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Embarking on a home improvement project can be a fun and rewarding way to spend spare time. With a myriad of ideas available in books and on the internet, ideas abound for quick makeovers that yield dramatic results and useful solutions.

With the right supplies and a few good tools, you can tackle small improvement projects with confidence and ease.

Here are recommendations for the tools most commonly used for small projects around the home:

Claw hammer

Ensure you have this old standby for general assembly and demolition.

Nail sets

You’ll need these in a variety of sizes to sink nailheads below the worksurface, providing for a clean finish.

Cordless drill/driver

This portable power tool makes light work of drilling holes and driving screws.

Tape measure

You’ll find it useful to have both a 12-ft. and a 25-ft. tape measure on hand.

Coping saw

This saw has a very narrow blade stretched across a U-shaped frame. It’s the tool of choice for making curved cuts to wood.

Miter box

This tool is used with a handsaw to cut accurate 45-degree and 90-degree angles. The miter box is most often used for cutting trim and molding to length.

Levels

A 4 foot bubble level is best used on large surfaces – the smaller torpedo level works nicely in confined spaces.

Combination square

This square is used to position hardware, such as hinges on doors, and to check right and 45-degree angles.

Carpenter’s pencil

The pencil’s flat design keeps it from rolling off surfaces and it is used for marking and laying out hardware.

Utility knife and putty knife

A utility knife will handle most cutting and trimming jobs. You’ll need a putty knife for filling holes and patching.

 Screwdrivers

Your toolkit should include different sizes in both Phillips and Robertson. Or, you can consider at four-in-one screwdriver that holds four bits—two standard and two Phillips, which should meet most jobs.

Safety gear

Eye and ear protection; dust mask or respirator; knee pads; work gloves; work boots; and, a good first aid kit.

For best results, look for quality in the tools you select and invest in a tool bag or carry-all to keep your essentials well organized and easily accessible.

Content courtesy of: www.royallepage.ca

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