The Must-Have Tools in Your Shed for Repair and Maintenance

A toolbox with the right set of equipment makes the job a lot more convenient when it comes to fixing common household nuisance: roof and water damage repair, for instance. Tool kits are indeed a great asset to every homeowner. The same goes for shed owners who possess the must-have tools for carrying out their outdoor tasks.

You never know when you might need to fix something important on your shed building or when you suddenly feel like mowing your lawn on the weekends. Either way, one of the reliable ways to do that is to have the essential tools within reach.

By this we mean keeping the must-have tools in your garden shed, so that you can be equipped for whatever gardening job or outdoor maintenance you have to tackle. But what exactly are these equipment?

The Must-Have Tools in Your Shed

Be it measuring a raised garden bed, cutting branches from a tree, or even DIY creative endeavours, these basic tools play a major role in maintaining your backyard.

Stepping Stool or Ladder

Rather than using an ordinary chair to reach high areas, clearing cobwebs or pruning trees, why not invest in a stepping stool or a ladder? A sturdy ladder also comes in handy when your roof requires some repair due to leaking.

A fibreglass is sure durable but a bit expensive, whereas a wooden bar ladder is a great, cheap alternative. If you plan to use or purchase a metal ladder, make sure it would not touch any electrical cable or dangling rope to prevent any mishap.

Regardless of the type of ladder you use, you will also want to ensure to inspect it for any damage before you step into it. If you spot any buckles, crack, and bends, under no circumstances, do not use it, and make certain that others know of its condition as well.

Shovel

Typically, a shovel features a concave, broad blade and a curved tip. This type of tool is commonly used in both gardening and construction. Whether it is for a specific gardening task, building a foundation for your new outdoor building, or for shoving a pile of snow, having a shovel at hand is worthwhile.

A shovel comes with a grip, then the handle, which varies in length. The longer the handle is, the better the tool is suited for digging deeper holes. Shorter handle, on the other hand, is more suitable for precise tasks.

Then there is the blade which is usually made of metal or plastic. The blade and tip, also called the point, come in various shapes depending on the type of a shovel.  Lastly, the step or kick plate is where you use your body weight and foot to push the tool into the soil. Understanding the parts of a shovel will help you find the right one for your needs.

Different types of shovel:

• Edging shovel
• Trench shovel
• Flat shovel
• Tree-planting shovel
• Power shovel
• Post hole shovel
• Handheld shovel
• Root shovel
• Scoop shovel
• Snow shovel
• Point digger shovel
• Round digger shovel
• Folding shovel

Extension Cords

You just never know when you may need an extension cord. This electronic accessory can be of service whenever you need to power your devices or equipment when they are far away from the outlet.

What’s more, with an extension cord, you can use more than one device at once. You do not have to unplug one item to make room for another when you have this brilliant device. Likewise, you can use it if you need outdoor lighting to illuminate the dark spaces around your property. 

When it comes to shed clutter, you do not want to risk yourself or anyone tripping over excess cords. Keep cords out of the way so you can freely walk around your building and get access easily. Talk about convenience! 

Extension cords come in varying sizes and styles to meet your needs.

Workbench

A workbench can be the central to most of your projects, hence making it an essential accessory or item in your shed. If you do not have a dedicated space for your DIY projects, you can store your workbench in your shed, then get it if you need to use it.

What we like about this essential tool is that you can build it yourself! It can be as simple as slapping a plank or an old solid-core door on top of two sawhorses. Just make sure it is solid enough to withstand even the most rigorous maintenance tasks, including holding heavy furniture or car parts.

Measuring Tools

Gone are the days when we use our thumb, elbow, or fingertips to measure things—thanks to the wide range of measuring tools available today. Do not settle with a normal tape measure, owning a variety of types and sizes can eventually be of assistance.

Not only is measurement is crucial in science, engineering, and chemical industry, but it is also essential in farming, gardening, construction, home projects, and other activities. So weather you need to measure distances, dimensions, angels, or even water pressure and measure, make sure to equip your shed with measuring tools.

Different types of measuring tools:

• Calipers
• Micrometer
• Laser measure
• Ruler
• Compass
• Square
• Measuring tape
• Angle gauge
• Level
• Angle locator
• Bubble inclinometer
• Pressure gauge

If you plan on putting a garden plot, a measuring tool like a tape measure can come in handy when taking the measurements of windows and other surface areas. The retractable one (25 ft. long) could serve your purposes.

Fire Extinguisher

Sometimes, smoke alarms are not just enough. You need something that can help you fight a fire before it spreads through your home or property. We are not talking about water here but a fire extinguisher.

A fire extinguisher is a must, whether it is for your home, garage, or garden building (particularly wooden sheds). If you use any electrical equipment that may short-circuit or if you store combustible materials in your shed or garage, prevention is better than cure. Invest in a fire extinguisher and keep on in your shed building.

Different classes of fire extinguishers:

• Class A – Ideal for combustible solid materials: wood or paper.
• Class B – For flammable liquid or gas.
• Class C – Suitable use for energised electrical fire. Ignitor of a class A or B fire, for instance.
• Class D – Metallic fire, such as sodium, magnesium, titanium, etc.
• Class K – Cooking fires like vegetable or animal oils/fats.

Pressure Washer

Cleaning requires a lot of time, energy, and elbow grease, but not when you have a pressure washer. You can say goodbye to scrub and strain, and have fun with doing your cleaning chores while saving your back and joints.

Ideal for residential, commercial, and business, this wondrous gadget is perfect for a number of cleaning contexts. You can use it for cleaning and removing all manner of dirt in your patios, sidewalks, or your home or outdoor building exteriors in a quick, easy, and efficient way.

The next time your shed needs some repainting or some parts of your car needs cleaning, you know what to do! Go to your outdoor building and get that pressure washer!

Electric Drill

This device is probably one of the best inventions and a garden shed or garage should have at least one. A drill is primarily used for making round holes or driving fasteners, and it can be handy if you want to drill a hole in wood, concrete, plaster, or even metal.

But keep in mind that there are different-sized bits as each material would likely require a special kind of bit. There are three standard types of drill and these are: 

• Flat sender, a rectangular shaped disc that moves rapidly left to right.
• Circular sander, discs that move in a circular motion.
• Mouse sander, a shaped like mini clothing iron, ideal use for reaching awkward or hard places.

Tip:  If you wish to purchase a battery-operated drill, choose a reliable brand that features long battery life. Cheap battery brands, obviously, do not last long and they drain fast.

Air Compressor

An air compressor is capable of so much more than cleaning, spray-painting and tire-inflating tasks. As you may or may not know, it can undertake a vast array of domestic and industrial chores, from professional drilling, sanding, polishing to domesting sawing, hammering, grinding, and more!

Thanks to its versatility, you can finish your complex tasks more efficiently compared to when using conventional power tools. For instance, when sandling, nailing down and spray painting an area of garden decking—this chore alone already sounds daunting and time consuming, but not when you have an air compressor. Your task can be done with maximum speed and efficiency!

Considering the benefits, we cannot find any reason why you should not stock up your shed with this innovative tool.

Protective Gears

When you spend most of your time working in your shed with your tools and equipment, your safety is important. When you are performing skilled work, always practice the safety first rule, and you can do this by keeping safety essentials and protective gears in your shed workshop.

Make sure you have safety goggles within reach to protect your eyes from spilled chemicals, wood or glass splinter, from a nail or screw that has gone awry, to name a few. Do not forget to add heavy duty gloves to shield your hands as well as make your grip firmer when holding an object.

Lastly, a first aid kit. Accidents happen, and when such unfortunate events occur, you will want to be prepared. Other than keeping one in your home, you should keep a first-aid kit in your tool shed as well for practical reasons.

What should you keep in your first aid kit:

• Bandages
• Antibiotic ointment pockets
• Compress dressing
• Adhesive cloth tape
• Gauze rolls
• Packets of aspirins
• Non latex gloves
• Antiseptic wet wipes
• Sterilised gauze pads
• Thermometer
• Tweezers
• Emergency blanket

A Handy Toolbox

Imagine having a toolbox and these must-have items altogether in your garden shed. A dream come true for both handyman and shed owners! 

Having the right hand tools for the job makes your task much easier and at the same time, it lets you enjoy what you are doing. Plus, having a shed full of tools will be the talk of the neighbourhood!

Essential tools your toolbox should have:

• Allen keys
• Electrical and duct tapes
• A builder’s pencil
• Utility knife
• Screwdrivers
• Hammer
• Sander
• Pliers
• Scraper
• Chisel
• Pliers
• Wire cutters

CONCLUSION

The best shed needs the right tools. Thanks to these practical equipment, even the most complicated task seems like a piece of cake!

I mean, who needs to call a pro when you have them within reach, right? We hope this guide will help you put together the must-have tools in your shed as well as in your toolbox.