Tools for Builders & Home Renovation in the UK

Core Tool Categories for UK Building Projects

Planning your toolkit by category helps you budget and ensures your team is fully equipped from day one on site. Below are the main groups of tools used daily by builders, tradespeople, and serious DIYers across the UK.

1. Power Tools

Power tools are the workhorses of modern construction. Cordless technology, brushless motors, and fast-charge batteries have transformed what can be achieved in a single day on site.

• Drills & Drivers: Combi drills, SDS hammer drills, impact drivers, and angle drills for timber, masonry, and metal fixings.
• Cutting & Sawing: Circular saws, mitre saws, jigsaws, recip saws, and plunge saws for structural carpentry and finishing.
• Angle Grinders: For cutting and grinding metal, masonry, slabs, and for surface preparation.
• Multi-Tools: Versatile oscillating tools for precise cutting, trimming, and detail work in tight spaces.
• Routing & Planing: Routers and planers for doors, worktops, and bespoke joinery.
• Finishing Tools: Nail guns, staplers, sanders, and polishers for second fix and finishing work.

2. Hand Tools

Even on the most modern sites, reliable hand tools are still essential. They are tough, low-maintenance, and perfect for precision tasks.

• Measuring & Layout: Tape measures, spirit levels, laser measures, squares, and chalk lines.
• Cutting: Hand saws, coping saws, hacksaws, utility knives, and snips.
• Fixing & Shaping: Hammers, mallets, chisels, pliers, screwdrivers, and spanners.
• Joinery & Carpentry: Planes, marking gauges, punches, and specialist woodworking tools.
• Bricklaying & Rendering: Trowels, pointing tools, floats, hawks, and jointing tools.

3. Site Safety & Access Equipment

Safety equipment is not optional on UK sites. The right tools reduce risk, meet regulations, and protect your workforce and clients.

• Access: Ladders, step ladders, podium steps, scaffold towers, platforms, and staging boards.
• Site Lighting: LED site lights, tripod lights, festoon lighting, and rechargeable work lights.
• Dust & Extraction: M-class extractors, vacuums, dust shrouds, and air scrubbers for cleaner, safer work.
• Personal Protective Equipment: Safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, masks, ear defenders, and work boots.

4. Groundwork & Demolition Tools

Groundworks, landscaping, and demolition demand heavy-duty tools built for tough conditions.

• Breaking & Demolition: SDS Max breakers, electric jackhammers, kango hammers, and demolition bars.
• Ground Preparation: Compactors, wacker plates, trench rammers, and soil augers.
• Concrete & Masonry: Concrete mixers, concrete pokers, masonry saws, and block splitters.
• Landscaping Tools: Shovels, spades, rakes, post hole diggers, and specialist paving tools.

5. Specialist Trade Tools

Many trades rely on specialist tools that dramatically speed up installations and improve accuracy.

• Electrical Tools: Testers, multimeters, crimpers, cable cutters, conduit benders, and fish tapes.
• Plumbing & Heating: Pipe benders, pipe cutters, press tools, torches, and pressure testing equipment.
• Tiling & Flooring: Tile cutters, wet saws, levelling systems, rollers, and floor preparation tools.
• Roofing: Roofing nailers, slate cutters, roofing ladders, and specialist fixing tools.
• Finishing Trades: Sprayers, filler guns, sanding systems, and decorating tools for a flawless finish.

Buy or Hire? Choosing the Right Option for Your Tools

Deciding whether to buy or hire tools in the UK depends on how often you will use them, the scale of the job, and your cash flow. BestBuilders helps you compare both routes so you can keep projects profitable and on schedule.

When to Buy Tools

• You use the tool on nearly every job (for example, combi drills, impact drivers, essential saws).
• You want consistent performance and familiarity for your team.
• You prefer to build your own kit and manage maintenance in-house.

When Tool Hire Makes Sense

• You only need the tool for a short period (for example, a concrete breaker or tower scaffold).
• Transporting and storing the tool is difficult or costly.
• You want access to high-value equipment without a large upfront spend.

Many of the builders and merchants on BestBuilders offer flexible hire, long-term lease, and purchase options. Tell us what you need and our network can suggest the most cost-effective solution for your project size and timescale.

Choosing the Right Tool Brands & Specifications

Professional builders in the UK typically rely on established brands with proven reliability, easy access to spares, and strong warranty support. When comparing tools, focus on the specifications that genuinely affect performance on site.

Key Considerations for Power Tools

• Voltage & Battery Platform: 18V and 36V systems dominate professional sites. Building a kit on one platform simplifies charging and battery sharing.
• Torque & Speed: Essential for drilling into concrete, driving long fixings, and cutting dense materials.
• Brushless Motors: Offer longer run times, reduced maintenance, and greater power in a compact body.
• Dust Management: Dust extraction ports and compatible accessories help meet UK health and safety requirements.
• Warranty & Service: Check how quickly tools can be repaired and where the nearest service centre is located.

Hand Tool Quality Checks

• Construction: Forged, full-tang, or solid-steel designs for durability under heavy use.
• Ergonomics: Comfortable grips, balanced weight, and anti-slip handles reduce fatigue.
• Corrosion Resistance: Chrome, stainless, and coated finishes stand up better to UK weather.
• Lifetime Guarantees: Many brands now offer lifetime warranties on key hand tools.

Tool Storage, Security & Site Management

Protecting your investment in tools is just as important as choosing the right ones. Theft and damage can delay jobs and increase costs, especially on longer UK projects and multi-trade sites.

• Tool Boxes & Organisers: Stackable, wheeled, and modular systems keep tools accessible and protected.
• Site Tool Vaults: Heavy-duty, lockable steel boxes designed to resist cutting, prying, and removal.
• Vehicle Security: Van vaults, deadlocks, and trackers help safeguard tools in transit.
• Digital Tracking: Smart tags and app-based tracking systems reduce the risk of loss across large teams.

Many of the contractors on BestBuilders can advise on practical security measures that fit your site layout and budget, helping keep your tools safe from the first day on site until completion.

Tools for Homeowners & Serious DIY Projects

You do not need a full trade kit for every home project, but investing in a solid core of reliable tools saves time and money over the life of your property. BestBuilders works with local builders who can advise which tools you can realistically use yourself and where professional help will be more efficient.

• Essential DIY Power Tools: A good combi drill, cordless impact driver, multi-tool, and sander cover most basic works.
• Core Hand Tools: Quality tape measure, level, hand saw, hammer, set of screwdrivers, pliers, and a utility knife.
• Safety First: Even small projects require safety glasses, masks, and gloves – never skip PPE.
• When to Call a Pro: For work involving gas, main electrical circuits, structural changes, or roofing, we always recommend a qualified tradesperson.

Use the enquiry form on this page to tell us about your project. We can match you with local builders and trades who bring all necessary tools to complete the work safely and to a high standard.