My Tools List for DIY Home Improvement!

I mentioned before the importance of tools.  Having the right tool at the right time makes your project easier to accomplish.

A couple of years ago I wasn’t at all interested in tools. I even got disappointed each time my husband got to the tool section at the hardware store to look for tools (like if that wasn’t a guy’s thing!) I bothered him because I didn’t want him buying staff we didn’t need. Besides, I hardly saw him using them!

Well, things have turned around. Ever since I got interested in updating my home my philosophy about tools changed drastically. I began to recognize how important and valuable those “pesky” things were! 

Little I knew, one day, I was going to give myself a Miter Saw as a Christmas present :)  Yes, that happened! Now I am the one asking for tools, and I never ever again bothered Dear Hubby again for coming home with a bag full of screws.  :)

After updating the kitchen and finishing other little projects around the house, I want to let you know which tools I think were vital to do the job. But I do not want to talk about the specifics of each tool, I’m NOT a pro, I just want to give you my point of view while working with them:

My tools

-Tape Measure and Levels

I have several tape measures; they have a tendency to disappear, only to find them hours later hanging from your back pocket! I also carry a small one in my bag wherever I go.  Levels are good to have in different sizes, the ones I used the most are the 2-foot and 4-foot.

-Hammer

Good to have in different sizes too or different weights.  A mallet is important to have; I used it a lot while painting the cabinets to close the cans of paint without damaging the rims.

-Pry Bars

So handy for pulling away baseboards, trim and in the kitchen I used them to pull away the little piece of backsplash the builder had glued to the wall.

-Screwdrivers

Different sets, different sizes. You’ll gonna need them no matter what! It’s good to have a good quality set.

-Vise Grips

Also known as locking pliers, they help you hold almost anything.

-Reversible Drill with Bit set

I have a cordless that now is kind of useless because of the battery. I guess I have to replace it; it’s nice to work without a cable around.  I also have a corded one that I used a lot and it feels more robust than the cordless.

-Pliers

I use needle-nose pliers a lot in electrical work.  Channel-lock pliers used mostly for plumbing.

-Wrenches

A small set from ¼” to ¾” is necessary.

-Handsaw

Even if you have a circular saw there are situations where you are going to need a hand saw and you can make tons of things with this one, it just takes more effort.

-Circular saw

I used it a lot! The long pieces that the home center cuts for me are brought home to be cut even more with this guy.

-Miter saw

If you’re thinking about moldings, this is the way to go. You can go away with a hand saw, but a miter saw will do things faster and easier for you. As I told you, I bought myself this 10” compound.  It needs to be changed ASAP!

-Electronic Stud Finder

When looking for studs to hang shelves or fixtures, nothing’s better to use than a stud finder to do the job for you.

-Electric Sander

Besides having a good stash of different grid sand paper; having the electric sanders was a big help while sanding the kitchen cabinets before painting them.

-Nail Guns & Compressor

For me having a nail gun it’s a need!  I don’t know how to put trim without this tool. I once tried to do it with a hammer & regular nails and it was impossible!

-Clamps

It is a good idea to have several clamps and in different sizes. I used them while installing cabinets, to hold them while they were screwed together; also while building the island shelf and in general to hold mostly pieces of wood together while being cut with the circular saw.

-Utility Knife

Oh, so many uses for this one! It’s a necessity.

-Jigsaw

-Drywall knife

-Carpenter’s Square

-Wire cutter/stripper

-Extension Cords

-Caulk Gun

-Tool Box

-Safety Glasses

-Gloves

Painting Tools:

-Paint Brushes

Very important to buy good quality brushes for your painting needs. A 2½-inch angled brush it’s a basic one.

-Paint Tray

-9” roller frame

-5-in-1 painters tool.

I didn't include in this list the tools for tiling. You can find the ones I used to install the backsplash here.

In my wish list:

-Table saw

-Router

-Electric staple gun

-Dremel

-A better Miter saw

It is a long list, but you can begin buying a tool or two with each project.  Remember, quality matters. Buy tools from reputable manufacturers.