8 Essential Tools Every Homeowner Needs in Their Shed

Even if you’re not big into DIY at some point in time you’re going to have to fix something around the house. If you don’t have the right tools for the job you could potentially damage your home, or worse, injure yourself. In light of this, we’re going to take a look at eight essential tools every homeowner needs as to have in their shed. By making sure you’ve got these essential items on hand you can be sure that you’re in a good position to handle any home improvement challenge that’s facing you and get the job done right.

1. Slip Joint Plier

This versatile tool generally comes in a variety of different sizes and consist of a pivot point that you can adjust according to the thickness you need for the job. These items can securely grip pipes or get a hold of nuts and bolts and have a range of practical purposes for home improvement work as well as general repairs jobs in and around your home.

2. Needle nose plier

A real lifesaver when it comes to those tight jobs in and around the home, a needle nose plier lets you get into the tight areas and make the necessary adjustments with a minimum of fuss. Needle nose pliers can be used in a range of capacities such as working on adjustments in your children’s toys or fishing items that have been lost in a tight crevice of your home. Also if you have a knowledge of electronics, needle nose pliers can be a really valuable item when it comes to make minor electrical repairs, affording you the ability to cut, shape, strip and bend wires easily for any DIY electrical work you have in and around the home.

3. Multiple screwdrivers

Ideally you’re going to want to have a flathead and a Phillips head screwdriver to deal with most of the jobs you’ll need to take care off in and around your home. The added bonus of a flathead screwdriver is the shape of the blade makes it quite a flexible tool for other purposes, like scraping off loose bits or prying something open. The Phillips head is a bit more specialised, but has replaced the flathead as the standard in and around the home so it’s definitely worth having a set of these laying around in you individual tool shed.

4. Claw hammer

If you’re an adult there really is no excuse not to have this useful device in and around the home, and when it comes to jobs you need a hammer for there really is no substitute. Drive and remove nails and put together your DIY furniture. When you’re buying make sure you opt for a synthetic handle and a size and weight that feels comfortable as this will give you the best results.

5. Measuring tape

Another essential tool if you want to adult, a good measuring tape is essential when you’re embarking on any DIY project around the house. Whether you’re measuring curtains, furniture, pictures or anything else, a measuring tape is the best way to figure out the size of things. Make sure you choose a decent, heavy duty retractable type as these can often get damaged if you’re not being careful.

6. Utility knife

You won’t know how useful one of these bad boys can be until you have one yourself. Utility knives are perfect for a range of precision cutting and general jobs around the house. Get a good quality one and you should be able to cut through cardboard, rubber, plastic and carpet with consummate ease.

7. Flashlight

Electricity is one thing we certainly take for granted these days, but not when it’s gone. Having a flashlight handy can get you out of a serious bind and make sure you can get to the fuse box and make the necessary adjustments. If you’re getting a flashlight for your home, don’t be afraid to fork out a little bit extra for a more heavy duty option. LED flashlights are built to last longer and generally provide better light so you don’t have to worry about your tools not being able to step up to the plate when the moment comes that you need it.

8. Adjustable wrench

Last, but certainly not least, is the adjustable wrench, which is the best way to take care of a range of general fixes and plumbing repairs that you will be faced with as a modern homeowner. If you’ve got the cash it’s generally not a bad idea to invest in a decent wrench set. This way you’ll be prepared when faced with a variety of jobs, and don’t have to worry about not being able to get into tight spaces, or not being able to generate the sufficient leverage to get the job done without popping a vein.