10 Tools Every Self-Respecting Homeowner Must Own

Are you one of those homeowners who regularly go over to your next door neighbor to borrow a hammer, screwdriver, pliers or spanner to get some home repairs done? Though a few neighbors may be willing to share, others may not be so generous and may have strange thoughts swirling in their heads like “You mean to tell me Peter can’t afford a screwdriver?” - Surely you get the drift! Get over this and set yourself up to have your own set of tools this year.

Every homeowner knows that it is important to have a selection of common tools on hand to complete daily tasks in and around the house, and a homeowner tool kit puts all the essentials within reach. Whether it is fixing a leaking kitchen faucet, installing window blinds or adding a headlight to your son’s bicycle, a handy set of tools is a must-have. 

Dillan, our Customer Sales Representative in the Handy Tools Department suggests that for the new or novice homeowner, there are many purchases and upgrades to consider when it comes to spending your money on improving and maintaining your house. "One of the first things you should do as a new homeowner is to get a well-stocked tool kit. Purchasing good, essential tools early on is a smart investment that will pay off dividends in terms of time and money," he reiterates.

Rayneau carries a wide selection of handy homeowner tools to help you complete any project.

Here’s a rundown of some basic tools that you’ll probably want to have handy.

Cordless Drill: Number one on our list is a cordless drill.  With this tool, you will save a lot of time and frustration with your projects.  Trying to sink a screw into wood by hand is tedious and tiring.  The convenience of wireless electric power makes quick work of lots of small projects. Invest in both a good-quality drill and good-quality drill bit sets. We do recommend that you purchase nothing smaller than a 14 volt set, though.  The smaller voltage drills have less torque and tend to run out of power sooner.

Shop: 1/2" Cordless Hammer Driver Drill Makita DHP458Z

Here are the other recommended tools in no particular order….You’ll want to have some simple hand tools around, the first of which would be a hammer. 

Hammer:  Find a hammer that has a comfortable grip. Vibration-dampening coatings on the grip can also come in handy. Since you’ll probably utilize your hammer for the occasional demolition in addition to pounding nails, choose a model with a straight or “rip” claw in lieu of a curved claw. Make sure the head of the hammer is smooth (as opposed to dimpled or checkered) to avoid surface damage and nail slippage.

Shop:Mintcraft TPL 16C Claw Hammer Steel, 16-Ounce

Screwdrivers:  Invest in a good-quality mixed set that includes a variety of flat head and Phillips head sizes. Magnetic heads come in handy, but be sure to have a pouch or Ziploc bag on hand to keep up with them if your set doesn’t include storage. Some people prefer to use screwdriver bits with their cordless electric drills to make things push-button simple, but it’s important to keep a couple of simple metal screwdrivers in your collection.

Shop:Mintcraft SD-Set-7 Screwdriver Set, 10-piece

Pliers:  Pliers are essential for holding tiny objects firmly when you need to manipulate them. With enough torque applied, they can pull, pinch or bend metal into shape as well. Make sure you get a good set including long-nose pliers, combination pliers, and locking pliers to cover your needs. Once you’re more comfortable with repairs, you’ll probably want a wire stripper as part of your pliers set to help with electrical projects.

Shop: Stanley 84-034 8-Inch Bi-Material Groove Joint Pliers

Wrenches:  At the very least, you’ll need a few adjustable wrenches in different sizes. They can manipulate hex nuts and bolts, which is invaluable when it comes to home repair and assembly. Combination wrenches will cover the gaps they can’t reach. As you grow more comfortable with your wrenches, expand to a ratchet and socket set to make bolt manipulation quicker.

Shop: Mintcraft JL149103L 10-Inch Adjustable Wrench Vinyl Coated Handle - Carded

Measuring Tape:  Whether you’re planning to replace an installed appliance such as a wall oven or looking to upgrade an entire room, a tape measure is an especially invaluable tool. Pick up an easy-locking ¾-inch-wide model to start. Skinnier tape measures may fall out of place, and fatter ones can be overkill. As time goes on, you may want to add a smaller, pocket-size model to take with you on shopping trips.

Shop: Stanley 30-454 25-by-1-Inch Stanley Tape Rule

Level:  These hand-sized tools are must-haves for tasks varying from installing new kitchen cabinets to simply hanging a new picture frame. While there are several types available, low-tech analog models with a floating bubble are quite accurate and inexpensive.

Shop: Stanley 42-240 24-Inch Professional I-Beam Level

 

Utility Knife:  A high-quality utility knife does everything from opening heavily taped bags and boxes. A comfortable feeling utility knife is also good to have.  You know how hard it can be to open some of those packages wrapped in that hard, clear plastic.  Besides, you’ll find it necessary if you need to trim drywall,cut away carpet edges, scrape away resin or paint that may keep a window stuck,or even sharpen your carpenter pencil!  Some of these knives store extra blades in the handle, so you’ve always got spare blades when you need one.

Shop: Mintcraft Knife Utility Retract 6-1/4in

Hand Saw: Less intimidating than a power saw and faster to set up, this handsaw is good for trimming lumber or molding stock because it cuts on the pull and push strokes. The image of a fine handsaw has long been the emblem of a craftsman at work. A good general purpose handsaw is useful for trimming branches off your tree or cutting lumber for a project around the house.

Shop: Stanley Consumer Tools 15-335 20-Inch Short-Cut Handsaw

Flashlight:  Necessary repairs can happen in dark, cramped spaces and even when the power is out. While smartphone camera “flashlights” work in a pinch, you'll need a sturdy flashlight on hand that doesn’t depend on whether you remembered to plug up your phone. If your lights go out unexpectedly or you need powerful light that helps you probe around when you hear noises in the middle of the night, a trusty LED flashlight cannot be beat.

Shop: Power Zone Flashlight

Dillan wants to  remind you that you don’t have to own every tool out there to do most household repairs.  But these basic tools will give you lots of flexibility to do those small projects. Get yourself a small tool box or bucket and keep them all together and when you go to tackle that project, you’ll have everything in one place.

2 Solutions for Your Car’s Headlights Cataract

Headlights operate ordinarily without much problem but they can turn yellow and foggy without you noticing the change.  As a car is exposed to the elements, ultraviolet rays from the sun break down the external coating on the outside of headlight lenses, and the ugliness sets in. 

When headlights become foggy and oxidized it affects the light output. The beam that should come from the headlight is weakened and will not cover as much ground in front of the automobile. That becomes a serious problem at nights when vision is naturally reduced, the smaller lighted area is an invitation for accidents. The headlights need to be worked on for a further and clearer vision.

Modern vehicles are plagued by this unsightly, clouded and yellowing headlight lenses on an enormous scale. Not only are they ugly, they’re also unsafe. Here are two great products  from Rayneau to minimise the issue with your own car and how to fix the problem if it has already happened.

1 - Majic Headlight Lens Cleaner & Sealant

Majic Headlight Lens Cleaner and Sealant - provides multiple benefits by cleaning and sealing in a single step, making headlight maintenance easier than ever. Precision compounds polish away cloudy surface oxidation and restore clarity to lightly damaged plastic lenses. Majic Headlight Lens Cleaner and Sealant can be used for preventative maintenance to keep new or like-new lenses clear or to clean and restore lightly oxidized lenses.

2 - Turtle Wax T-240KT Headlight Lens Restorer Kit

The Turtle Wax T-240KT Headlight Lens Restorer Kit - restores dull, yellowed headlights to like-new condition in less than 5 minutes per lens. The Lens Clarifying Compound quickly removes surface discoloration and may be all that is needed to restore clarity.

Taking care of the headlights is not something that should not be put off indefinitely. Anyone who is driving at night is aware of the dangers and safety hazard of dim lights. Procrastination does have its price and you have to be aware of it. Making sure that there is no hazy obstruction to the light is simple precaution and safety. It can save you from a nasty accident some dark stormy, rainy night.

After you have restored your headlights like new, if possible, the car should either be parked in a garage or having the headlights face away from the sun. This prevents the damage that can be caused by ultraviolet light.

Our 10 Most Popular Posts of 2017

Our most popular posts this past year range in topics from lawn care and home improvement tips to contractor financing, real estate and consumer products. If you missed out on these articles or want to add a few to your to-do list for 2018, they'll keep you busy no matter your skill level or expertise. Also, the products we recommend in the various articles are still available at our mega store.

                             

1 - Buying a L'Armitage Monchy Land and House Package is the right choice for millennials and it's easier than ever before. Simply because huge down payments are not necessary. While lenders are looking more closely at borrowers today than in recent years, there are options for purchasing your first home.

Read the full article here The L'Armitage House and Land Package - The Perfect Choice For Millennials

                                                   

2 - Let it echo far and wide! Rayneau's 0% Contractors' Financing is the best deal our local small to medium contractors can get - it's taking the country by storm. You can take that to the bank!

The full article can be read at: Rayneau's 0% Interest Contractor Project Financing is Still Available.

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3 - There are still plenty of criminals interested in breaking into your home. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it tough for them! The first step in home crime prevention is to eliminate opportunity, and it’s up to you to cut those chances.

Read the full article here: 6 Solutions to Protect Your Home and Family From Criminal Intrusion

4 - Over the years, the kitchen has morphed into the core of the house where meals are prepared, a place where your family eats and talks, a place where you entertain guests, a place where you keep and store everyday items. As such an important room in your home, you want your kitchen to feel clean, organized, and comfortable.

Read the article here: https://rayneau.blogspot.com/2017/02/6-touch-ups-to-update-your-kitchen.html 

5 - In this ever changing technological world, where new products keep on entering the construction and industrial markets daily, Rayneau ensures that it wastes no time in providing its clients and customers with these latest improved products which will make their work more efficient and sustainable. The store's phrase "At Rayneau, We've Got It!" lives up to its name.

Read the article here: https://rayneau.blogspot.com/2017/02/5-high-quality-products-that-will-get.html

6 - The Fire Gone Fire Extinguisher is a piece of equipment everyone should possess. This small aerosol can, could be the difference between life and death.

According to the St Lucia Fire Service cooking is the major cause of fire in the home. Yet how many people would say they have on hand an equipment to fight fire with, if this situation arose.

Read the article here: https://rayneau.blogspot.com/2017/03/3-reasons-to-stay-safe-with-fire-gone.html

7 - You think you have stress? What about your lawn? The sun beats down on it. People walk all over it. It's thirsty, and weeds want to take over. Yes, it's rough out there in the yard. But you can take some easy steps to help your lawn cope with the stresses of these dry months. 

Read the article here: https://rayneau.blogspot.com/2017/04/4-tips-to-save-your-lawn-this-dry-season.html

8 - Do you ever walk into your house, look around and just feel bored? Admit it, once in a while we all long to do something more dramatic with that lovely living room or cozy family room — to make a statement of some kind, to decorate with impact.

Read the article here: https://rayneau.blogspot.com/2017/05/4-ways-to-jazz-up-your-living-room.html

9 - The Emancipation Day, 3-day weekend is approaching and it’s a great opportunity to sit down, by yourself or with your kids, and work on a project. Not every weekend is meant for outdoor adventures and late nights out with your friends. If you're thinking of staying home this weekend and having a little bit of "me time," try one of these easy DIYs to keep you entertained.

Read the article here: https://rayneau.blogspot.com/2017/07/7-diy-home-improvement-projects-to-try.html

10 - You have had that urge to do some updating on your house for some time now. The summer holidays are over, the kids are back in school and the festive season is round the corner, therefore you believe  that now is a good chance  to do some upgrading. Whether you’re eyeing a new counter top for the kitchen or just can’t wait to tear out some old tile in the bathroom, practically every home owner has a remodeling itch that’s just begging to be scratched.

Read the article here: https://rayneau.blogspot.com/2017/09/8-simple-tips-to-upgrage-your-kitchen.html

5 Reasons to add ”Shop Rayneau” to Your List of Resolutions for 2018

“Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self-assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility.  Breaking them is part of the cycle.” – Eric Zorn

Every time a new year rolls around, people set out to better themselves. They promise they will lose weight, find a new job, or maybe even take that vacation they've always talked about.

Resolutions can come in many forms.  Some people make a promise to change a bad habit, such as quitting smoking or eating less junk food. Other popular resolutions include:

• Get Organized
• Save More Money
• Enjoy Life
• Get—and Stay—Healthy
• Learn Something New
• Help Others Pursue Their Goals
• Find Love
• Spend More Quality Time with Family Members

 As to where or how resolutions first originated we do not know.  What we do know is that resolutions were already recorded by the Babylonians over four thousand years ago, and that they believed that whatever a person did on the first day of the year had significant effects on their lives all year long.  It is, in fact, well known that New Year’s resolutions do not have much of a success rate.  Yet, while many folks choose to skip the annual goal-setting phenomenon, many St Lucian adults do indeed set at least one resolution in honor of the New Year.

Unfortunately for many of us the results of our resolutions take on an all too familiar pattern.  The first of the year we start off absolutely determined to follow through on our goals.  Excited and invigorated, we think that this year will be different from the last, when our resolutions went by the wayside.  But, once again, come February or even earlier, the majority of us have abandoned our goals altogether.  Most all New Year resolutions have the common theme of becoming a better person.  We endeavor to improve ourselves, yet many more resolutions end up unmet than kept.

So this year you have decided by all means necessary to stick to your set resolutions - way to go! "Shop Rayneau" we suggest should be on your list. This “Ahah!” Shopping Experience you are looking for can only be found at our mega Store in Corinth. Guaranteed!

Why!!!

1 - We will continue to have frequent and timely promotions of our products to ease the burden on your shopping purse.

2 – You need not bother about someone breaking into your vehicle while you shop with us. In our parking lot we have you covered.

3 – Our products are from top brands and we seek to update them on a regular basis to provide the quality you seek.

4 - Our prices are very competitive.

5 – Well, when it comes to customer service we are second to none. We treat our customers like family and provide them with all the best solutions.

Make shopping at Rayneau in 2018 part of your New Year’s  Resolution. It’s guaranteed to work for you.