Must-Have Renovation Tools

I have been remodeling houses for over 20+ years.  I’m always looking for tools that So if you are ready to strap on a tool belt and start doing some remodeling, the tools below are my most used remodeling tools:

Safety Gear

Safety is such a priority that I have an entire post dedicated to DIY Safety Gear with my recommendations and favorites.

Measuring & Marking Tools

Having good measuring and marking tools is a necessity. The smaller items listed below are kept in the top drawer of my mobile tool cart. Levels of various sizes are stored in my “tool room” ready to grab when needed.

• Pica-Dry automatic pencil– absolutely worth the $13 price tag
  • Water jet resistant refills for Pica pencil- perfect for wet cutting
• Laser level – so useful for installing trim, flooring, tile, cabinetry, wainscoting, etc.
• Stud Finder – a must have item for cabinet installation
• Trim Guage great help when installing door and window casings
• My favorite tape measures – By FastCap

Drill Bits & Driver Bits

I have tons drill and driver bits of all types and sizes. I keep one of each of my most frequently used bits in bit holders that I can clip on to my tool belt for easy access. I have two carabiner bit holders: one for drill bits and one for drivers. Magnetic bit holders, and retracting sleeves are super useful for holding screws while you drive.

Hand Tools

I keep my favorite hammer, a 5-in-1 painters tool, and a nail punch set handy in my work cart because these tools are frequently used.

• Hammer: Find a hammer that fits your hand just right, with the perfect amount of heft and balance.
• 5-in-1 Painters Tool: Endlessly useful for more reasons than I can name. I have at least a dozen.
• Nail Punch Set: For those pesky nails that didn’t sink

Hand Tools for Demo

I don’t use these tools on a daily or even weekly basis so I don’t keep them in my work cart all the time but they are the most useful tools to keep on hand for when I need to remove trim or do other small demo jobs.

• Indexing Flat Pry Bar: This cleverly designed tool has a rotating head for prying in tight spaces. 
• Nail Pulling Pliers: These nail pulling pliers have a crescent on one side that lets you pull nails smoothly and easily without breaking them. 
• Trim Puller: This is a great tool for removing trim molding without damaging walls or trim

Cordless Power Tools

The thing about cordless power tools is that brands are constantly making new tools and new batteries. In my experience, it’s a pain to have tools and batteries from lots of different brands. Go to a store and hold different tools and see how they feel in your hands, compare prices, read reviews and then pick a brand. In recent years I gave away almost all my cordless renovation tools from all brands except Milwaukee. (I also have a few cordless Festool that I use for cabinet making.) My most used cordless tools are: drill/driver, oscillating tool, and an 18 ga nailer.

Miter Saw

The miter saw is one of the most used power tools in my workshop and at the jobsite of my current renovation project. It’s a tool I always suggest buying the best you can afford because it should last for a very long time. I’ve had mine for over 10 years.

Random Orbital Sander

A random orbital sander (ROS) is a must have renovation tool and while I’ve had multiple cordless sanders, I prefer corded options. I prefer having my sander connected to a dust collector rather than using the onboard dust collection. I’ve purchased several Festool sanders for use in my finishing workshop. I also have a couple Bosch sanders which I have been happy with for many years.

Dust Collector

The reason that I am able to live in my home while I renovate is because I can connect almost all my power tools up to a dust collector. The power tool activation – turns the vacuum on when you turn the tool on. It has a Hepa filter which captures 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger.
I have multiple dust collectors (DeWalt and Festool) but this Bosch 14 Gallon Dust Extractor is my favorite because of it’s height and large, flat top surface which is a nice tool “drop zone”.

Wet-Dry Shop Vac

A wet/dry shop vac is a must have tool that you won’t regret not having – until it’s too late. When something breaks or overflows, having one on hand will allow you to get that water (or worse – sewer) up off the floor as quickly as possible.
Though it can be used for wet or dry vacuuming. I personally keep an inexpensive model like this Stanley 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum, and leave the included wet filter in place so it’s always ready to grab for those wet emergency situations.

I’ve accumulated a lot of tools in my 20+ years of renovating and it’s challenging to narrow down this list. While there are numerous additional tools I consider “must-haves”, I’ve tried to create a good starting point in this post.