DIY can be a really satisfying way to maintain and improve your home, but first you need the right tools in your box. We’ve asked expert odd job man David Ades, who has been trading as DIY Dave Handyman across the north west for 25 years, to show us the seven tools that he couldn’t live without.
Always remember that old builder’s proverb: measure twice, cut once. Whatever job you’re doing, it pays to be accurate. A spring-loaded five meter metal tape measure with a locking mechanism shouldn’t set you back much more than £5, and can help you avoid making any expensive mistakes. Use it to plan out all your work before you start.
“Planning your DIY carefully really is important. For jobs like putting up a curtain pole or hanging a picture, it can also be useful to have a spirit level handy, as well as a tape measure to make sure everything is straight. The longer the spirit level, the more accurate it is.”
There aren’t many DIY jobs that don’t require a screwdriver, from changing a plug to putting up shelves. Using the wrong type or size of screwdriver can damage the screw, so make sure you have a variety of sizes of the two most common kinds: flat head and Phillips, which is cross shaped at the end.
An electric drill could save you hours of effort, especially on jobs like putting up shelves or building flat pack furniture. What type you will need depends what you plan to use it for, so it’s best to talk it through with the store assistant. For basic DIY, a cordless power drill with a rechargeable battery will be fine for drilling into softer surfaces like wood and plaster, but you may need a more powerful model for tough materials like concrete.
Choose a sturdy claw hammer, which has a curved, v-shaped slot on one side, which can be used to grip and pull out any nails that need removing - useful for removing old or damaged nails.
Pliers, again, come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. A pair that can be used for a combination of tasks will be the most useful, like the ones above. The jaws have a sharp scissor-like section for cutting electrical wires, a section for gripping round objects like a stubborn bolt or screw, and a flat section for flat or square objects.
A sturdy knife with a retractable blade can be used for everything, from trimming vinyl flooring to size, to scratching old grout or sealant from between bathroom tiles. Use strong gloves for safety.
The jaws of an adjustable spanner can be opened and closed to fit nuts and bolts of different sizes, so it’s like having a draw full of different sized spanners in one tool. It’s versatile, space-saving, and means you don’t have to shell out for a full spanner set to tackle a range of jobs.
Swinton Insurance is not liable for any of the views expressed by tradesmen within this article.
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