Whether you own a house or are renting an apartment, there are always little odd jobs here and there that need to be taken care of. You might want to save money instead of hiring someone and give these repair jobs a go yourself or you might simply want to complete small do-it-yourself projects a go to keep you busy.
I love the feeling of fixing something or creating something by myself. Tantrums to Smiles puts it perfectly, “the feeling of being handy or knowing you’re capable of doing certain things around the house is empowering and a useful skill to have too!”
To help you feel this way too, I’ve partnered up with Speedy Fixings UK, fixings and fastenings supplier, to put together the top five essential tools that everyone should own. These basic tools will come up again and again in home repair and renovations projects, so it’s important to keep them at hand.
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Claw hammer
Claw hammers are not only useful for hanging pictures to the wall, putting together furniture, and building garden bug hotels. Claw hammers feature a curved claw on the back to pull out old and twisted nails.
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Screwdriver Set
Buying my own screwdriver set has been one of the best investments I have done. No more asking the neighbour for their screwdriver when I need to tighten loose hardware or change door handles. Screwdrivers will be one of the tools you’ll reach for the most when you need something in your house repaired. Homes to Love mentions that “screwdrivers are often used for more than just tightening screws – they are useful for opening paint tins, levering small items, scraping, picking and more.”
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Adjustable Wrench
Adjustable wrenches save you space and money. These are great for tightening and assembling appliances and fixtures. No need for a variety of different sized wrenches when you have an adjustable wrench.
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Pliers
Pliers are perfect grip onto something to turn, pull or twist. I’ve tried countless times to grasp onto nuts or other small fixtures with my fingers, but it never really worked out and I always had to go get the pliers. These are also great for a variety of DIY jobs!
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Measuring Tape
Whether you want to see how tall your kids are or want to measure your room for a new piece of furniture, measuring tapes are essential. This Old House recommends keeping tape measures “on hand to measure anything from the wall area for a paint project to the thickness of lumber at the home center.