25 Must-Have Tools in your Shed for Repair and Maintenance

Maintaining your garden to ensure it’s in tiptop shape is achievable, thanks to the tools and implements that you keep in your tool shed. Whenever required, you can pick your garden shears to prune shrubs and trees or take out the mower or trimmer to cut the grass. You can then enjoy an awesome and relaxing view in your garden until the next time you’d have to do the same shearing, cutting, and other relevant gardening tasks.

Meanwhile, to keep your shed one of the best sheds any homeowner could wish for, you have to keep it organised and clutter-free.

In order to maintain the awesome look of your entire property, you have to put every nook and cranny in your garden shed into proper order.

The best sheds need the right tools

When it comes to home maintenance, the tasks never end. There’s always something that has to be cleaned, fixed, repaired, or replaced. To keep all areas in your property in excellent condition, you would need other tools to accomplish maintenance work every now and then.

Check out your tool shed, and you might find that you have to pick a few more items from your favourite home depot or hardware store to add to your collection.

There are simple home repair and maintenance jobs, which you can do on your own. With the right and appropriate tools, you can do a lot of tasks by yourself or with the assistance of family members and save on the costs of hiring the services of a handyman, even if it is just occasionally.

Here are 25 must-have tools for repairs and maintenance tasks in your sheds. Make sure that you keep these tools in your garden shed, so that you have a ready helper anytime.

1. Tape measure

   If you are putting up a garden plot, making a rack or when you need to take the measurements of windows and other surface areas, a tape measure is a very important tool. The 25 ft. long, retractable one with lock is ideal and could serve your purposes.

2. Stepping stool or sturdy ladder

   A stepping stool is better than an ordinary chair for reaching high areas like when clearing cobwebs from the ceiling or when cutting trees.

   On the other hand, if you need to climb and repair the leaking roof of your tool shed, you would need a sturdy ladder. You can get a wooden or aluminum ladder. One that is made of fiberglass is durable but is a bit expensive. If you think you won’t need it often, you can make a makeshift ladder using wood bars or get the cheaper aluminum one. Just make sure that if you use a metal ladder, it would not touch any cable or dangling rope to avoid accidents.

3. Pliers

   There are many varieties and sizes of pliers, which you can use for different purposes. If you can, get as much variety as possible as these can serve you in many ways. You can use the locking pliers for gripping or clamping something into place. If you are making crafts or decorations, a needle-nose plier would be perfect. On the other hand, electricians have their own special lineman pliers, which can be used to strip cables and cut wires.

4. Wrench

   A wrench can be used to pull nuts and bolts or to turn a screwdriver by holding its shaft. If you cannot have a set of open-ended wrenches, a 10-incch adjustable one will do.

5. Shovel

   There are also many types of shovels: a general use shovel for digging and moving loose materials like sand; a spade with a short handle for digging clean lines, and a coal shovel which you can use for heaving gravel or clearing snow.

6. C-clamp

   If you want to hold something in place, like in a workbench, or if you need to hold together two materials when gluing, nailing or cutting, a C-clamp would do the trick. If you cannot get the whole lot of different sizes, just pick a pair of the standard 8-inch clamps and they can handle most of your clamping needs.

7. Hammer

   You can buy a 20 oz. rip-claw or flat tanged, smooth faced hammer for all-around use. It can be used to drive and pull nails, hammer materials including steel, remove bottle caps, or work as a lever. For sensitive material, you can use a rubber mallet whilst for heavy duty purposes such as a heavy pounding activity, a sledge hammer is what you will need.

8. Axe

   An axe can be used to cut or chop wood and hack dead branches and roots from a fallen tree.

9. Maul

   A maul is a double-sided tool, with one side used for splitting wood and the other as a sledge hammer which you can use when tearing down walls or pounding stakes and fencing posts.

10. Crowbar and wrecking bar

    A crowbar -- or its variant, a wrecking bar which is usually a curved steel bar -- can be used as a lever for prying materials and lifting edges or heavy objects when you need to insert a support underneath.

11. Chisel

    A chisel is handy for woodwork. You can pound it using a small hammer and produce the desired effect on your wood. Whilst a chisel -- like any other tool -- can be used for other purposes, you must try not to use it on anything other than wood, as this will dull or may even chip the blade.

12. Hacksaw

    A hacksaw would be dependable for cutting plastic, tubing, wood, metal rods, brackets, and bolts.

13. Utility Knife

    A utility knife has many uses. It can be used to cut materials such as roofing felt, veneer, wallpaper and polyethylene. It can also be used to trim moldings; open boxes, cartons, and packages; and make a mark before cutting a smooth edge with a saw. You can choose between knives with retractable handles, which are safe to carry, or fixed blades, which are much secure to use. Beware that the blade may slip and might cut or injure your hand should the screw in the handle of a retractable knife become loose whilst you use it.

14. Screwdriver

    You can have a set of screwdrivers or a handle with different bits. In buying these tools, go for the more expensive but durable types, as those that are priced cheaply can break easily.

15. Four-in-Hand Rasp or File

    This tool can be about eight to ten inches long and a little over an inch wide. One side of it is half-round whilst the other side is flat. A rasp is used for reshaping or smoothing the sharp edges of non-glass material.

16. Extension cord

    An extension cord is necessary if you need to use power tools too far away from a wall socket. Likewise, it can be handy if you need outdoor lighting or to illuminate dark spaces around your property.

17. Putty knife or scraper

    When spackling rough spaces and cracks, a putty knife or scraper is used for a smoother finish. This tool can also be used to remove wall coverings or scrape flaky surfaces.

    Power tools that you may keep in your garden shed

    If you love tinkering, working on your car, or making crafts and carpentry items, and you consider your tool shed your favorite place and workshop, you might just need some of these electric or battery powered tools.

18. Air Compressor

    An air compressor can be used for painting or blowing up tractor tires, bike tires, and your inflatables. It can also be used to clean equipment or blow dry a surface more quickly.

19. Pressure Washer

    A pressure washer is ideal for cleaning tasks. You can use it to pressure wash your porch, deck, and fences. You can also pressure wash lawn equipment, trimmer, or even your garden set.

20. Electric drill

    A drill can be handy if you want to hang an artwork or to drill a hole in wood, plaster, concrete, or even metal. Be sure to pick different-sized bits as each material would require a special kind of bit. If you want to use a battery-operated drill, make sure to choose a reliable brand which has long battery life. Batteries in cheap brands don’t last long and drain quickly.

21. Electric sander

    An electric sander can smoothen the surface of your material. You can choose among three options: a circular sander that rotates in circular motion; a flat sander that works left to right; or a mini or mouse sander, which looks like a miniature clothing iron that is ideal for reaching enclosed or hard to reach spaces.

    Protective Gears

    When you work frequently in your shed and are using your tools most of the time, you must never forget that it is important to protect yourself. Always practice the “safety first” rule when you are performing skilled work. You can consider yours the best shed if you keep the following safety essentials and protective gears in it:

22. Protective goggles or safety eyeglasses

    Other than your hands, your eyes are also your best tools. As such, when you work in your shed or are using tools that can cause eye injury, make sure that you wear protective goggles. A flying spark from your welding rod, spilled chemicals, a nail or screw gone awry, or a wood or glass splinter can hurt your eyes if you are not wearing safety glasses. Go for a pair that is shatterproof and does not fog.

23. Heavy duty gloves

    Leather and rubber gloves can protect your hands as well as make your grip firmer when holding an object.

24. Fire extinguisher

    A fire extinguisher is a must. Anything can happen that may cause fire, especially if you use electrical equipment that may short-circuit or if you keep combustible materials in your garage or garden shed.

25. First-aid kit

    Accidents happen. When such unfortunate events occur, you must have the presence of mind to gain control of your situation. Likewise, for practical reasons, you should keep a first-aid kit in your tool shed. This way, you would not have to run inside your house with your hand dripping in blood and waste precious time should an accident occur. Right then and there, you can wash your hands clean with water and put iodine solution into your wound or secure an injured hand with a tourniquet. Whilst you may have applied first aid solution, make sure to see a doctor if your wound is deep and may need to be stitched or if you suspect that a bone is fractured.

Proper care of items in your tool shed

Most of your tools will serve you a long time if you know how to care for them properly. As much as you can, avoid using them for purposes other than what they are intended for. Always clean each item after use, put them back in their protective covers, and package them in your designated tool box or rack. Keeping them clean and shiny as the day you’ve purchased them is a must. Avoid getting them rusty and dull. The electric cords of your power tools should be coiled properly. Always keep them out of children’s and pets’ reach.

Get garden shed tools only from reliable suppliers

All of these tools and more are available in the market, which you can pick from home depot and hardware store outlets, or online. You may not be an expert or a professional skilled-worker, but most of these tools are simple to use and operate. Just make sure you strictly follow the instructions in the user’s manual that comes with each purchase. When it comes to tools, the pricier the item, the more dependable and reliable it will work for you.

For your tool needs and other garden shed supplies, check out EasyShed. EasyShed is Australia’s premier manufacturer and supplier of garden sheds. To find the right tool shed for you check out our extensive range here.