Looking after a home has all sorts of repair challenges, even more so if you’re redecorating or moving in for the first time. For the novice, there are so many pieces of equipment, tools, and products available, that knowing where to start can be overwhelming. What do you really need to get started with DIY?
We’ve compiled a list of essentials for anyone who wants or needs to start a toolbox of their own. This list is a good starting point for minor repair and installation work, aimed at everyday jobs around the house.
Even a few basic items of safety equipment will keep you from injuring yourself unnecessarily, a sound investment considering the price. A dust mask will come in handy if you’re going to be decorating or sanding. These sorts of masks are fine for sawdust and plaster dust, but are not appropriate for very fine powders, paint fumes, and other chemicals.
A pair of safety glasses is an absolute essential. Any pair rated for EN166 F (low impact) should be perfectly adequate. Loud noises – especially within enclosed spaces – can be uncomfortable and even damage your hearing. A pair of simple ear defenders will provide suitable protection whilst using power tools around the home.
Work gloves are an inexpensive way to protect your hands from minor scrapes and reduce discomfort. Likewise, a foam pad or ‘kneeler’ is great for protecting your knees whilst working for long periods.
There isn’t anything more critical to DIY than the humble tape measure. Even if it’s just sizing up furniture, your trusty measuring tape is your best friend, along with a spirit level for keeping things straight. When you’re lying underneath a counter, screwdriver in one hand, grasping a washing machine hose in the other, the last thing you want is to be trying to grip a torch between your teeth. A real work light - especially one that stands on its own - guards against fumbles during already difficult tasks.
Screwdrivers are the most common DIY tool you’ll use, so investing in a decent set will likely see you through hundreds of jobs, but for everyday use a crosshead and flathead set is a good starting point. Likewise, a solid set of hexagonal or ‘allen’ keys are another toolbox essential thanks to the mass appeal of flatpack furniture.
For all the finesse of modern fittings and fixtures, you will still need a hammer, and a classic ‘claw’ hammer is a good starting choice. Driving nails home and removing them from fixtures and walls, as well as applying leverage where needed, a solid hammer is a lifetime tool.
An adjustable wrench is the bare minimum for working with nuts, bolts, and pipework, simply screw to fit. For pulling and prising small fittings you’ll want to have at least one set of pliers.
These items aren’t tools or safety equipment, but trust us, you’ll want these rattling around in your toolbox. WD-40 is a general-purpose lubricant, rust preventative, penetrant, and moisture displacing spray that’s the secret weapon of countless machinists, mechanics, and DIY aficionados around the world. Whether it’s sealing, packing, or just a temporary fix, strong duct tape is a fallback that more than earns its place in your toolbox. You’d be amazed how often a strong adhesive will come in handy. Snaps, cracks, and breaks in objects of any material can be fixed with a little super glue so long as they don’t hold much weight.
