I am not a skilled craftsman. I am fortunate that my husband is. However, through our investment properties, I have picked up on a few handy tools that I never knew existed. Here is a list of inexpensive tools that have been great to use.
1.Paint Edgers: I have used a lot of Frog tape or Scotch Blue Tape for protecting edges from my paintbrush. However, more experienced painters like to use paint edgers. With a little practice, these are great time-saving options if you want to avoid placing lots of tape throughout your house or an apartment. I like the Shur-Line version from Home Depot.
2. Carpet Staple Removers: We have spent way too many hours removing staples from flooring. Typically, we are trying to remove old carpet and prep for smoothing out an old wood floor or laying new laminate or wood-composite flooring down. The cleaning of staples and debris from old flooring materials is a headache. We have used the back side of hammers and pliers. This takes endless hours. Instead, you may want to try a Razor Scraper. Check out this QEP model.
3. Window caulk. Before we started our work, I thought the only way to reduce wind getting in through window cracks was to put a plastic sheet on the window. Now, I’d recommend that you check the edges of your windows first. If you see a leak, try to use some window caulking. We’ve used a lot of the DAP brand from Home Depot. For newbies, remember that you will need to get a caulk gun. This HDX caulk gun is an inexpensive starting option. There are much more expensive options available. However, my only hint is to buy a model that has a wire metal piece on the side. You may need to use the thin metal rod on the side of the caulk gun to stick inside the tip and open the caulk. Caulking can be messy and smelly, but once you get the hang of it, this is a great way to seal up any window cracks you may have.
4. Snakes (also called Augers). Sure, all of us have seen a plunger before. However, few of us are familiar with using snakes to clean out bathroom and kitchen drains. Snakes seem to come in handy pretty much every week for us. You don’t need a lot of muscle, and it’s a much less expensive option for fixing a blocked drain than calling a plumber. Both electric and manual options are available. Ridgid offers a reasonably-priced option for a first try at fixing your own plumbing issues.
5. Concrete Level Compound. Our basement was an uneven cement slab. When we decided to put flooring down, we did not know what to do about the uneven surface. So, ta-da! Check out this Rapid Set concrete leveler option from Home Depot. It is extremely easy and inexpensive. Basically, you mix the concrete and lay it in the uneven surfaces. Though you can assist moving it with a Concrete Leveler tool like Razor-Back Concrete Mover, it basically self-levels into the uneven surfaces. It was extremely helpful in our basement.
6. Drywall Stilts. Again, I had no idea that these existed. We have used platforms very successfully on a variety of projects such as hanging drywall and painting high ceilings. However, when we hired a team to do our drywall mudding, they came in with stilts. MetalTech offers a good option. If you are going to be doing a lot of drywall mudding yourself, the stilts are an incredible timesaver. Those drywall guys were super fast, and I’m pleased they showed me the stilts!
7. Pressure Washers. Before we started our business, I was under the impression that pressure washing was a skill that needed to be hired out. This is definitely not the case. If your vinyl siding is getting dirty, or if you plan to paint wood siding, I strongly recommend that you rent a pressure washer. They are inexpensive, and they are not difficult to operate. A good Rug Doctor Electric Pressure Washer can be rented from Home Depot. If you are just doing a one-time washing, the rental is a good option. If you plan to buy, I recommend electric for basic washing. Sun Joe offers a helpful electric pressure washer. The gas engine machines are better for more heavy duty work like paintstripping. Ryobi offers a heavy-duty gas engine version.
