Toolbox essentials for your project
Whether working on a home renovation or a large construction project, you should consider essential construction tools. As a professional tradesman, you will probably know many of them, but as a DIYer, there could be some that you had not considered or don't know you'll need.
“You might think that tools for construction or renovation might be similar; on the surface, that may look the case. However, there is a significant difference in the quality and cost of tools.”
You might think that tools for construction or renovation might be similar; on the surface, that may look the case. However, there is a significant difference in the quality and cost of tools. This is because professional tools are built for durability, and that's because construction tools will be used for longer hours each day and will need larger batteries, and probably be much heavier and maybe even have slightly more precision.
There will be some power tools purely for construction sites. They'll be heavy, powerful, and not easy to move around (specific power tools and larger saws), but you'll be able to find cheaper, more mobile versions for DIY purposes. There will be other construction tools that you can use for your project, but it really depends on your budget. Consider whether the tools you need can sit in one place or whether you'll need to use them around different areas of your project; if you are a DIYer, likely, you can just use your garage to do your work. Contractors will obviously need specific heavy power tools that remain on-site, but they'll also need many more mobile apparatus.
Below we've listed a large number of the tools that can work for either kind of project; you can consider it an essential guide dependent on your needs.
Protection gear and convenience items
Hard Hats and gloves
One of the most important safety measures you can use when on a construction site. The hardhat protects your head from falling debris or other tools, and also consider gloves to protect your hands from sharp surfaces and other devices. See a selection here.
Coveralls
Some jobs - like working in crawl spaces - are so nasty that it just doesn't make sense to wear ordinary work clothing unless you don't mind throwing it away later. Better to ruin one pair of coveralls than every pair of work pants you own.
Safety Glasses
Working on a renovation or construction site can be dangerous, so safety glasses are an essential part of your toolkit. It's necessary to find the right glasses dependent on the required work. We also recommend having more than one pair as they can become fogged, dirty, lost and broken. See here for the 9 best safety glasses for construction.
Hearing Protection
Get earmuffs for doing really loud work like running a shop vacuum. Use earplugs for moderately loud work, like drilling.
Lung Protection
Use dust masks for dusty work like sweeping up, and get a cartridge respirator for dirty work such as pulling down old plaster. Your lungs will thank you.
Tool Pouch / Fastener Pouch / Hammer loop
You need somewhere to put tools and fasteners—other than your pockets. According to VCG construction, the best way to wear a toolbelt is at the back. You'll be able to bend forward, work more efficiently, and not be inhibited by tools. Your hammer loop will generally be placed to the right of your belt if you wear it at the front. So if you wear the belt at the back, your hammer will end up to your left. But over time, it will become the norm, and you'll be able to maneuver much more easily as you work. See here for a review of the best tool belts.
Yellowsack dumpster Bag
One item you may not have considered as a ‘tool’ in your toolbox is a dumpster bag. As you work through your project you will be clearing away all of your debris and waste. Yellowsack's flexible dumpster bags are your constant companion - the perfect solution. Think of them as an extension to your toolbox; they fold away easily out of your way until you need them. Once you have filled them up (we accept all debris and dirt except treated wood). You can also use them to cover tools and electrical items if the weather isn’t good.
The toolbox essentials
Hammers
Hammer is probably the number one tool that comes to mind when thinking of construction work. You can find many different types, but the most common are claw hammers; the claw at the back of the head is excellent for pulling out nails. Solid steel framing hammers with ripping claws and sledgehammers are great for demolition. See here for reviews of the best hammers on the market.
Adjustable Wrench
The flexibility of the Adjustable wrench head means you can use it with almost any sized nut. It has a wrench head that can be opened and closed by spinning a control near the head. Plumbers often use this tool as it is versatile for any plumbing job. Find the best options here.
Manual Saw
The manual saw is a staple construction tool that cuts lumber and sometimes cuts thin metal like aluminum. Different types include crosscut saws, which can cut across wood grains; drywall saws, which can cut through many types of drywall; and circular saws, which are better for certain types of carpentry work.
Screwdrivers
Even though they are used for the same purpose, there are two major types of screwdrivers: flathead and Phillips. Sometimes power screwdrivers can be problematic and lose their heads, so manual screwdrivers can be a better option, and they are also better for precision. See here for reviews of the best manual and electric screwdrivers.
Nail Pullers
A nail puller is a dedicated version of the puller found on the claw hammer's head. These tools are longer than the claw hammer, so they offer extra leverage and can be used to pull out particularly big nails or those that are difficult to yank out with a smaller tool. Some nail pullers are included at the end of crowbars. See more here.
Pliers
With heavy but narrow jaws at the end of two handles, you can use them to apply pressure for twisting and untwisting nuts and bolts, strip wires, cute cables, and bend metal. There are many different pliers for different tasks: Use side-cutting electrician pliers for crosscutting electrical cable, diagonal pliers for reaching into electrical boxes to trim away the cable's sheath and paper, ironworker's pliers for cutting old rusty nails, screws, staples and clips, and compact bolt-cutting pliers for cutting through anything too thick or too tough for other pliers. See some of the best pliers here.
Writing / Marking Implements
Keep a carpenter's pencil, a silver Sharpie (for dark-colored lumber), a black sharpie for tape and plastics, a sharp awl for center marks on lumber, and a carbide tip scribe for marking steel.
Measuring Tapes and Rulers
Great for measuring all elements of your construction or renovation project. Rulers are firm and great to use with a pencil. But if you have a more extended area to measure, measuring tapes will extend a greater distance for your needs. Their flexible material makes it easy to hook around edges. See some of the best tape measures here.
Utility Knife
Use a retractable utility knife for safety; it's an excellent tool for wire-cutting, cutting string, duct tape, and many other things. It is easier than trying to tear through these materials and so small it easily fits in your pocket. See here for a selection of the best utility knives.
Lighting
You can't work on what you can't see. Your lighting equipment should include hanging and free-standing lighting, as well as a hands-free light that you can wear, such as a headlamp.
Tarps and Drop Cloths
Use painter's canvas drop cloths (not plastic tarps) to protect surfaces while you paint. And use plastic tarps to catch debris.
Tapes
You're going to need various types. Electrical: for binding fishing tape to a cable, you're fishing through a wall or ceiling.
The professional and larger tools
Power Saws
If you need to work with wood and other materials on your project, then saws and saw blades will allow you to cut through many materials. Use a power saw as a corded or cordless version to cut through pieces of wood and other elements using electric power to slice much faster than a manual saw. You can also find table saws with built-in tables often used by carpenters.
Saw Blades
A selection of saw blades for circular saws, jig saws, and reciprocating saws will enable you to cut solid lumber, plywood, plastic, wood with nails in it, steel, sheet metal duct, steel pipe, etc. PVC pipe. See here for a listing of different saws to help you find the correct one for you.
Saw Horses
A saw-horse is a beam with four legs to support a board or plank for sawing. A pair of saw-horses can support a plank to form a scaffold. You really need at least two to safely support lumber and plywood for cutting. Four to six are ideal for keeping boxes and tools off the ground. Read here for the best Saw Horses on the market according to 13,500 customer reviews.
Wrenches
These metal tools come in many sizes. They can be purchased in kits or individually and come in a multitude of sizes to fit any type of nut. See here for a selection of the best wrench kits available on the market at the moment.
Drills
These construction tools offer corded and cordless versions powered by batteries (modern versions use rechargeable). Pull a trigger to rotate the drill rapidly to make holes in wall, wood, metal and to screw or unscrew bits from wooden planks and other surfaces. Attachable drill bits offer versatility coming in a wide variety of screw sizes. See some of the best drill options here.
Levels and Measuring Squares
Also known as a carpenter's square, this tool is a measuring square that precisely measures right angles within a writing utensil. Some models have levels, flat ruler-like tools with a small glass container filled with liquid and a bubble that tells you when you have a flat surface. Other levels are separate, and some may have rulers included for precise measurements. See here for a choice of the best carpentry squares.
Shovels / Spades
The wedge scoop at the end of the shovel makes it easy to dig through soil and dirt. You can use your shovel for several tasks, from clearing trenches to install plumbing material or clearing away organic debris, and great for removing tree roots by using the sharp head of the shovel. For more insight into some of the best shovels, see here.
PickAxes and Crowbars
A crowbar is a long steel construction tool used to dig up complex objects obstructing construction work, like tree roots, nails, and the like. It can also be used for regular digging. Pickaxes are hand tools with a sharp, spear-like point on one end and a flatter wedge on the other end. These tools can break up hard soil by swinging the sharper end into the ground with force. Find a selection of PickAxes here.
Extension Cords
Extension cords can use cords to move onto different floors with power tools, and they can reach up to 300 feet in length. One long (50 ft. or longer) and one short (25-ft) extension cord should be great for your home renovation project. Obviously, big construction jobs may require more, and make sure both have a gauge that's large enough to handle the amperage of your largest power tool. See more extension cords here.
Demolition Bars
You'll need everything from a small 7-inch model to the 5-ft. long version. Estwing's I-beam bar is well-used in the construction business, as is Council Tool's 60-inch pinch point bar. See more here.
Multi Meter
Use a multimeter for your construction project, or it can be used at home to measure voltage, current and resistance of a device like a battery. See more examples here.
Bolsters
Bolsters look like hand shovels, but they are used to cut through bricks for an entirely different purpose. They have wider cutting edges that can accurately slice through bricks to separate them for reuse, and they are also used to break down walls or building features. Bolsters can also be used to clear away mortar or grout: the material between individual bricks.
Chisel
This wedged tool is mainly used for carpentry and woodwork tasks and is one of the first tools a woodworker will learn to use. You can use it to remove bumps on wood and the same for concrete surfaces. You can also scrape away concrete once a surface has hardened so that your other tools won't get dirty. Find a selection of chisels here.
Hoe
This hand tool is used for excavating soil and has been used for many years in the farming industry. Contractors and construction workers use the hoe to loosen dirt, dig up tree roots, and do other yard work. Find more here.
Jackhammers
This electrical tool uses power to rapidly push a wedged hammer up and down into hard surfaces to break them apart for easy removal. To be used with caution and used mainly by construction workers, they are often used under supervision. They produce a loud noise that requires ear protectors, and they also need generators or power outlets to function. See here for a review of some of the best Jackhammers of 2022.
Vacuums
Use a shop vac for suck up water, debris and other elements using the long hose with different attachments. Most varieties also come with a blower option for sawdust, leaf removal and more, and you can also purchase blowers as a separate tool. See here for more Vacuum / blower recommendations.
Air Compressor
This tool contains highly compressed air and blasts away sawdust and other debris from tight surfaces. Depending on the model, the air is supplied by a cartridge or sucks in surrounding air blown out by a long hose. See here for some of the best air compressors.
Generator
Generators provide electricity to power tools and run off of a circuit. They are powered by gasoline or propane, and they are heavy equipment and are usually used by contractors for their power tools when they cannot connect to a power grid. Find the best generators here.
Concrete Mixers
Concrete mixers are powered tools that mix different elements of concrete with a barrel that rotates for hours at a time. They usually have wheels and handles to make them mobile for the worksite. See a review of some of the best cement mixers here.
Float
Float is usually made from wood and is used to smooth concrete surfaces once plastered. A handle for grip is at the top, and a smooth wooden surface is at the bottom. Contractors use it by moving in a circular motion to smoothen and calm the surface of freshly placed concrete.
Impact drivers
Impact Drivers are a type of drill that spins powerfully downwards to drive screws and nails into a surface instantly. They are battery-powered with a handle and trigger. See more here.
Sander
This carpentry finishing tool has a rough belt stretched between drums on each side of the sander. Powered by a motor, the sander rubs wooden surfaces smooth. There are two types of motion, back and forth and circular sanders. Find some of the most popular sanders here.
Caulk / Skeleton Gun
These tools deposit a substance called caulk, a silicon or latex material that bonds other materials and fills in gaps. Caulk guns are used to seal cracks in ceramic, glass surfaces, and metal. Here are some of the best Caulking guns.
Nail Guns
Use these powerful tools with care. They are loaded with a magazine like the ones used by a firearm and rapidly project nails into a wooden surface at high speed. These are your tools if you need to rapidly nail a material onto another surface, especially if the wood or other material is thin. See more nail gun options here.
Oscillating multi-tool
This versatile device works with several different attachments that can be swapped. These attachments depend on the tool you purchase, but it can be used to cut through pieces of wood and other materials, polish surfaces, act as a saw, and many other uses. See more here.
Voltage checker
Use a voltage checker to check the voltage of a current. This device is handheld and works with two probes; one touches one half of the electrical connection, and the other probe touches the other half. The tester will glow and tell you the voltage if electricity is flowing.
Great extension tools
Ladders
These essential construction accessories help renovators and contractors reach high items. Stools are similar height-boosting accessories that have a stable base. Do not stand on boxes and buckets; use a step stool, step ladder, or extension ladder for safety. Find more ladders here.
Wheelbarrow
Transport materials around your site using this large container on wheels. The back may be fitted with flat stands so that the wheelbarrow can be rested when not in use. See a selection here.
Rolling Cart
This is a manouevrable storage solution that you can use to hold bottles of grease, glue, or any other materials for easy access. You can use a rolling cart to move these materials from place to place if people need access to them in one spot more than another. Many carts also have locking feet for added security. See more rolling carts here.
Workbench
This is a high table that contractors and DIYers use to place their tools to perform tasks with better stability. Sometimes the benches include other accessories like build-on rulers and levels, drawers and attachments for saws etc. See a selection of the best workbenches here.
Lights
Most worksites will need lights so that the space can be illuminated, especially for indoors and night work. Often construction lights have long stands that tower over workers. There are smaller options that can fit on workbenches in garages and home workshops. Find more here.
Utility Vise
This mechanical clamp has tightening mechanisms that hold a device or material tightly. Once in the vise's grip, the contractor operates the workpiece without movement or using a hand to steady it. Perfect for standing, chiseling, and cutting. See more here.
Brooms
Get an exterior push broom, a hand broom. And a dustpan, and use them to clean your site. See more here.
Shop Vacuum
Not every surface can be swept. Sometimes you'll need to suck debris out of wall cavities and electrical boxes, for example, so have a reliable shop vacuum.
Your flexible utility extension
Yellowsack is here to facilitate any project wether a home renovation or a construction project. We want to make your project run smoothly but handle your waste quickly, efficiently and with zero hassle. There is no need for a permit and no need to store it in on the road. It's a much handier and more flexible solution than a dumpster.
So, when you have filled your Yellowsack dumpster bag simply message us via the web or app, and we'll be there to pick up your debris. And if you are working on a construction site we can replenish on collection. We think you'll find it's an extension of your toolbox you can't live without!
