Saving Money through DIY: Essential Tools
An electric screwgun used by drywall mechanics to drive drywall screws (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you’re a homeowner, you probably know that home maintenance can be a big expenditure. Whether you’re looking to do a little decoration and remodelling or getting some essential repairs performed on your house, the cost of hiring professionals to help can be prohibitively expensive. Even if you decide to do it yourself and opt to hire out the necessary equipment, fees for renting power tools can stack up significantly over the years. It’s much more economically sound to make the investment in top quality tools with the versatility to take on most household tasks – saving you money in the long run as you learn to make small repairs all by yourself.
When picking out tools for your toolbox, don’t be tempted to skimp on quality for a little short-term saving – cheap tools won’t last very long until they need replacement. When these deceptively cheap tools fail, they’ll cost you time, money and – if the failure is spectacularly destructive – potentially cause damage to your home and even personal injury. Choose a quality brand like DeWalt power tools from Anglia Tool Centre for long-lasting reliability.
Standard tools
A good screwdriver can tackle anything from a broken doorknob to a busted light fitting. You can go for a variety of flathead and Philips screwdrivers and be able to handle most jobs, but for true flexibility, invest in a screwdriver set with multiple bits that you can swap in and out of the handle. Another essential is a good old fashioned claw hammer – you can bang in and crowbar out nails of course, but it’s also ideal for small-scale removal of stubborn fixtures.
Power tools
An electric drill – whether it’s corded or a battery-powered cordless model – can be a handy go-to tool in your kit, letting you assemble flat-pack furniture without the effort of a manual screwdriver, and drill holes around the house where necessary. While most drills can handle wood or metal with the correct bit, make sure you opt for a hammer drill if you’re drilling masonry – it provides a hammer-like thrust to the drill bit to effortlessly pulverise bricks and mortar.
If you’re looking to save money, don’t go out and buy a variety of specialised tools: you’ll want something that functions as a jack of all trades. Consider a oscillating multitool like the Dewalt DCS355N – it comes with a versatile selection of accessories that cut through wood and carpet, remove grout and sand down surfaces all in one convenient package.
Category: Home Renovation
