straight and stack any extra lumber you have laying around. In general, sawhorses are always really handy.
Air Tools
Air tools will help you frame with lumber and keep your job moving along speedily. You can use them for a number of tasks, from stapling different materials to nailing. We won’t go into detail about all of the nifty air tools that you can buy to use on the job. Instead, here’sa blog post all about those.
Air Compressor
To power your air tools, you’ll need a high-powered air compressor. Good air compressors can be both gasoline engine powered or electric. What you choose to use is strictly up to preference. Buying an air compressor isn’t a bad idea if you think you’d use it around the house from time to time. If you’re looking fo a deal on a set of tools check out the above combo on Amazon.
Air Hoses
To go along with your air compressor, you’re going to need a couple of hoses. Be sure to buy good hoses that will last. Cheap hoses can crack and break much more easily than a stronger rubber hose.
Painting Tools
After the job is complete and cleaned up, you’ll likely need to do some painting, even if it’s just a touch-up. Painting isn’t many people’s favorite task but be sure to take the time to get the job done right. The last thing you want is to drip or spill paint in your newly remodeled home.
Paint Brushes
Good paint brushes are obviously essential for any painting job. If you don’t know much about which paint brushes would be good for the job you’re looking to do, stop by your local paint store and ask some questions. Most people are more than willing to help.
Paint Rollers
Rollers will allow you to cover large spans of area. Paint rollers can also allow you to add different textures to your walls and ceilings.
Extension Poles
Extension poles will allow you to reach where you can’t without a ladder. A great tool to have on hand so that you can get into all of the high-up places.
Painting Tape
Painters tape is a must. It takes a good bit of time to tape everything off, but it will definitely save you in the long run. Take the time to tape off anything that could get paint on it.
Extras
There are always some extra tools that are good to have on hand. Here are some of our favorites.
Tape
Duct Tape, Gorilla Tape, Masking Tape, no matter what kind you like to use, be sure and look into what it can do for you! These tapes are all great to use throughout projects and will help you if you’re ever in a pinch.
Levels
A good level is more than an extra in many projects. This is a tool that every construction worker should own or have access to while doing work.
Lighting
Lighting is a key thing to have plenty of. If you’re working in dark spaces, you’ll likely find it difficult to see and thus could make crucial mistakes during the project. Be sure to always have good lighting that you can depend on.
Drill
A cordless drill can be a lifesaver in so many situations. If you’re hanging cabinets, drilling fresh holes, or just putting different pieces together, a cordless drill will help you get the job down effectively.
Drill Bits
If you’re using a drill throughout your project, then be sure to have all the drill bits and attachments you might need. The last thing you want to do is take a trip to the hardware store after the project has already started.
Pliers
A set of pliers always comes in handy. Keep a few variations on hand, so you have the perfect pair no matter the situation you run into.
Extension Cords
Extension cords for lights, saws, and other tools will help you get power where you need it. It’s good that you consider how far away outlets might be when you buy one. A simple 20-foot extension cord might not do the trick.
Ladders
An adjustable ladder is perfect for most interior projects. The best part about getting an adjustable ladder is that you can easily do everything from hanging cabinets to changing light fixtures and light bulbs.
This list likely doesn’t cover every single tool you need to complete a home renovation, but it should get you one step closer to having all of the power tools and hand tools you will need. For more tips and tricks on remodeling, check out our blog and this specific blog post all about tips and tricks in remodeling.