Tools Guide
Everything you need to know about tools for your build project
Most tradespeople bring their own kit, so you will not need to buy most of what is in this section. Knowing what each tool does still helps you read a quote, check the work, and decide what is worth owning, hiring or leaving to the trade. Each guide covers what the tool is for, how to use it properly, and whether to buy or hire.
The sections below are grouped by type of tool: power tools such as drills and saws, hand tools, measuring and marking, plant you would normally hire, and specialist kit for electrical, plumbing, plastering, joinery and roofing work. Safety equipment and diagnostic tools for testing the finished work have their own sections.
What to read first, by build stage
Setting out and groundwork. Profile boards and the optical level are how the footprint and levels are set during setting out, and the mini digger guide covers hiring for the dig. A drain test kit lets you pre-test the drains before the inspection.
Structure. The SDS drill is the tool most homeowners do not already own and will need for masonry. The spirit level guide shows how to check the walls as they go up.
First fix. Read the cable detector guide before anyone drills into an existing wall.
Throughout. An FFP3 dust mask is the one piece of safety kit to have on hand whenever brick, block or stone is being cut.
Cutting Tools
Saws, snips, knives, and specialist cutters - the tools that shape timber, tiles, metal, and insulation on an extension site.
Decorating Tools
Rollers, brushes, masking tapes, and scrapers for painting, wallpapering, and paint stripping on a UK extension build. What to buy and how to use each one properly.
Diagnostic & Testing Tools
Tools for testing, monitoring, and conditioning a build: drain pressure tests, hygrometers for screed moisture, dehumidifiers for plaster drying, and crack monitors for structural movement.
Drills
Combi drills, SDS drills, impact drivers, core drills, drill bits and screwdriver bits - understanding which drill to use and when is one of the most important skills on a UK extension site.
Electrical Tools
Multimeters, voltage testers, wire strippers, crimping tools, and cable detectors - the electrical safety and testing tools you need when managing first and second fix electrical work.
Hand Tools
Non-powered tools for measuring, marking, striking, and finishing - the essentials every homeowner project manager needs on site from day one.
Joinery Tools
Hand tools and jigs for second-fix carpentry and kitchen installation: chisels, nail punches, hinge jigs, worktop jigs, and the router cutters they pair with.
Measuring & Marking
Laser levels, optical levels, and marking gauges - the tools that turn rough guesswork into accurate layouts on a construction site.
Other Power Tools
Angle grinders, SDS breakers, nail guns, routers, plate compactors, and more - the specialist power tools you will need at different stages of a UK extension project.
Plant & Heavy Equipment
Mini diggers, breakers, compactors, concrete pumps, props and air compressors used on UK domestic extensions. Hire vs buy economics, day rates, and what most homeowners actually need.
Plastering Tools
Trowels, floats, mixing paddles, spot boards, and notched trowels for skimming, rendering, and tile-bedding on a UK extension. What to buy, how to break them in, and how to use each one properly.
Plumbing Tools
Pipe cutters, pipe benders, pipe wrenches, adjustable wrenches, and PTFE tape - the tools behind every clean joint and leak-free connection on a UK extension plumbing first fix.
Roofing Tools
Specialist hand tools for lead flashing, slate repair, and roof junction detailing: the kit a roofer brings to dress lead at chimneys, valleys, and abutments.
Safety Equipment
Dust masks, ear defenders, safety glasses, hard hats, hi-vis vests, knee pads, steel toe boots, and work gloves - the PPE that keeps you safe on a UK extension construction site.
Power Saws
Circular saws, mitre saws, jigsaws, reciprocating saws, and oscillating multi-tools - the powered cutting tools that make fast, accurate cuts in timber, sheet materials, and more.