Although it’s always wise to call on the help of experts for important repairs and renovations around the house, it’s just as important to know that there are things you can do yourself that will save you time and money and ensure you feel a great sense of achievement (which is good for your self-esteem and mental health). 

It’s your choice as to how much you do or don’t do when it comes to DIY around your home, but no matter how much or how little you choose to get involved with, having a good toolbox that’s full of all the things you’ll need to do the work is crucial. If you don’t spend some time preparing this in advance, you’ll generally have no choice but to get help, even if you don’t want to. So with that in mind, here are some of the most important items to keep in your toolbox so you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way. Read on to find out more. 

Hand Tools 

A lot of the smaller jobs you’ll need to do around the house will involve using some basic hand tools, so these are the first things you’ll need to make sure you have in your toolbox. One good idea to start with is a screwdriver – but don’t forget they come in various types and sizes, so you’ll usually need more than one. Whatever you’re doing, from fixing a wonky shelf to securing loose handles – and plenty more besides – you’ll need to screw something in to keep it in place, and that’s why a screwdriver is necessary. To cover all your bases, you’ll need to have at least one flathead screwdriver and one Philips head screwdriver, but you might also want to have a few of each in different sizes to make sure you can do anything that needs to be done. 

A hammer is another useful hand tool that should be in your toolbox because it can be used for all kinds of different things, from the obvious hammering nails to actually taking things apart. Make sure whatever hammer you choose has a comfortable grip and feels well-balanced when you hold it so you can get the work done safely and accurately. 

And don’t forget to include pliers in your toolbox. Again, pliers come in various shapes and sizes, but the ones that you can start off with include a pair of adjustable slip-joint pliers and a pair of needle-nose pliers. These tools are hugely versatile and can be used to pull, grip, and bend things, and they can cut wires. 

When it comes to basic items for your toolbox, a tape measure has to be on the list. Accurate measurements are so important when it comes to repairs and renovations, and getting this stage right often means everything else falls into place as well. That’s why a good tape measure that’s easy to use is so vital (and you can even get electronic ones that measure automatically if you like gadgets). 

Plumbing Bits 

When you have plumbing issues, sometimes hiring a plumber is the best thing you can do. They’ll be able to do the work carefully and safely, and the results will be just what you want. Of course, that’s great for complicated or big jobs, but what about small ones like unblocking sinks and tightening taps? In that case, you might want to do things by yourself – it’ll save a lot of money and be much quicker than waiting for a plumber to come along. 

If you do want to DIY at least some of the plumbing in your home, one thing you’ll definitely want in your toolbox is a pipe wrench. This is a tool specifically designed to grip and turn pipes, meaning it’s a vital part of any DIY plumber’s arsenal when you want to tighten or loosen pipe fittings. 

A plunger is another handy tool to have nearby when you’ve got plumbing issues in your home. Clogs happen a lot for many different reasons, and calling a plumber to help with this issue means waiting for them to have an appointment for you, and in the meantime, the clog could be doing a lot of damage to your home. By just having a plunger in your toolbox, you can save a lot of trouble and get the job done right away. As long as the plunger is a sturdy one with a good seal, it should easily do the job, and your sinks, toilets, and drains will be unclogged quickly. 

Something else that always comes in handy when you’re thinking about plumbing is a variety of spare copper parts. Having a selection of different copper elements like a push fit copper elbow and similar things means that you can quickly make repairs on old joints and bits of pipework yourself. There are lots of different types of copper fittings you can use, so having a few of each is always the best idea, as then you’ll be able to tackle any project you need to. 

Plumber’s tape, also known as Teflon tape, can be one of the most useful things in your toolbox, especially if there’s an emergency and the professionals can’t get to you right away – this tape can be an excellent temporary solution. This tape gives you a watertight seal on a joint, and it can stop leaks quickly – or even prevent them from happening in the first place.  If you’re investing in the copper elements we mentioned above, having this tape is a good idea to make sure the job can be done correctly. 

Electrical Items 

Of course, working with electricity can be highly dangerous, and unless you know exactly what you’re doing, it’s best to hire experts to do the work for you. Plus, don’t forget that doing electrical work without the right qualifications could mean you void your home’s warranties and even selling your property might be difficult in the future without the right paperwork. 

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any electrical jobs you can do around the home, and some simple, safer ones (although, remember, working with electricity is never one hundred percent safe) are even a good idea. After all, you’ll learn a lot and feel like you’ve achieved something, which is always a positive thing. If you do intend to do any electrical work, something to add to your toolbox should be a voltage tester. With this tool, you can check whether wires and circuits are live or not, so it’s a great thing to use before you start any electrical work in terms of your safety. 

Like plumbing tape can be useful, so can electrical tape, and it’s great for insulating wires and bundling them together to keep things safe. You can even use it to make labels to remind you of what’s what when you’re working. 

Tool Belt 

Having a large toolbox to store all of these things (and any others you might want) is excellent, as it keeps everything safe and in one place, but it’s not always practical when it comes to doing the actual work – you might just not have space for it in the room, or perhaps you can’t take it where you need it to go. 

That’s where a tool belt will be useful. This can live in the toolbox most of the time (so you know exactly where it is), and then, when you’ve got a job to do, you can put it on and load it up with the tools you’re going to need, ensuring you’re fully prepared for whatever you need to do. 

By claire.