6 Tools Every Homeowner/DIYer Needs
Whether you're a homeowner, landlord, or tenant, you know how quickly repairs can be when things go out. Although some repairs may seem daunting, most are relatively straight forward enough for the average owner to fix on their own. It can feel empowering after fixing a worn out item and being able to take a step back and admire your work knowing you did it on your own and saved potentially hundreds of dollars in the process. In order to do your own repairs, you're going to need, at minimum, a tool drawer or tool box with the right tools for the job. Below, I've compiled a list of the 6 basic tools every homeowner or DIYer should have in their tool kit along with a bonus tool at the end.
Screwdriver
You'll come to realize that most projects will require a screwdriver at some point. From hanging a TV to switching out your toilet, the screwdriver is a tool with a lot of diversity, so let's get to understanding the 2 primary types of screwdrivers. The first type is the Phillips head which, if looking directly at the bit head, looks like the positive sign (+). The second type is the Flat head which looks like the negative sign (-). If you want to get technical the flat head is also known as a slotted screwdriver for purchasing purposes. A way I like to remember these 2 types are Positive Phillip and Flatlined Flat head. So which one should you get? The simple answer is both, but that can get pricey as there is a vast variety of sizes. What I'd recommend is to get a screwdriver handle with detachable bit heads. These packs usually come with 6 to 8 different heads and sizes which allow you to minimize the amount of tools taking up space in your tool drawer or tool box while maximizing the variety of sizes in your bit arsenal. These tools can be found in hardware stores for between $15 and $30 usually depending on the amount of bits included.
Hammer
There's a running joke that anything can be used as a hammer, however the right hammer can make a job run so much smoother. For example everyone at some point has smashed their fingers with a hammer while dealing with getting a nail set. Well some hammers now have magnetic heads with a nail slot to help hold that pesky nail in place so you can remove your fingers from the equation. Hammers are not only used to pound things into place but also help pry them out. Some hammers have more of a rainbow looking tail on the opposite side of the head which allows more leverage to help pull out deeper or tougher objects while others have more of a flat pry bar looking tail to help get into tighter spaces. The decision for which one you'd like more is up to however I'd recommend a framing hammer or demolition hammer because they are usually a little heavier which helps with the nail driving momentum along with having more of a flatter head pry bar. You can usually find these types of hammers for around $25 to $35
Wrench
A tool that is often used too much like a hammer but isn't one is a wrench. A wrenches' primary purpose is to loosen or tighten objects. These objects vary from bolts to pipes which also means there are many different kinds of wrenches like a combination wrench, pipe wrench, ratcheting wrenches, torque wrenches and more. To fulfill your basic tool drawer/ toolbox inventory needs I'd recommend sticking to an adjustable wrench. I have found these types of wrenches to be the most versatile and useful for a majority of my project needs. You can purchase adjustable wrenches individually but can often find a 2 or 3 pack of them which would be worth getting. These types of packs can be found for around $20 to $25.
Pliers
The next tool on our list is the pliers. Pliers are a great tool because they are essentially an extension of your fingers with way better grip. Their primary use is to grab and grip and is a good versatile to have around. Although their primary use is to grab and grip, there are other uses for pliers like cutting wires. Like wrenches, there are many different types of pliers like lineman's pliers, cutting pliers, tongue and groove pliers, and more, however I would recommend a basic needle nose pliers or pliers set for the average homeowner. A Needle nose lets your grip on small surface areas to work on. These types of pliers usually cost around $10. A pliers set usually has a needle nose pliers, a slip joint pliers, and a diagonal pliers included in the set and can be found for around $35 to $50.
Tape Measure
A quote that every DIYer knows by heart is “Measure twice, cut once.” The reason is that mis-measured cuts can become costly due to wasted materials so it's important to double check in order to save both money and time. A tape measure will help you practice this quote and will become useful to you for a variety of reasons besides cutting, like measuring to make sure that new 65” flatscreen will fit on that tiny wall or to make sure furniture can fit in an area. A tape measure comes in different lengths but usually a 25 foot long tape is more than enough for the average project. On the actual tape of the tape measure you will notice that there are tiny tick marks ranging in size. Each size represents the working denominator of the tick. For example, on the tape, if you look at one inch you'll notice there are 16 ticks with the first tick being the smallest. That means that is 1/16th of an inch. If you look at the second tick mark, you'll notice that it is slightly bigger than the 1/16th inch mark. That's because you're now working with eighth inch ticks. The same works for the next size tick up which is a ¼ of an inch and the size after that being a half. The different sizes are so that you can save time counting and recognize what denominator you're working with so it's important to remember your conversion rates. Remember that ½ an inch is the same as 2/4ths an inch or 4/8ths or 8/16ths. A 25 foot tape measure will usually cost around $15 to $25
*Fun Fact: Most 25’ tape measures frame is 3 inches so that you can measure off of the tool itself too instead of just the tape.
Level
In my opinion a level is one of the most underrated tools there are for a DIYer. A level is a tool that uses an air bubble in liquid to help you find the true leveled surface. For example if you're hanging a TV, you don't want to eye-ball it and realize that your TV has a slight tilt in one direction or the other. If you use a level and a pencil you can mark where you need to drill, cut, or adjust to get the perfectly leveled product. Levels come in many shapes and sizes so which one should you get? Well if you don’t need a level often, it would be a good idea to get a level between 7 and 9 inches in length which are around $20 to $30. If you tend to use a level a little more frequently on larger projects it wouldn't be a bad idea to get one between 18 to 24 inches which will cost you around $25 to $35
BONUS TOOL: Multitool
I wanted to add a multitool to this list as a bonus because a multitool typically has all of the non-measuring tools in one. A multi tool usually is a collapsible pocket knife like object that has anywhere between 8 and 12 tools on average. Multitools usually have some sort of screwdriver, pliers, knife, scissors, file, saw blade, bottle opener and so on. Although these tools can be pricey, they are a great tool to have in the car or in a backpack for the unexpected need of a tool for a quick fix. I personally like the brand Leatherman because they are a high quality brand that has a ton if different multitools that have different tool options. These usually average around $80 to $120 depending on the type of Leatherman. You can find multitools for cheaper but this is the one I have found to be the most durable and reliable.
If you made it this far through the article, thank you for reading and I hope I was able to be helpful to you.