DIY tools · 6 min read
The Tools Every Homeowner Should Own (From a Contractor)
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You don't need a trailer full of tools to handle most jobs around the house. This is the short list I'd give a new homeowner, in the order I'd buy them.
1. A drill and impact driver combo
If you buy one set of power tools, make it this. The drill handles holes and light screws. The impact driver drives long screws without wearing out your wrist.
Tip: pick one battery brand and stay with it. Every tool you add later gets cheaper because you already own the batteries.
2. Impact-rated driver bits
Regular bits snap in an impact driver. Impact-rated ones last far longer. Most deck and construction screws today use star (Torx) heads, so make sure your set has those.
3. A good tape measure
You'll use it more than anything else you own. A 25 ft tape with a wide blade lets you measure alone without it folding over.
4. A speed square
It's cheap and does a lot: marks square cuts, finds angles, lays out stair stringers, and works as a guide for your saw.
5. A 4 ft level
Shelves, fence posts, pavers, TV mounts. A longer level is more accurate over distance than a small torpedo level.
Check it: set it on a flat surface, then flip it end for end. The bubble should read the same both ways.
6. A circular saw
Cuts lumber, plywood and deck boards. A cordless one on the same battery as your drill is plenty for home projects.
7. Clamps
Think of clamps as extra hands. A couple of small ones and a couple of long bar clamps cover almost everything.
8. A stud finder
Before you hang anything heavy, find the framing. Confirm with a small nail in a spot that'll be hidden.
9. Safety glasses and hearing protection
Cheap and non-negotiable. Keep them right next to the saw so you never skip them.
10. Folding sawhorses
Put a sheet of plywood on top and you have a full workbench anywhere. They fold flat for storage.
With these ten, you can handle most weekend projects, and you'll know exactly what you're looking at when a bigger job comes along.
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