Home Repair Must Have Tools!

It doesn’t matter whether you own a home or you are renting, every home needs to be maintained or repaired. As long as you have a roof and four walls that you call home, you will need to repair, install or update that home. And all those home newbies should definitely get prepared with the home maintenance and repair essential tools. It will make it easier to enjoy your home.

Home sweet home isn’t always so sweet when it comes to maintenance and repair, which many people dread, but having the essential tools on hand can make it easier to handle. There are so many little home maintenance things we can do ourselves, which can save us money. And who doesn’t want to save money?

Whether you need to fix a leaky or clogged faucet , mount shelves to a wall, or just stop a table from wobbling, having a tool box that’s stocked with a few basic hand tools makes any home improvement projects easier and more affordable.

Buy a sturdy tool box, one that has enough space to add tools as necessary.

They can be purchased at any hardware store, Amazon.com, Home Depot, Lowes. A great place to look for tools, is a garage sale. You can get some great bargains.

Need tips on organizing your home maintenance tool box?

Just check out the tool must-haves below.

• Hammer:

The hammer is a tool that is used frequently in the home, and you really cannot do without it. It is definitely a must have – you’ll use it for just about everything from hanging shelves to hanging decorative pictures.

Most experts recommend the claw hammer . The Claw hammer feature has that widely recognizable steel head, made up of a peen (the nail-driving face) on one side, and a claw (the crowbar-like nail-pulling lever) on the other. You’ll find that claw hammers are available in both rounded or flat peens. It is up to you, but the flat variety; because their driving faces are straight instead of curved, flat-peen hammers tend to strike nails more evenly, with less likelihood of you missing a nail and hitting your fingers instead.

• Tape Measure:

You can save so much time by being accurate, especially when it comes to home improvement. Incorrect estimates can end up costing you both time and money, so do yourself a favorite and keep a tape measure in your toolbox to measure, well just about everything. When it comes to home improvement, you will use it for cabinets, carpet, garage shelving, furniture and window treatments, ect. All tape measures are basically the same design, but little details can make a difference.

For example, the wider the rule is, the more control you’ll have over it when it’s fully extended (wider tapes flop around less). Another handy variation is the magnetic-tip measure – Rare Earth magnets are integrated into the rule’s leading end, and hold it firmly to iron and steel surfaces while you measure… no hands needed.

• Screwdrivers:

Because there are so many different screwdriver sizes and designs, it’s probably best to have a couple types of screwdrivers, so you’ll have what you need on hand when necessary. A screw’s “drive type” is defined by the shape or design stamped into its head, which a screwdriver blade fits into in order to drive or extract it. Since the most common screw drive types are slotted (with a straight line running through the middle) and Phillips (with a “+” shape), both slotted and Phillips screwdrivers are a must. And when it comes to sizes, it can get a little expensive trying to purchase each type of screwdriver in a range of sizes. To save money and toolbox space, you can always opt for a mult-bit screwdriver, which comes with a full set of interchangeable blade bits that can be instantly switched to suit any project.

• Pliers and Wrench:

Both pliers and wrenches provide you with extra grip and leverage for home repair and maintenances around the house. Pliers are great for anything from pulling out nails to bending wire, and some types even have cutting edges built into their jaws for easy wire cutting. Wrenches, on the other hand, are the tools to reach for when you need grip combined with extra torque for tightening and loosening pipes, as well as turning nuts and bolts.

• Level:

Hanging picture isn’t so simple when they are crooked and unbalanced. A simple project of hanging picture can turn ugly. Need to be sure that the length of chair rail you’re about to nail to the wall isn’t crooked? Well this is why you need a level. An option is a torpedo level, it uses air bubbles in three clear, liquid-filled vials to give you visible proof of a surface’s level. Each vial is set into the tool at a different angle (for complete level, plumb, and 45° measurements) and marked with fine lines. If the bubbles fall within these lines, you know that the surface is level. Having one on hand is especially convenient for those times when you’re working solo and need to determine whether something is level without the benefit of a second opinion.

• Utility Knife:

A utility knife is an incredibly useful tools for any do-it-yourselfer, regardless of his or her skill level. They make quick work of slicing through cardboard, drywall, carpet, thin plastics, and even linoleum.

A stud finder is, quite simply, a tool for pinpointing the location of wood (and in some models, metal) structural elements behind drywall, tile, or most other wall surfaces.

When You Use It: A stud finder is essential for many home improvement projects. Installing crown molding, baseboard, chair rail, putting in closet inserts, hanging heavy items on the wall; all require identifying solid backing.

• Stud Finder:
• 3-in-one oil: