DIY Enthusiasts: Essential Tools and Equipment you Will Need

If you love carrying out home improvements and would like to make a hobby out of stylish home projects, there are many things you will need. As the saying goes, a workman is only as good as his tools and with that in mind, here are a few essential items to help you with your projects.

• Carpentry tools – A set of wood chisels, a wooden mallet, a drill (with bits) and a couple of saws all need to be acquired. A decent claw hammer, a right angle, a tape measure and a wood plane should be in your tool kit and a power circular saw will prove to be invaluable. One more item that will be needed is a spirit level, and they come in varying sizes, depending on your needs, so you might need a couple.
• Plumbing tools – If you are fitting Phoenix Tapware from Mimicoco, you will need a set of variable grips, a few wrenches and also a butane gas burner, to heat up joints. A sturdy hacksaw is essential, as are a good pair of pliers and let’s not forget the white tape you use when connecting water pipes and faucets, which prevents leaks.
• Working at height – A good pair of alloy steps is what you need, the type that has adjustable legs for working on uneven surfaces like stairs, and some models convert into work platforms or straight ladders.
• Brickwork & Stone – A couple of bricklayer’s trowels and a plastering float will be needed at some point in your home improvements, along with a square board that is used to hold wet cement or plaster while you apply the mix. A hammer-drill is certainly a useful power tool to have, along with a set of masonry drill bits, which are required for exterior work. Hand tools include a few wire brushes, stone chisels and a mason’s mallet for splitting pavers.
• A Workshop – If you have a shed or space in the garage, you can create a small workshop, as many projects can’t be carried out at the site, so you will need a small area where you can work without bothering others. A sturdy bench, at least one vice and plenty of power sockets would not go amiss, while some heating and task lighting would also be welcome, allowing you to work all year round. Click here for tips when buying hardwood flooring, which is recommended reading for all DIY enthusiasts.
• Old Sheets – Old cotton bed sheets are ideal for covering carpet and furniture when you are working, which minimises the clearing up after the job is done. 
• A Tradesman’s Belt – These rugged looking belts has lots of small loops and pockets, perfect for carrying a range of hand tools, which is preferred to having to keep visiting your tool box. Simply load up what you will need, and they even have zip pockets for nails and screws. The more you know about the building and construction industry, the better, and try to keep abreast of new technology.

If you are a relative novice, check out the many YouTube videos on all kinds of home improvements from building a basement to fixing a leaking roof and everything in between.