A Basic Toolkit for the DIY Homeowner

I wanted to give our readers a basic list of tools that any do-it-yourself homeowner should keep available for any simple job that she or he might wish to handle on their own.

Bob, our sales manager, was a general contractor for years before we went into online sales. So I asked him to draw me up a list of tools.

This is the list of tools he said he “never went anywhere without”.

Utility knife for trimming and opening boxes easily.
Putty knives which come in various widths depending on the job and are either flexible or stiff. A stiff putty knife is used when scraping paint, while the more flexible knife is used to putty windows or for spackling.
Multitip powerless screwdriver
Hammer
Measuring tape
Cordless drill and bits for any size hole you might want or need.
A mitre box is optional unless you will do your own crown molding cutting and installing
Saws are frequently used power tools and there are a number of different types. You’ll need one that is specific for your project.
Speed square for laying out lines and marking angles
Chalkline for drawing straight lines

The following three items are all-purpose tools:

Short handsaw
Channel lock pliers
10” crescent wrench

Other tools to keep handy include:

Caulking gun
Level
Framing square
Pencil
Nailgun
Finishing nails
Caulk
Spackle
Sandpaper

The following tools are optional:

Routers
Sanders
Jigsaws
Mitre saw
Circular saws
Table saws

Finally, you will need a few safety items:

Safety goggles
Work gloves
Respirators
Ear plugs
Always make sure that you know how to operate the power tools you are using.

Many of these tools are items which most people are familiar with. It helps to know what you really need versus what would be helpful but are not absolutely necessary. These days we don’t want to spend a fortune on tools we probably won’t use. Plus, you save money on minor repairs and small jobs and you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself and it is that sense of accomplishment that is a great feeling.

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