Before Paul and I got married, my daughter and I had a saying that we would use whenever we were doing something around the house. Whether it was painting a room, hanging a picture, or dealing with the nasty toilet, we would say, “We don’t need no stinking man!” We were fully capable of doing most minor household things like this ourselves. Now, I’m not saying those things ended up exactly perfect like a professional would do, but we got the job done.
Then Paul enters our lives… who is a contractor, a professional per se. We got married in 2018, right after I’d hired another professional to remodel my bedroom and bathroom. To say that I wish we would have met a year earlier is definitely an understatement. Since meeting Paul, I can confidently say that my daughter and I definitely did need this “stinking man!” He has taught us both so much about remodeling, household repairs, and more. Looking at my bathroom now, which I thought was beautiful before we met, I can tell you every little thing that was done incorrectly and what should be fixed, and my daughter could probably do the work.
Obviously there are some jobs that you should not tackle by yourself unless you have the specific knowledge needed for the job. However, for the general home repairs and maintenance that most people can handle themselves, there are some essential tools and equipment that every homeowner should have readily available.
Tape Measure
There have been many times I’ve used a tape measure. It’s a basic tool that helps with so many other projects. Use it to measure lengths, depths, and heights of furniture, square footage of a room, or anything really. A smaller one could be carried with you when shopping to make sure items will fit in your spaces.
Hammer
A good hammer is a must! Hammers can be the go-to tool when hanging pictures or putting up shelves as well as many other household small projects.
Screwdriver
A flat head and a Phillips head screwdriver are essential tools to have in your toolkit. There are multiple sizes available and having more than one size will be helpful. Screwdrivers can be used to tighten or loosen a multitude of items from furniture legs to eyeglasses.
Drill
This may seem like it’s not a basic tool but it is definitely helpful to use with a screwdriver bit. If you’re tackling a bigger project that involves a lot of screws. A drill can also be used to drill holes to start a nail or screw hole.
Small Level
These are called torpedo levels. They are small and perfect for home projects. Use them to level wall hangings, make sure furniture is level, and so much more. Purchase a bigger level for those larger projects.
Pliers
Having different sizes and the different types of pliers is a must. There are regular, needle nose, and wire cutting pliers. They can be used to remove nails and staples, tighten or loosen objects, and the wire cutters can be used for crafting or wiring.
Wrench
A wrench is good to have on hand for water related problems. If you have a leaky faucet, use a wrench to tighten it or shut off water valves.
These are just a few of the basic tools that should be in every kitchen junk drawer. Well, at least that’s where mine are. That makes them easy to get to without having to go to the garage or shed to get Paul’s “good” ones. Grab our quick guide to these basic tools here.
