Here's a list of the tools you might need to complete your repairs.
Some of the bigger, more expensive, specialty tools can be rented at most local rental stores like plumbing snakes, pressure washers, tile scrapers and such. The cost is usually small but also be sure to calculate the cost of renting something for the time needed versus buying it outright. On some occasions it would be cheaper to buy the tool and have it whenever your buddies need it or you need it again.
• A good hammer. Wood, fiberglass or plastic is fine. • Screwdrivers. Phillips and slotted head are a must. • A tape measure or a folding wooden ruler. • An assortment of sandpaper, 100 - 220 grit is a good start. • A power drill is really nice to have. Corded or cordless, whatever your preference, will work great. • A twist drill bit set. Many kits have drill bits and screwdriver bits as well. A must have. • A level. Either a torpedo or carpenters level. • A plunger. The red kind or the black one, you choose. (note, the black one is called a flange plunger and works best on toilets) • Duct tape. All I need to say, right? Now in a rainbow of colors. Sweet! • Saws. Hand or circular, depends on your needs. It's always good to have a handsaw around though. You'll probably need a saw for wood and a hacksaw for metal. • Rubber gloves for toilet or drain work. Not a must but sometimes it gets gross. • A utility knife. Handiest tool around. • A scratch awl. This works great for pilot holes or marking tiles. • A wooden pencil. No. 2 or carpenter's, doesn't matter. • A caulking gun. For the caulk tube. Most have a tip snipper built right in. • Vise grip (locking) pliers. Work great on getting out stripped screws. • A jigsaw or sabresaw. This is great for cutting curves.
As you can see, this list is by no means complete but this is a good start for many of the fixes you'll be doing. There are literally 1000's of choices. If you need to buy something from this list, please ask your hardware store employee to help you choose one that best fits your needs. To exit the tools page and go to the repair page click here
I know you're also thinking, "what kinds of supplies am I going to need?" Here is another short list for you to pick up while you're shoping for tools. • Spackle or joint compound. Spackle is thicker and better for filling small holes. • Drywall screws. A mixed size assortment will fit most jobs just fine. • Silicone caulk. White or clear. A regular size tube or the convenient household tube that you can reclose with a cap. • A five gallon bucket. This is good for holding supplies or water for the toilet repair or just about anything. • White paint primer. If you do any hole repairs, it's good to have primer handy. • Masking tape for painting. The better the tape, the easier to use. • Electrical tape. • Slip lock pliers (channel locks). Great for drain or plumbing projects. • Plumbing snake. A really nice tool for clogged plumbing projects. • Wet-dry vacuum. Almost indispensible for home project work, cleans up dirt AND water.
• A masonry drill bit assortment. These are for drilling into cementacious materials like concrete or brick. • Concrete screws or anchors. These are specially designed for concrete or masonry. • Prybar. For pulling up boards or separating blocks. This is a vey handy all around tool. Most have nail pullers too. • A (compound) miter saw is VERY handy to have. It can make almost any straight cut you'll ever need. A sliding compund saw is even better because of the wider cuts it can handle. • A pocket screw jig is well worth the cost. This little jig can make joining wood so easy that a child could do it. • A drop or rotary style spreader is a must for lawn care. • A set of "quick grip" clamps. These can be used for so many things, I can't begin to name them all. • A wire brush. These are good for removing rust, calcium or paint from anything.
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