Home Renovation Tools
Tools for apartment renovation by job: plastering, painting, wallpaper, tiling, laminate, drywall, plumbing and electrical, plus measuring tools.
11 guides
Renovating an apartment is a sequence of very different jobs, each with its own set of tools. A tiler's kit has almost nothing in common with a painter's, and buying "everything" up front wastes money. These guides are organised by type of work so you can buy exactly what the next stage needs.
Start with the essential hand tools, then open the guide for the job in front of you. Every guide lists must-have tools, nice-to-have upgrades and what you can safely rent instead of buy.
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01
Essential Hand Tools for Home Renovation (and How to Choose Good Ones)
The hand tools every renovator needs: hammer, screwdrivers, level, tape measure, utility knife, pliers and wrenches, with what separates a good tool from a bad one.
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02
Tools for Plastering, Skim Coating and Filling Walls
The tools you need to fill cracks, skim coat walls and apply plaster: trowels, hawks, spatulas, mixing gear, sanding tools and how to use them for a smooth finish.
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03
Painting Tools: Rollers, Brushes, Sprayers and Prep Kit
What you need to paint walls, ceilings, trim and doors: brushes, roller covers by nap, extension poles, trays, tape, drop cloths and when a paint sprayer is worth it.
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04
Wallpapering Tools: Everything You Need to Hang and Strip Wallpaper
The tools for hanging wallpaper (paste brush, smoothing tools, seam roller, trimming knife, plumb line) and for stripping it (scorer, steamer, scraper), with step-by-step tips.
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05
Tiling Tools: Tile Cutters, Notched Trowels, Levelling Systems and More
The complete tiling tool kit: manual tile cutter vs wet saw, notched trowel sizes, tile levelling systems (clips and wedges), spacers, grout floats and how to use them.
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06
Tools for Laying Laminate and Click Vinyl Flooring
What you need to install laminate and click LVT flooring: tapping block, pull bar, spacers, saws, underlay tools, and how to measure, cut and lay a floating floor.
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07
Drywall (Plasterboard) Tools: Framing, Cutting, Hanging and Taping
Tools for building stud walls and installing drywall/plasterboard: metal stud snips, crimper, drywall knife, rasp, screw gun, jab saw, taping knives and corner tools.
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08
Basic Plumbing Tools for DIY: What You Need Under the Sink
The plumbing tools every home needs: plunger, auger, adjustable wrenches, water pump pliers, basin wrench, pipe cutters, PTFE tape and more, with what each one does.
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09
Tools for Basic Home Electrical Work
The insulated tools and testers needed for basic home electrical work: VDE screwdrivers, wire strippers, voltage testers, multimeter, fish tape, and important safety rules.
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10
What Tools Do I Need? Tool Lists for 12 Common Home Jobs
Quick tool and materials lists for common jobs: hang a shelf, assemble furniture, lay tile, change an outlet, hang curtains, mount a TV, fix a door, seal a bath and more.
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11
Measuring and Layout Tools: Levels, Squares, Tapes and Detectors
The measuring and marking tools that make every renovation accurate: tape measures, spirit and laser levels, squares, chalk lines, stud and wire detectors, and how to check them.
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