Tools of the Trade: What you need for Construction

If you’re looking to make a living in the construction industry, then an assortment of quality hand and power tools is an absolute must. For the most part, this means a core of bread-and-butter tools, supplemented by more specialised ones for particular tasks. It’s the former category that you’ll spend the most time with, and so investing in quality will tend to pay for itself in the long-term.

Let’s take a look at a few of the more essential pieces of equipment.

Hand tools

There are a few hand-tools that you can’t reasonably do without. These are:

Screwdrivers

You should have an assortment of screwdrivers, to cope with all of the fasteners you’ll encounter. This means flat and crossheads in a variety of sizes.

Brushes

Construction work can be very dusty, and it’s essential that you clean up after yourself if you want to keep the client happy.

Trowels

If you’re going to be working with cement, or brickwork, then you need a trowel. If you get more specialised, then a particular kind of trowel might suit your workflow better.

Wrenches

Spanner, wrenches and pliers – they’re all essential if you want to be able to twist something out of its position. Ideally, you’ll have all of them, but an adjustable wrench tends to be the most useful.

Clamps

Holding things in position is almost as useful as being able to move them. This might be because you’re working on something and need it still, or it might be that you need to hold two pieces together while the glue is setting.

Power tools

Power tools allow you perform certain tasks much more quickly and effectively.

Drills and Impact Drivers

These two similar-looking tools are designed for very different tasks. You’ll need both of them.

Saws

A jigsaw is arguably the most useful and versatile tool in your arsenal – but you might equally use a circular or mitre-saw for certain tasks.

Nail Gun

Nail guns are an exceptionally helpful tooal and come in useful for a wide variety of jobs in contruction. They're perfect for building furniture, building decks, and more. DeWalt nail guns tend to stand out, but many manufacturers provide respectable options.

Other essentials

There are a few other things no construction professional should be without.

Measuring tape

You need to be able to measure things before you start work. In the vast majority of cases, you’ll do this with tape. Make sure that your tape is rugged and resilient, and easy to use.

Spirit level

You might use a traditional oil-based spirit level, or a laser one. They’re critical if you want your lines straight and true.

PPE

If you want to enjoy a long and prosperous career, then you need to protect yourself. Do this with the help of the right goggles, a hard hat, protective boots, and gloves.