We’ve spent 4 years working on our home and we’ve realized that we use the same 10-20 tools for every project we tackle! I know this because we keep all our “necessary tools” in a separate stash for easy access! Some are basic tools like a level while others are investment tools like a miter saw, but all of them are heavily used in our house. So today I’m sharing our top 20 tools that we use for every home reno project….our “necessary tools” if you will!
Starting from scratch and feeling overwhelmed? Start by purchasing the tools listed in bold below and acquire the rest over time. The ones in bold are great starter tools that should get you through most minor projects!
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18 Gauge Brad Nailer – We use this tool ALL. THE. TIME. It’s the most convenient tool for installing trim, baseboards, wainscoting, feature walls, etc. Out of all our tools, this is our favorite! To use this brad nailer, you need 18 gauge brad nails and an air compressor with a hose which you can read about next.
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Air Compressor + Hose – We use our air compressor most often with our brad nailer, but it can also be used with my favorite paint sprayer or any tool that requires compressed air.
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Chisels – There’s always a need for chisels. Sometimes you need to carve out wood or scrape off excess wood glue. We always keep a set in our tool bag.
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Caulk Gun – Anytime we’re installing trim, baseboards, doors, or filling in gaps with caulk, we use a caulk gun. Nothing fancy but it does the job!
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Levels – We use a variety of sizes including a 24” level and a speed level for smaller applications. Hanging a picture, installing floating shelves, or replacing an old window…a level is a must!
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Power Drill + Impact Driver – 2 more “must have” tools that we use for every single project. The drill is great for drilling holes, small screws, and is best when working with soft woods. An impact driver has more force and uses a “hammering” motion so it’s best suited for large fasteners and hard woods or masonry.
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Safety Ear Muffs – Whether we’re drilling, using our saw, or standing near our air compressor while it’s on, we always have ear protection on.
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Nail Punches – An often overlooked tool that is really handy. If there’s a brad nail that’s not fully sunken into the wood, a nail punch and a hammer will fix that!
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Pry Bar – A demo must have that has so many applications! Great for gripping and ripping! 🙂
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Sanding Sponge – This is a great sanding option when a power sander would have too much power…like when I’m lightly sanding smooth a top coat.
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Power Sander – When I’m trying to smooth out rough wood or sand through a layer of varnish or paint, I always go for my power sander. I use 80 grit sandpaper to start and I go over it again with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth it over.
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Measuring Tape – Simply put, you can’t do a project without a measuring tape. We have a stash in our garage and we always have one on our hip when we’re in the middle of a project.
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Miter Saw – If you ever plan on cutting wood, which you do for most home reno projects, a miter saw is a necessity. A miter saw can cut straight edges and angles (like a 45° angle for joining two boards seamlessly). I like sliding miter saws because you can cut wider boards, but if you don’t anticipate cutting boards wider than 6”, this standard miter saw will do the job. (UPDATE: We just switched to this Metabo 10” sliding miter saw and love it!)
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Hammer – A basic tool that everyone should have in your tool bag.
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Utility Knife – You’d be surprised how often you can use a utility knife in a project!
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Reciprocating Saw – Chris insisted that this tool be on the list because there are so many useful applications. Back in the day he used it a lot to cut wood pallets apart by sawing through the nails.
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Locking Pliers – I personally find this tool to be incredibly useful…especially since my grip strength isn’t superb. It locks tight and makes pulling nails or staples out of wood incredibly easy!
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Combination Square – If we need precise measurements, we use our combination square. It has a ruler with a sliding arm that can lock into place so if I need to use the same measurement over and over again, this trusty tool does the job!
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Table Saw – We use ours all the time! Whether we’re ripping wood or cutting down a 4×8’ sheet of plywood, I really don’t think we’d get by without one!
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Speed Square – If you need a perfect 90° angle or a straight line, speed squares are the easiest way to achieve that.
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