Whether you are a homeowner, a renter or simply a DIY lover, carrying out a home improvement project on your own could save you tens of thousands of rupees. A DIY home improvement project can be of varying nature, for example, you can carry it out to enhance the curb appeal of your home or simply get done with the repairs to keep your living space in an upright condition. But wait! Where is your tool kit? In case you need help with preparation, we have made a list of some essential tools you need in your home.
It doesn’t matter if you’re taking on a one-in-a-year DIY project or tackling an everyday emergency, you should buy these common household tools to avoid unnecessary trouble later. So, let’s get to know more about the items that should be a part of your toolbox.
List of Essential Tools You Need In Your Home
Some of the best tools to assist you with your home improvement projects and repair tasks have been listed below:
- Hammer
- Pliers
- Screwdriver
- Adjustable Wrench
- Scissors and Shears
- Measuring Tape
- Flashlight
Hammer
Mounted with a heavy metal head for utility purposes with a long handlebar, a hammer is counted among the most common household tools for homeowners. Hammers are used for a wide range of driving, shaping, and breaking applications. In today’s’ world, a hammerhead is usually made with steel which has been heat-treated for sturdiness, and its handle is commonly made with wood or plastic. Some of the basic uses of a hammer involve driving nails, brads, and other types of fasteners into softer surfaces and materials, such as drywall or wood. Some of the most common types of hammers include Claw Hammer, Ball Pein Hammer, Sledge Hammer, Cross, and Straight Pein Hammer. You can purchase a hammer in Pakistan for as low as PKR 500.
Quick Fact: The use of hammer dates back to the prehistoric era and as per the historical records, the first hammer was made without any handle.
Pliers
Pliers are a hand tool based on metal levers positioned and joined at a fulcrum. The joint is closer to one side of the levers, which creates short jaws on one end of the fulcrum, and longer handles on the end. One of the most common uses of pliers is to hold difficult to handle or heavy objects firmly. They can also be used for compressing and bending different types of materials. Needle nose Pliers, Slip-joint Pliers, Locking Pliers and Cutting Pliers are the most common types of pliers locally used. The price of pliers in Pakistan starts from PKR 350.
Quick Fact: The origin of pliers dates back to the Bronze age and is the modern form of tongs used for the handling of hot materials back then.
Screwdriver
A simple screwdriver is based on a handle and a shaft, which is usually made from tough steel so that it cannot bend or twist. It is another essential hand tool used for screwing and unscrewing nails and screws. One of the key factors that make screwdriver one of the essential tools you need in your home is that many in your living space have screws that hold together different types of furnishing items cabinet doors, and doorknobs. So, you’ll always be in the need of a screwdriver if you want to fix any of these things. Some of the most common types of screwdrivers include Flat Head, Square Head, Hex, Clutch Head and Frearson. A single screwdriver in Pakistan costs around PKR 90-100.
Pro Tip: In order to save space in your toolkit, you can keep a multi-head screwdriver kit, which can be purchased for as low as PKR 350.
Adjustable Wrench
Considered as one of the most essential tools for home, an adjustable wrench, which is often called an adjustable crescent or an adjustable spanner, is a hand tool, that is used to loosen or tighten a screw, bolt or nut. It has an open-end wrench having a movable jaw made of metal, which increases its applications as a fastener that can be adjusted in different sizes. The four common types of adjustable wrenches include Crescent Wrench, Monkey Wrench, Pipe Wrench, and Plumber Wrench. An adjustable wrench in Pakistan is available for as low as PKR 500.
Pro Tip: If rusted or hasn’t been used in a while, lubricate the wrench if it is stuck in one place and wait for a few minutes so that the lubricant can penetrate the metal. This process will help you to make it usable again.
Shears and Scissors
Scissors and shears are two of the most essential tools for home. Both of these are hand tools and have different usage. Used for clean and precise cuts, scissors are multi-utility cutting tools, designed specifically for certain applications. Scissors at home can be used for cutting embroidery threads, parcel twines and making paper crafts. On the other hand, shears have longer blades and are widely used for gardening purposes like trimming, grass, hedges and other types of gardening activities. Buying a pair of shears in Pakistan can cost you as low as PKR 360.
Quick Fact: As per some historical records, the earliest known use of scissors is believed to be around 3,000 to 4,000 years old.
Measuring Tape
In order to measure the dimensions of any household items, you will need a handtool known as Tape Measures or Measuring Tape. It is a flexible ruler consisting of a ribbon of fiber, plastic or cloth. Since it is one of the most commonly used measuring instruments, it is considered among the most essential tools for home. The scale on this instrument measures in feet and inches, which are the two widely used measuring units of length. The four types of measure tapes include Closed Case Long Tape, Open-Reel Tape, Sewing Tape and Diameter Tape. A measuring tape in Pakistan has a starting price of around PKR 250.
Quick Fact: Measuring tape is also one of the most important tools used in the clothing industry.
Flashlight
While working on a DIY home improvement project, you can’t always rely on having good lighting in your surroundings. You may have to do a task in a basement with a dimly lit arrangement or what if there are any unexpected power cuts. In such cases, you will be needing a flashlight, which will help you in executing a particular task properly even it is completely dark. The types of flashlight available in Pakistan are based on mainly two types of lighting technologies including Incandescent Bulbs and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). You can purchase a flashlight in Pakistan for as low as PKR 200.
Quick Facts: The first battery-powered flashlight was invented in the 19th century by David Misell, who was a very famous English Inventor.
This was our pick of some essential tools you need in your home. If you have some more useful items in your toolbox at home, let us know about them by emailing us at blog@zameen.com. Your valuable feedback can help us in making this piece more informative for our readers.
On a side note, you might also be interested in reading our DIY guides on plumbing repairs, home inspection checklist, ways to polish wood, creative ideas to design rock garden and home maintenance checklist
Visit Zameen Blog, Pakistan’s best lifestyle blog, to read more of our informative pieces on lifestyle and home decor. To catch all of the latest updates from our blog section, subscribe to our newsletter. You can also connect with us on social media by liking us on Facebook and following us on Instagram.
