A good toolkit is something every home should have, so that you always have the tools to hand when a DIY job comes up in the house. Here’s an A-Z guide of the basic tools you should include and what they’re used for.
A selection of fixings – Keep a good selection and number of general-purpose fixings so that you always have a ready choice available.
Adjustable Wrench – A multi-purpose gripping tool with size-adjustable jaws. Ideal for gripping nuts and pipe fittings.
Chisels – The woodworker’s best friend. Bevel-edged chisels are likely to be the most useful for home DIY. Choose one with a sturdy quality and keep it sharp.
Bucket – A good, robust plastic bucket can be used a mixing vessel or to move fluid and solid materials.
Carpenter’s Pencil – Carpenter’s pencils are oversized and flat with a higher B grading for noticeable marking. Use for marking off accurate measurements.
Claw Hammer – An essential tool and claw hammers are the most versatile variety, as it can be used for driving in nails and pulling them out.
Combination Pliers – A gripping tool that is useful for holding, turning or pulling out different types of fixings or fittings. Get one with hardened teeth for extra grip.
Dust Masks – Essential when sanding or sawing. For more complex jobs where toxic dusts and mists may be present, be sure to get one with the appropriate FFP rating.
Electric drill with driver bits – A multi-purpose, battery-powered drill to use around the home on many fixing tasks.
Extension Power Cable – Allows you to take a power supply to any area inside or outside your home.
Fuses – Fuses are present in most household electrical appliances so it’s good to always have a variety in the home available.
Handsaw – A versatile saw that has both forward and reverse cutting which can be used for cutting a large variety of different materials.
Junior Hacksaw – The best saw to use on metal, but also good for plastics and thin wood. The fine-toothed design doesn’t get caught up in the grain and the lightweight frame makes it easy to use.
PTFE Tape – This lightweight, thin tape is used on pipe connections to wrap around pipe threads, to help prevent leaks from joints, for example on taps or radiator valves.
PVC Electrical Tape – This insulating tape is used in many electrical tasks and is also very useful for numerous other applications as well.
Safety Goggles or Glasses – Essential for any toolbox as eye protection is vital for many DIY tasks.
Scraper – Great for removing paint and returning surfaces to bare wood.
Screwdriver, Electrical Tester – With a small slot-head, this screwdriver’s base lights up when a voltage is present.
Screwdrivers, Cross-headed – A set of Pozidrive screwdrivers, and ideally also a set of Phillips Crosspoint screwdrivers, will allow you to deal with most cross-headed screws.
Screwdrivers, Slot-headed – A selection of slot-headed screwdrivers of different sizes will enable you to deal with a variety of sizes of slot-headed screw.
Spirit Level – Provides horizontal and vertical guidelines when positioning fixtures and fittings.
Step Ladder – A sturdy step ladder provides a good access platform for a variety of tasks.
Tape Measure – Retractable, lockable tape measures with black text on yellow (for easy reading) are essential for providing accurate measurements.
Torch – A vital tool for power cuts or for times the electricity must be turned off.
Work Gloves – Invest in a good quality pair of work gloves to protect your hands when handling building materials and using heavy tools.
You’ll also need a good sturdy toolbag that can hold all the smaller items, be easy to carry, compact yet also easy to access the bag’s contents.
It’s also a good idea to invest in quality tools so they last longer and don’t fail when you’re in the middle of a job. A decent toolkit takes time to grow, so start with the absolute essentials and work towards fulfilling the whole list.