Renting tools for home improvement projects

We all wish our workshop had one of every tool imaginable.  Or maybe that's just me?  The reality is that few of us have the budget to purchase such an armada of tools, and quite frankly, it would be silly to do so.  For the average DIYer, there's some tools you may only use once a year or once in a lifetime.  Rent these following tools and use the money you saved to buy those everyday tools.

All these tools you should be able to rent at your local hardware store or your nearby national home store.  I've given some estimates for their rental cost but these vary depending on your location and availability.  When renting the tools, here's a few things you should do:

  1. Ask them what safety equipment you should have to operate it
  2. Any special power needs to run the tool -- some might need a 220v outlet
  3. Have them plug it in and verify it's operating properly before you bring it home
  4. Most importantly, ask them how how to operate the tool if you have any questions -- they'll be happy to show you and glad you asked


Floor stapler and compressor
Photo by a440
If you get the floor nailer then you'll definitely need to get one of these.  And if you already have hardwood floors but they're looking a little worn, then this is your ticket.  One doesn't need to refinish hardwood floors that often so this is definitely not a tool you'll be using regularly.  Let's be honest, how often do you want to remove all your things from a room to do projects like this?  When you rent it, make sure you get an orbital floor sander.  These are newer than the traditional drum floor sanders and have the benefit of being more forgiving.  A drum sander can easily make deep grooves in your hardwood floors if you're not careful and leave it in one spot too long.

Floor sander
Photo by davidmould

If you get the floor nailer then you'll definitely need to get one of these. And if you already have hardwood floors but they're looking a little worn, then this is your ticket. One doesn't need to refinish hardwood floors that often so this is definitely not a tool you'll be using regularly. Let's be honest, how often do you want to remove all your things from a room to do projects like this? When you rent it, make sure you get an orbital floor sander. These are newer than the traditional drum floor sanders and have the benefit of being more forgiving. A drum sander can easily make deep grooves in your hardwood floors if you're not careful and leave it in one spot too long.


Tile saw
Photo by daviddmuir
Unless you plan on multiple large tiling jobs, renting a tile saw is the way to go.  Smaller and cheaper saws have a tendency to spray you with water so you're soaked by the time you're done making all your cuts.  The more expensive models, one one's you'd rent, can keep you dry and focused on your cuts and your tiling job -- not your favorite tee shirt getting ruined.





Carpet cleaner vacuum
Photo by imelda

Ah, the joys of spring cleaning.  Isn't it nice it only comes once a year?  There's no better way to get those carpets nice and clean by getting them cleaned.  Save a few bucks and rent the cleaner yourself -- it's easy to do and you can clean to your heart's content or run out of rugs.  It's not something you want to do often (your rugs won't like it) so renting is the obvious choice.




Cement mixer
Photo by
matt-heikkila
When you have a "small" project that needs some cement, you'd be surprised how many bags you might have to mix.  And if you've mixed cement by hand before you know it doesn't take many bags before it becomes a laborious, annoying task.  If you're building or buying a pre-made shed, the cement pad will use a lot of cement.  Even if you use some Sonotubes, you'll find by the time you're done you can save a lot of time and backache by having the cement mixer do the work for you.

Naturally, this list is only a suggestion. Your mileage will vary depending on what projects you're really trying to tackle!

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