Tools I Actually Use In My Renovation
Renovating a 1930s house has forced me to try a lot of tools: some brilliant, some terrible, and some I reach for every single week.
This page is a simple list of the things that have genuinely helped me along the way.
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Here is a link to my Amazon Storefront which has lots of tools I recommend.
My Essential Tools
SDS Plus Drill
My go-to for stripping render or anything involving brick or concrete. If you are renovating an older property, an SDS drill is almost essential.
Wide Chisel Bit – Angled
I find this chisel to be most effective for getting the looser render off.
Armeg Scutch Comb Chisel
This scutch chisel is needed for the tougher parts of the render, anything the wide chisel bit cant remove, this usually will.
Full face dust mask
I found I needed a full face mask when chipping off render as I kept getting chunks of cement under my eyelids which was painful. The full face mask gives me complete protection and I’ve found I can go a lot faster not worrying about how the chips are flying off.
P3 Filters for the dust mask
Make sure you get these filters, and a couple spare for the mask as they don’t come standard.
Evolution 350mm Disc Cutter
Use code ROOKIE for 10% Off. This Evolution Power Tools disc cutter has made my drainage job so much easier! It’s been slicing through the concrete that was laid right up against the house like butter, I can’t recommend it enough.
Angle Grinder
Perfect for cutting out old render, slicing through metal, and trimming materials. I use it constantly (with my homemade depth guard for mortar raking).
Multi-Tool
Probably the most underrated tool I own. Brilliant for cutting into awkward corners, trimming architrave, removing old fixings… anything fiddly.
Laser Level
For setting out stud walls, levelling battens, lining up tiles, and keeping everything actually straight.
Wet and Dry Vacuum
If you are drilling, sanding, or cleaning up the dust, this is a lifesaver. Keeps dust under control and stops your house turning into a fog machine.
Woodworking & Carpentry Tools
Evolution Track Saw
Use code ROOKIE for 10% Off. I use this for accurate sheet cutting (ply, MDF, OSB). Essential for building my own cabinets, wardrobes, and workbenches.
Evolution Mitre Saw
Use code ROOKIE for 10% Off. Great for framing, trims, architraves, skirting boards, and cutting battens quickly and repeatably.
Drill / Driver Set
Every DIYer needs this. One set up for drilling, one for screws. It saves a staggering amount of time.
Hand Tools I Wouldn’t Renovate Without
I reach for these on almost every job:
Tape measure (have at least two)
Safety Gear (Non-Negotiable)
Older houses mean dust, spores, and all sorts of surprises.
I always use:
Damp Investigation Tools
These are the tools I used throughout my own damp diagnosis.
Moisture Meter
Not perfectly accurate, but brilliant for comparing areas and spotting unusually high readings.
Hygrometers
Cheap little humidity meters that you can scatter around the house to see which rooms are worst.
Dehumidifier
Helps stay on top of condensation and speeds up drying when you are doing wet trades or damp fixes. Dehumidifier I use at home
Thermal Imaging Camera
Great for spotting heat loss, cold bridges, and areas where condensation or damp is more likely to form.
Dust & Cleanup Tools
The boring but essential stuff:
- Wet & dry vacuum
- Floor scraper
- Brick acid (only for specific jobs, used carefully)
- Stiff broom + dustpan
- Buckets (you can never have enough)
🔧 Tools for Exterior Work
- Long-reach ladders
- Brick raking blades
- Pressure washer (very gentle around old brick)
Tools I Built Myself
Mortar Rake Depth Guard
A custom 3D-printed guard I designed because everything I could buy was either bulky or too expensive. Perfect for grinding mortar out safely at a consistent depth.
Mortar Rake Depth Guard for Angle Grinder