7 Invaluable Tools for Home Remodeling

All throughout my garage, I have tools. Some are specialized, and I have used only once. Others are pretty grungy from being used so many times. With the tool section at Home Depot overflowing, how do you know what you really need?

I have flipped and rehabbed several houses with my husband. We do almost all the work ourselves, including plumbing, electrical, carpentry and finish work. Whether your end game is to flip the house, or fix it up to get renters inside, you need the right tools. While our tools are numerous, here are the ones we just couldn't rehab without.

Compound Miter Saw
Topping the list is the Compound Miter Saw. This guy really makes life easier. I use it to cut wood, PVC, siding, trim - the list goes on and on. The blades last a really long time, are easy to change, and make a nice clean cut. The more teeth, the smoother the cut. (Also, the more the blade costs, but isn't that the way of the world?) 

There are very few days in the rehab timeline that I don't use this baby. I store it at the front of the garage, with nothing blocking access to it, I use it that often.

Air Compressor/Nail Gun
Next up is the combination Air Compressor/Nail Gun. I remember living in a new housing complex when I was a wee lass, and every morning I awoke to the sound of 25 hammers nailing, nailing, nailing. All. Day. Long. The invention of the Nail Gun made my heart sing.

I have three nail guns right now: A giant one for framing, a small one for finish work, and one in between. Anyone who has ever hammered a nail into a piece of wood, then had to yank it out because it bent, then try again (repeat infinity times) will agree this is one of the best tools on the planet.

Tile Saw
The next tool on my list is a tile saw. There are many ways to cut tile, including a weird, pliers-looking thing that is next to worthless, and a score-and-cut job that isn't much better. The tile saw I am talking about is a wet saw with a diamond blade. Diamonds are certainly a girl's best friend - at least when she is trying to cut tile.

These bad boys make a huge mess, spewing water in a nice wide line, so make sure you are cutting where mess doesn't matter. But just as easily as a hot knife cuts through cold butter, these wet saws cut beautiful, tight lines and allow for seriously unconventional cuts that you just couldn't do with any other tool. A wet saw is perfect for just about any type of material, which allows you to use those gorgeous natural stone tiles that just look so darn good.

Tool Belt
The last guy on my list is certainly not the least. If you have ever had to stop work to try and find where you left that stupid tape measure, I see a tool belt in your future. Make sure you get one that has lots of pockets, and before you start work for the day, load that puppy up.

Think about the jobs you are doing that day, and make sure all your portable items are in your tool belt. When you are finished for the day, make sure you put away the tool belt where you can find it the next time you need it, and make sure it has the basics, like that tape measure, pen/pencil, phillips-head and slotted screwdriver, etc.

Always more tools
So these guys are the best tools I have in my arsenal. The ones I use on almost every single job. The ones worth their weight in Californium 252. Other really helpful tools include:

Levels in various lengths - nothing in any property you ever buy is ever perfectly level or plumb. But that doesn't mean you can't make it right when you are fixing it up. What good are perfect cuts in the tile if the floor isn't level?

Electrical Tester - not only do you want to turn off the circuit before making minor electrical repairs, you want to MAKE SURE that circuit is off. An electrical tester looks a lot like a pen, and you just stick the business end by the outlet or switch to confirm that it is off.

Power Drill - a lot of drills these days come in a package, buy the drill and get a flashlight or reciprocating saw or a circular saw free. They usually come with two batteries and a charger as well. I have two drills, and both came with a free 'other tool'. Mostly, I bought the package for the extra battery and charger. Always keep a battery on the charger. The new lithium batteries last forever, until they die with little to no warning.

So how about you? What tools would you add to my list? What are the tools you can't do your work without?