If you’re setting up home for the first time, or moving away from parents to live in student accommodation, putting together a basic tool kit is probably the last thing on your mind. However, having the very basic tools close to hand and knowing what jobs to use them for will save money in the long run as problems can be nipped in the bud, and you won’t end up paying someone else to hang your pictures or put up a curtain pole.
Won’t it be expensive?
Putting together a basic tool kit with everything you need for day to day maintenance and emergency repairs, shouldn’t cost more than £50. Many of the discount and pound stores sell tools and things like tape measures, and a basic plastic box to keep everything in is relatively cheap too. When you consider that a call out charge for a tradesman can start at around £40, plus the hourly rate for his labour, investing in a tool kit seems by far the more sensible option. Many people will also have spare spanners or screwdrivers knocking around in the garage, so ask around friends and family to see if the cost can be cut even further.
Buying the basics
Once you have begged and borrowed what you can from relatives, the next step is to buy what is missing to complete your basic kit. Look out for the following items, most of which are easily picked up in large DIY superstores or even in the supermarkets.
Get instruction
If you are completely new to the world of DIY, there is no point in having lots of fancy tools if you have no idea what to do with them and how to use them. Spend some time looking at websites or speaking with a more experienced friend or relative who can show you how to adjust your spanner or use your spirit level to mark a vertical or horizontal line. One of the most common reasons for needing tools is to put together flat pack furniture, so if you are buying a new bed, or a set of shelves which needs assembly at home, ask the retailer for advice about what tools you will need to complete the job.
Emergency DIY
It’s important to know what to do if a fuse blows or you find a pipe has sprung a leak, and it’s always wise to keep supplies such as fuses and a torch in a handy drawer or cupboard so they can be accessed quickly if the power goes off. When you move into your student accommodation or new home, find out where the fuse box is, and work out how to do things such as turn the water and power on and off at the mains. If anything happens which you do not feel confident about tackling, contact a professional for help rather than getting out of your depth and making things worse. If you are renting, your landlord should be on hand to sort out most problems for you.
First jobs
Hanging pictures is no more difficult than knocking a nail into a wall, but your tool kit comes into play when you want to hang two pictures together, perfectly level. Your spirit level and measuring tape will help with this, and similarly if you are putting up a curtain pole you might use a tape measure, screwdriver and a drill to make the holes in the wall. If at any time you are in doubt about how to complete a basic job, get online and browse for instructional videos – there are literally thousands showing you how to do every DIY job under the sun.
Won’t it be expensive?
Putting together a basic tool kit with everything you need for day to day maintenance and emergency repairs, shouldn’t cost more than £50. Many of the discount and pound stores sell tools and things like tape measures, and a basic plastic box to keep everything in is relatively cheap too. When you consider that a call out charge for a tradesman can start at around £40, plus the hourly rate for his labour, investing in a tool kit seems by far the more sensible option. Many people will also have spare spanners or screwdrivers knocking around in the garage, so ask around friends and family to see if the cost can be cut even further.
Buying the basics
Once you have begged and borrowed what you can from relatives, the next step is to buy what is missing to complete your basic kit. Look out for the following items, most of which are easily picked up in large DIY superstores or even in the supermarkets.
- Tape measure – the retractable ones with the hard plastic casing and the metal tape are the best
- Pair of pliers
- Set of screwdrivers – look for a set with a variety of sizes, and a mix of cross headed and flat tools
- Spirit level – small spirit levels can be bought for a pound or two and are just as good as the bigger, more expensive ones.
- Stanley knife
- Hammer
- Spanners – either a set of spanners of different sizes, or an adjustable spanner
- Paintbrushes – at least two of different sizes
- Tape - black insulating tape has a wide variety of uses and comes in a variety of widths.
- Torch
- Drill – electric cordless ones are the easiest to use
Get instruction
If you are completely new to the world of DIY, there is no point in having lots of fancy tools if you have no idea what to do with them and how to use them. Spend some time looking at websites or speaking with a more experienced friend or relative who can show you how to adjust your spanner or use your spirit level to mark a vertical or horizontal line. One of the most common reasons for needing tools is to put together flat pack furniture, so if you are buying a new bed, or a set of shelves which needs assembly at home, ask the retailer for advice about what tools you will need to complete the job.
Emergency DIY
It’s important to know what to do if a fuse blows or you find a pipe has sprung a leak, and it’s always wise to keep supplies such as fuses and a torch in a handy drawer or cupboard so they can be accessed quickly if the power goes off. When you move into your student accommodation or new home, find out where the fuse box is, and work out how to do things such as turn the water and power on and off at the mains. If anything happens which you do not feel confident about tackling, contact a professional for help rather than getting out of your depth and making things worse. If you are renting, your landlord should be on hand to sort out most problems for you.
First jobs
Hanging pictures is no more difficult than knocking a nail into a wall, but your tool kit comes into play when you want to hang two pictures together, perfectly level. Your spirit level and measuring tape will help with this, and similarly if you are putting up a curtain pole you might use a tape measure, screwdriver and a drill to make the holes in the wall. If at any time you are in doubt about how to complete a basic job, get online and browse for instructional videos – there are literally thousands showing you how to do every DIY job under the sun.
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