Pro Tools Are Not Needed for Everyday Maintenance
Yes, any responsible homeowner should have a few tools lying around for basic maintenance if anything ever comes up, but that doesn’t mean that you need to raid a Lowe’s and stock up your shelves. Here are ten pro tools that you DON’T need to buy.
Laser Level (Rotary or Self-Leveling)
If you’ve recently started a home renovation project, this is a tool you most definitely don’t need. While it can shoot 360° lasers that can level out entire rooms (making floor and ceiling installations easier), a $10 traditional bubble level can be just as effective in most scenarios.
Tile Wet Saw
A heavy-duty specialised tool meant to cut through ceramic or porcelain tiles, this is definitely not one you want to have lying around at home (unless you own a tile company, that is). If you are doing a full kitchen or bathroom reno, renting one is more cost-effective.
Drywall Lift
Even if you’re building an entire house alone, you don’t need to buy a drywall lift. In most cases, a second pair of hands is enough to hold drywall sheets overhead while you screw them in. If you can’t arrange that, you could always rent a drywall lift.
Cordless Framing Nailer
Think of this as a more extreme version of a nail gun; this tool is specifically meant for firing large nails into framing wood. If the extent of your nail gun use is hanging up frames and building bookshelves, this is not at all a tool you would need around every day.
Paint Sprayer (Airless or HVLP)
For professional painters who need to paint entire houses in just days, this is a time saver. For most of us, it’s a messy, hard-to-clean contraption that we’ll probably use once every four to five years.
Power Planer
An impressively bulky tool that can sand down entire sheets of wood in minutes, you only need a power planer if you regularly do woodworking projects around the house. Otherwise, a simple strip of sandpaper can get most minor things done.
Heat Gun
Another tool that is really fast in what it does, a heat gun can strip paint and laminate in near-seconds. If you don’t work with paint often, you can save a lot of money by using a hair dryer instead. It may take a little longer, but it’s no less effective.
Laser Distance Measurer
If you’re a surveyor, you know these can be effective and accurate indoors and outdoors. It has a very minimal margin of error. However, most of us don’t regularly survey large areas, so a regular tape measure or even a meter stick works just as well.
Concrete Mixer
For pros pouring entire driveways and patios, a concrete mixer is a must, especially considering that improperly mixed concrete can crack easily. But if you only use concrete to fix a fencepost or make a planter, you’re just as well off using an old bucket and a stick.
Worksite Table Saw
While this is not as heavy-duty as many other tools on this list, it’s still not one you need to invest in. It may cut through sheets of plywood like butter, but it’s too bulky and expensive to keep in your garage. If you’re currently working on a remodel, consider renting a table saw.
