Handymen Swear By These Weird Things That Make Your Home So Much Better

According to Tom Polkinghorne, director of Creations Building & Landscaping, “Every homeowner should own a non-contact voltage tester.” This simple device alerts you if there is power flowing to a wire before you make the mistake of cutting or touching it. The more voltage it senses, the louder the alarm. “Before any drilling, hanging shelves, or messing with any cables, a quick beep can prevent an expensive callout,” he says. Choose from three models.

“My favourite hidden gem gadget is my laser level,” says Tyson Parker, founder of Toronto-based home renovation company Craft Homes. It throws a straight green line onto the walls to make it easy to hang anything from art to wallpaper to fixtures. It can create a perfect, level line or an angled one, depending on how you set it up. “The new lasers are super accurate, can stick to drywall corner beads with their magnets, and broadcast a bright laser line. I use them for everything from hanging pictures, installing shelves, framing, or doing concrete work,” he says.

“One product that most people tend to forget about is the roof and gutter heat cable,” says Yan Margulis, design contractor and renovation expert with Capable Group Inc. Plug this de-icing cable in and attach it to your roof to prevent icing. “For homes that are prone to ice dams, I install these, and they not only prevent the winter roof leaks that can cause serious interior damage but also save the hassle of interior repairs.” Choose from eight lengths.

“Ever try to drive a screw inside a tight cabinet or behind a sink?” asks Francis Kaspar, handyman and technician with The Chill Brothers in Texas. If you have, you know the physical challenge this presents. A flexible drill bit extension is an easy solution. “This flexible extension bends and twists to help you reach awkward spots,” he says. This is a set of two, in two lengths. Choose from four options.

Ryan Clarke, owner of A1 Waterproofing, is a fan of installing a water leak detector. Place it under a sink or in the pan of your water heater — anywhere water might escape to cause a problem. It monitors the situation there, and it sets off an alarm if water appears where it shouldn’t. “An essential gadget that alerts you to water leaks in hidden areas, potentially saving thousands in damages,” he says.

“Outdoor tap covers are so simple but so underused,” says Tom Polkinghorne, director of Creations Building & Landscaping. This method of preventing outdoor faucets from freezing is affordable, too. This faucet cover two-pack is less than $10 and can prevent expensive repairs by stopping water from freezing in those faucets. “Covering external pipes and taps is a cheap and easy way to prevent damage in winter,” he says.

Shawn Miller, professional handyman and automotive mechanic with Modified Rides, always keeps this WD-40 specialist silicone lubricant on hand. It is a powerful lubricant that helps machines, gears, and other metal parts keep moving. “Perfect for keeping door seals from freezing in the winter or stopping squeaky hinges — and it doesn’t leave a greasy residue,” he says.

“Every house should be equipped with smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that can send alerts to your phone, even if you are not at home,” says Yan Margulis, design contractor and renovation expert with Capable Group Inc. This smart smoke detector system allows you to connect up to 50 smoke detectors and sends alerts to your phone — and the fire department, if you like — alerting you and anyone you include in your group if and where it senses smoke. Choose from three kits.

According to Shawn Miller, professional handyman and automotive mechanic with Modified Rides, Magic eraser sheets are a must have. “Not a typical ‘handyman’ product,” he says, “but these thin versions of the Magic Eraser are incredible for cleaning up scuff marks, paint drips, or even polishing metal trim.” This is a pack of eight.

“Weather stripping is the simplest of the DIY home improvements and instantly reduces drafts by as much as 30% around the doors and attic access point,” says Yan Margulis, design contractor and renovation expert with Capable Group Inc. Tuck this weathersealing foam tape around the in-window AC unit or other openings where drafts can get in and save yourself a tidy fortune on your power bill. It comes in two colors.

“I am a huge fan of flexible grabber tools, those claw-esque sticks that let you slide them into drains or tight areas. They've saved more screws, earrings, or my sanity than I can count!” says Andrew Phelps, owner of San Diego Service Group. This flexible pickup tool has a light on the end and a long gooseneck handle so you can snake into that dark crevice and see what you are doing when you're retrieving your lost item or sanity.

“I have a hidden gem that I always recommend,” says Yan Margulis with Capable Group Inc. “It is a trim puller, particularly a Zenith Industries model. It is not like a regular pry bar, its wide-angle face slides behind the baseboards and moldings smoothly and without damaging them.” The heavy-duty steel won’t fail you, and it comes in two sizes.

“We're flooring installation contractors,” says Krista Peterson of Footprints Floors. “And this little gadget protects your investment,” she says. Set this indoor outdoor thermometer anywhere to keep tabs on the climate in your home. “It measures relative humidity,” she says. “Keep your hardwood flooring between 35-55% humidity for best performance and to prevent excessive expansion or contraction (depending on the weather), which can lead to damage like gaps, cracks, warping, cupping, or buckling.” It’s nice to have on your desk, too, so you can glance to see the temperature indoors and out.

“I would also suggest purchasing a fire escape ladder for upper floors and installing motion-activated outdoor lighting for extra security,” says Yan Margulis, design contractor and renovation expert with Capable Group Inc. Hopefully, this ladder will sit unused. But if you ever need it, hook it to a window frame and climb to safety. Choose from two lengths.

Take the sage advice of Yan Margulis, with Capable Group Inc., and install this weatherproof, motion-activated dual-head floodlight on the exterior of your home. It will light your way when you go to the garage or take out the trash and discourage prowlers by bathing them in bright light whenever it senses motion. It comes in white or black.

You might look at a room and imagine a huge redecorating project. But Tom Polkinghorne, director of Creations Building & Landscaping, says it can be simple. Start by “swapping standard light switches for dimmers or smart switches, and replacing yellow bulbs with quality LEDs,” he says. It is a minimal project with a big impact. “You'll get better ambiance, lower bills, and a clean, modern look without redecorating,” he says. This little device lets you connect a manual light switch to your smart home system without remodeling. It flips the switch so you can do it from anywhere.

“We use a StudSensor from Zircon to find studs and avoid wires when we build shelves or mount a TV,” says Lee Johnson of Cheshire Home Upgrades. Just hold it to the wall, and it locates the edge of wood studs, electrical wires, and anything else in the wall, so you don’t destroy pipes or wires when hanging shelves. “It's cheap and anyone could use it for DIY,” he says.

“I love this little gadget for adding 'smart' control to older homes,” says Walter E Bennett, HVAC contractor with Green Leaf Air. Just plug the smart plug into an outlet, plug the appliance into it, and connect the plug to your phone through the app. Then you can use the app to manage that device. “You can schedule lights, fans, or coffee makers straight from your phone. It’s simple, affordable, and surprisingly addictive once you start using it.” This is a pack of two.

“One tool in my toolbox that never fails to amaze people is a moisture meter,” says Andrew Phelps, owner of San Diego Service Group. “Not only does it cost very little to own one, but it has saved me thousands of dollars because it helped detect water leaks behind walls before those water leaks cause massive damage to our property.” Just hold it up to the wall and it looks inside to find moisture you can’t see. Choose from two models.

“Rubber strap wrenches look like jar openers,” says Damien Goode, owner of the Melbourne-based Locksman Locksmith. “But they’re my secret weapons for clean, no-damage fixes. I use one daily as a locksmith to remove door handle roses without marking the finish, to back off escutcheons that won’t take a standard wrench, and to grip delicate fittings where teeth would chew the metal.” They come in three colors. This is a set of two, in different lengths.

Walter E. Bennett, HVAC contractor with Green Leaf Air, is a fan of this infrared thermometer gun. Point it at anything and it gives you an instant read of the temperature of that thing, without touching it. “This is a game-changer for spotting drafty windows, checking HVAC vents, or finding hot spots in wiring,” he says. “It makes you feel like a pro even if you’re just figuring out what’s wrong.” It comes in six colors and four models.

What essential do you need in your home toolkit that you are likely to forget? “Honestly, a fire extinguisher and first aid kit,” says Tyson Parker, founder of Toronto-based home renovation company Craft Homes. “Safety equipment is easy to overlook, but when you need it, you’ll be happy that it’s there!” Keep this handy, easy to grab, and and easy to deploy model in the kitchen and, since it’s a two-pack, near the grill.

This first aid kit packs everything you are likely to need — including many items you would never think of — into one compact, easy-to-find package. It makes it easy to follow the advice of Tyson Parker, founder of Craft Homes, who suggests you make safety equipment part of your home-repair kit. There are eight sizes to choose from, so you can stock your shop, car, and kitchen with the right preparedness tools.

If you are stocking a repair kit, Shawn Miller, professional handyman and automotive mechanic with Modified Rides, suggests that you add epoxy putty to it. He recommends a “quick-setting epoxy that can repair anything from a cracked pipe to a broken tile in minutes.” He says, “It’s like duct tape on steroids.” Just break a piece from the roll, knead it around in your hands, and apply it to the thing that needs fixing.

Ryan Clarke, owner of A1 Waterproofing, says these drain snakes are a necessary tool that will save you many plumber calls. “Unclogs pipes and drains with ease,” he says. Just feed one into a clogged or slow drain and pull it out again. The reverse barbs will pull out hair and other material as they come out of the drain. “An invaluable tool for dealing with unexpected blockages,” he says. This is a three-pack.

“The most useful product that we use in the winter in Toronto is a heat trace wire,” says Tyson Parker, founder of Toronto-based home renovation company Craft Homes. “It’s a small cable with a plug on one end. Once plugged in, it keeps the wire at about +5 degrees Celsius. This is critical when performing full-house renovations or outdoor work where pressurized water lines are subject to below-freezing temperatures. It only takes one frantic call from a homeowner telling you that their basement is flooding in the middle of February to never forget to use a heat trace wire.” This heating cable is 18 feet long, which should be plenty to keep your pipes from bursting in the cold.

“Correct lighting can turn even old-fashioned places into modern, clean, and spacious-looking ones,” according to Yan Margulis, design contractor and renovation expert with Capable Group Inc. This LED flush mount ceiling fixture hugs the ceiling and has a clean, modern look. You can choose the color of light that suits the room you are putting it in. “Besides, LED fixtures that consume less energy help in lowering utility bills and have a longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs,” he says. Choose from four light colors.

Tom Polkinghorne, director of Creations Building & Landscaping, uses these splicing wire connectors when he needs to splice two wires together. “I get Wago lever connectors from Amazon to make small electrical connections neat and secure,” he says. He calls them “much better than old screw blocks.” They are easy to use and more reliable. This is a box of 28 of them.

“I love my Dewalt portable jobsite light,” says Tyson Parker, founder of Toronto-based home renovation company Craft Homes. “In the winter, it often doesn’t get light outside until 8:30, and by 4:30, the sun's setting. Having a jobsite light keeps us productive, safe, and lets us work normal hours year-round.” This LED work light is portable, rechargeable, and bright enough to illuminate your entire job. It pivots to direct the light right where you want it.

Daniel Vasilevski, director and owner of Pro Electrical, is a fan of this electronic contact cleaner spray. “This costs less than $20 and works very well for cleaning dirty circuit boards, light switches, and even car wiring connections,” he says. “This is something I would recommend every homeowner to have, especially prior to winter, because moisture can cause electrical corrosion and flickering lights.” Just spray it and it blasts dust and dirt away without harming delicate electronics.

“A contour gauge is something I always keep on hand,” says Mr. Vander Hyde, Vice President of Vander Hyde Services, a second-generation home services and renovation business. “But most homeowners wouldn’t think to own one.” This handy tool traces odd shapes. Just press it against a corner or baseboard, and it makes a perfect copy of it that you can use to cut flooring or tile for a perfect fit.

“When you need to replicate irregular shapes for flooring, trim, or tiles, this product is a lifesaver. It helps you accurately cut around moldings, vents, or pipes — something that would otherwise take multiple precise measurements,” he says. This one comes in eight sizes and types.

“When it comes to preventing freeze damage in the winter months, I recommend the Freeze Miser,” says Max Hicks, founder and owner of Reliant Plumbing. Screw it into outdoor faucets and it automatically prevents freezing when temperatures drop. “[This] prevents damage to pipes during the cold winter months in Texas,” he says. “We always stress with customers the importance of insulate, insulate, insulate. It’s the way to keep the warm in and the cold out.”

For Mr. Vander Hyde, of Vander Hyde Services, a second-generation home services and renovation business, zip cable ties are a versatile tool that can be used as a solution when nothing else is on hand. “I’ve used zip ties to secure loose pipes or cables before implementing a permanent fix as a temporary solution,” he says. “It’s something most homeowners wouldn’t think of, but it keeps things safe and stable in the meantime.” These 15-inch zip ties come in three colors.

For Francis Kaspar, handyman and technician with The Chill Brothers in Texas, this magnetic pickup tool is a lifesaver. “You drop one tiny bolt behind the dryer and suddenly you're a contortionist,” he says. “This thing saves your back and your sanity.” The gooseneck head bends around corners and extends to 22 inches to reach deep into cravices and holes. The light shows you where your dropped item is, and the magnet picks it up. The base is magnetic, too, so it can double as a hands-free task light.

“Pipe insulation foam is a must-have for me,” says Mr. Vander Hyde, of Vander Hyde Services. “It protects exposed pipes from freezing and bursting, which is one of the most common issues I see during the winter,” he says. It’s cheap, too. This six-pack of six-foot foam pipe covers is just $10.

“After we had a blizzard to start this year,” says Ralph Severson, owner of FM Pro Remodelers, “I invested in a roof rake to prevent any snow/ice buildup on the roof, and to prevent my landscaping from being demolished by it during the thaw. Even if you're in an area that doesn't get much snow like me, it's better to have it and not need it.” The gentle scraper and foam broom reach up to 12 feet, so you can work from the ground without fretting that you will damage the roof. It comes in four sizes and styles.

“These odd-looking plastic pyramids?” says Francis Kaspar, handyman and technician with The Chill Brothers in Texas. “Total game-changer.” Use these pyramid stands hold objects off the ground so you can work on them without touching the wet paint. “You can paint cabinet doors or shelves without sticking or flipping,” he says. This is a pack of 36. Choose from four options.

“This one gets laughs until people try it,” says Robert Lee of Lee Air Services. “A magnetic wristband that holds screws, nails, and drill bits while you work. I used to constantly lose hardware or have to climb down ladders just to grab another screw. Now? Everything’s right there on my wrist. It’s especially handy for working in tight spaces or on ladders. Plus, it makes you look like a tech-savvy superhero on the job.” There are two styles to choose from.

“Command strips are brilliant for people who rent or just don't want to damage their wall when they hang a painting, photo frame, or mirror,” says Lee Johnson of Cheshire Home Upgrades. These picture hanging strips use a powerful adhesive and hook-and-loop fabric to mount items to the wall. You can easily remove the adhesive portion when it’s time to move out or even just move the picture.

“You’d think applying caulk is simple,” says Robert Lee of Lee Air Services. “Until you try it and end up with a lumpy mess. That’s why I swear by the YOBZUO 3-in-1 Caulking Tool Kit.” This combination steel scraper and silicone trowel removes bumps and leaves a perfect result. “It smooths, cleans, and removes old caulk like a dream. It’s a $10 gadget that makes your work look like a pro did it. Perfect for sealing tubs, windows, or countertops.”

Walter E. Bennett, HVAC contractor with Green Leaf Air, is a fan of this clever small hole repair kit. “If you’re a renter, this is a lifesaver,” he says. “It hides nail holes and wall dings in minutes — no need to call the landlord or lose that security deposit.” Cover the hole with the included self-adhesive patch, spackle over it with the putty, and smooth it out with the sanding sponge. It’s like the hole was never there.

“LED lighted gloves are an unusual tool to have,” admits Ralph Severson, owner of FM Pro Remodelers, “but they are perfect for this time of year. From November through January, having lights pointed at everything in my hands makes my job much easier when the workdays start and end in the dark.” Just pull them on and touch the on and off button on the back of your hand to shine a light on whatever you need to see.

“You wouldn’t believe how many homeowners skip owning a good stud finder until it’s too late — usually when they’ve driven a screw into a water pipe,” says Robert Lee of Lee Air Services. This is a tool you should have on hand before you drill holes for anything. “My go-to is the Franklin Sensors ProSensor 710 because it’s incredibly accurate and doesn’t require a ton of guesswork,” he says.

Yan Margulis, design contractor and renovation expert with Capable Group Inc., recommends installing motion-activated under cabinet lighting like these rechargeable LED lights. They are easy to install. Peel and stick a metal base to the underside of a shelf and snap it onto it. Ot stick them to any metal surface. “Functionality with a small footprint,” he says. “You can buy these types of lights from Amazon for a reasonable price. They are easy to install and run on batteries, so you don't have to hire an electrician.” Just pull them off and plug them into a USB-C plug to recharge them.

“I genuinely recommend fitting soft-close drawer slides or hinges in kitchens and utility rooms,” says Tom Polkinghorne, director of Creations Building & Landscaping. “It's a 10-minute job to swap them out, doesn't cost a lot, and instantly makes a kitchen feel bespoke.” Choose the length of your drawer and the quantity you need, and transform those clattery drawers to silent, high-end ones.

“If you're a little bit handy, invest in a professional-grade drill and impact driver and whatever bits and sockets you think you'll need,” says Ralph Severson, owner of FM Pro Remodelers. This Craftsman impact driver kit is a good place to start. It’s rechargeable, powerful, and easy to use. “You'll get a lot of use out of them, and you'll never have to buy another set.”

“Most folks assume I’m joking when I pull out a rubber mallet, but hear me out,” says Robert Lee of Lee Air Services. “It’s one of the handiest tools I own. Unlike a regular hammer, it won’t dent or damage surfaces. I use it for tapping floorboards into place, nudging trim or molding, and even settling furniture that wobbles.” This one comes in two sizes.

“Outdated or mismatched hardware is what instantly cheapens the look of a house,” says Yan Margulis, design contractor and renovation expert with Capable Group Inc., “especially when it comes to brass doorknobs or shiny plastic light switch covers.” Replace those with these elegant, modern, square cabinet handles in matte black, and your kitchen will be transformed. They come in lots of sizes to match the holes already cut in your drawers and cabinets.

If your houe sports cheap plastic light switch covers, those are dragging down the look of your home. “Replacing them with matte black, brushed nickel, or even modern white finishes gives an instant visual upgrade,” says Yan Margulis, with Capable Group Inc. These decorative light switch covers with architectural touches are the perfect choice. They are eco-conscious, too, since they are made from bamboo fiber. Choose from 12 types of cover and replace everything from light switch covers to outlet covers.

Tom Polkinghorne, director of Creations Building & Landscaping, recommends that you replace harsh or yellow light bulbs with LED light bulbs that throw the appropriate light for the room or task it illuminates. You can change the feel of a space without paint or new furnishings. Just choose the right color light to achieve warm and cozy, modern and functional, or bright enough to see your work. This is a pack of six, and there are four light colors to choose from.