Be Your Own Handyman: Essential Equipment for Home Improvements
If you’re anything like me, you believe that every homeowner should have a number of basic handyman skills. Anchoring a display cabinet or bookcase to a wall, filling unsightly holes and cracks, fixing loose or wobbly tiles, unclogging a drain, replacing light switches, shower heads, toilet seats, and doorknobs, painting, and sealing pavement cracks are some of the things every man should know how to do. Knowing your way around a toolbox will not only boost your self-assurance and bring you great satisfaction, but it will also save you money. In order to be able to tackle many around-the-house improvement projects, you need an arsenal of tools. Read on to find out what the most important ones are.
A Screwdriver Set
Even a four-year-old boy knows that a toolbox without a screwdriver doesn’t deserve the name. From opening battery compartments to scraping out any failed caulk from joints and cracks, a screwdriver is every home DIY-er’s most loyal ally. I personally own a few flat-head and a couple of Phillips-head screwdrivers. When looking for this indispensable tool, opt for ones with comfortable grips to make screwing and unscrewing a piece of cake.
A Hammer
Hammers are another essential tool for successful home improvements. A hammer’s two main purposes are driving nails in and pulling bent nails out of wood or a wall. When shopping for a hammer, make sure you don’t pick one that’s too heavy (experts recommend hammers that weigh around 500 grams). Another thing you should pay attention to is the handle. Plastic, vinyl, and rubber handles offer a good grip and protect their user from getting electrocuted.
An Adjustable Wrench
Loosening plumbing fixtures and tightening nuts and bolts is a job that requires an adjustable wrench. One of these is as useful as multiple regular wrenches.
Adhesives
A powerful adhesive system will help you bond a number of materials, including rubber, glass, copper, aluminium, steel, and most plastics. With the help of a nice adhesive system you’ll be able to fill holes, repair copper pipes, and fix pool fittings.
Pliers
Pliers, also known as plier wrenches and vise grips, are an extremely versatile tool. You can use them as a clamp, a wire cutter, and even as a wrench.
A Level
Unless you find beauty in crookedly-hung picture frames and bookshelves, you’ll include a level in your toolbox. A 23-cm level is great for hanging pictures, but you’ll need a longer one for bigger projects, such as leveling appliances and plumbing posts to support a fence or a mailbox.
Tape measures, utility knives, flashlights, mini hacksaws, work gloves, safety goggles, pencils, and of course duct tapes are tools that deserve a place in your toolbox as well.