Power Tools for Home Renovation: A Handy Checklist

Are you planning a home renovation? Whether you’re updating a single room, overhauling the whole house, or doing ad hoc work here and there, having the right power tools can do wonders for your productivity and project success. 

At ToolStore UK, we have a broad range of power tools suitable for home renovation. With products from top brands such as Makita and DeWalt on offer, you can be prepared for any task. 

Our handy checklist is here to ensure you have everything you need before tackling a task — whether it’s installing new doors, fitting a kitchen, or knocking down a wall.

Why is it important to have the right power tools for your home renovation?

A DIY home renovation can feel like a major project. By investing in the best power tools for the task at hand, you can set yourself up for a smoother project. 

  • The right tools can make the job easier, reducing stress and making the process more enjoyable.
     
  • Getting the right tools also ensures a safer working environment, especially when you opt for high quality tools from trusted brands.
     
  • With the proper tools, you can also achieve a more polished and professional final result. This may even save you money in the long run, as you won’t need to hire another person to rectify any mistakes!

A comprehensive power tool checklist for your home renovation

Realistically, the exact toolkit you need will depend on your home renovation tasks and goals. 

While there are, of course, many more home renovation projects you might want to try, here are some common projects requiring power tools:

  • Remodelling your kitchen
  • Upgrading your bathroom
  • Laying or replacing floors
  • Knocking down or building partition walls
  • Plastering walls
  • Fitting new doors and windows
  • Finishing or refinishing woodwork

Our checklist includes some of the best and most efficient tools to help you carry out these tasks and more. So, what might you need?

The best measuring tools

Accuracy is essential when carrying out a home renovation. A few millimetres can be the difference between a perfectly installed door frame and a complete do-over. That’s why we recommend you getting the following tools: 

  1. Laser level

Similar to a spirit level (but a little more high-tech), a laser level emits a straight beam to help you hang shelves, fix skirting boards, level floors, and more.

  1. Stud finder

Stud finders help you work safely as you find the right points to drill or hammer. Some models can detect metal, live wires, and wooden studs behind a wall so you won’t hit a potentially dangerous obstruction. Take a look at our measuring tools to find the product suited to your project.

The best tools for demolition

If you’re knocking a wall down, removing fitted cabinets, or carrying out any other demolition job, you need powerful tools with reliable safety features. 

  1. Reciprocating saw 

A reciprocating saw can help you cut through wood, plaster, drywall, and even metal sheeting. We recommend a cordless model, like the Makita DJR187RTE 18v Brushless Recip Saw, which is compact and lightweight and has an easy to use variable speed so you can adjust the cutting to different requirements.

  1. SDS plus hammer drill

When you need to break through masonry, concrete, tile, or brickwork, an SDS plus hammer will make the job easier. Rotary drilling meets a hammer action for incredible power. 

Models like the Makita DHR202Z, Makita SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Drill and DeWalt DCH133N 18v Brushless SDS Plus Hammer Drill are great for tasks like removing tiles and chipping away old plaster.

Larder grinder discs can make deeper cuts, so bear this in mind when choosing a blade. Both the Makita DGA513Z and the DeWalt DCG407N angle grinders have 125mm discs, making them good all-rounders for home renovations.

You’ll find these demolition essentials (and more) in our DeWalt and Makita power tool collections. Don’t forget to get the right safety gear, including eye and face protection. 

Essential power tools for cutting and shaping

From trimming frames down to size to building cabinets from scratch, there are some key power tools to help with cutting and shaping tasks around the home.

  1. Circular saw

When you need a reliable blade for straight cuts, a circular saw can help you handle plywood, MDF, and timber. Our top choice is the Makita DSS611Z 18v LXT Circular Saw, which delivers up to 3700 RPM for smooth results. It’s lightweight and has a blade diameter of 165mm.

  1. Mitre saw

Whether you’re fitting skirting boards and trim or working on other joinery tasks, a mitre saw is handy to have around. You can set both mitre and bevel cut angles for perfect precision. There are several excellent options from Makita and DeWalt, including:

These are body only tools, which means you can use your existing battery for the same brand — an excellent way to build a cost effective power tool collection.

  1. Angle grinder

Will you need to cut through metal pipes or tough tiles? Add an angle grinder to your renovation power tool kit. We suggest opting for a cordless model so you can move freely without being restricted by a power cord. 

The best fastening and drilling power tools 

Many home renovation tasks require drilling through materials and fastening pieces together. The right power tools can make your job far quicker and easier, ensuring precision every time.

  1. Cordless combi drill

Combi drills are must have all-rounders. They combine drilling, hammering, and screwdriving actions, all in one useful tool. So, whether you’re assembling furniture, drilling into wood (or sometimes even light masonry), or installing wall fixtures, a combi drill can get the job done.

Add the Makita DHP486Z 18v LXT Brushless Combi Drill to your kit for a well balanced and versatile tool. Its ergonomic design makes it comfortable to hold even with extended use, and it can deliver a maximum torque of 50 Nm.

  1. Impact driver

For fastening tasks that require rapid bursts of power, you can’t go wrong with an impact driver like the DeWalt DCF887P2 18v Brushless Impact Driver. From decking and fencing to stud walls, this high-torque tool can make short work of fastening screws. Plus, it’s lightweight and compact, so you can use it in even the tightest of spaces. Take a look at our full collection of DeWalt impact drivers to find the most suitable tool for your project. 

  1. Nail gun

Nail guns are fast and effective when it comes to driving nails into wood or other materials — no hammer needed. You’ll get clean fastenings and can speed up tasks like installing timber panelling or flooring underlays. 


Which nail gun should you go for? We recommend the DeWalt DCN930N 18v Brushless 1st Fix Framing Nailer for heavy duty tasks and the DeWalt DCN660N 18v Brushless 2nd Fix Nailer for finishing work — it’s ideal for skirting boards and dado rails.

Must have finishing tools

Once the big structural tasks are done, it’s important to have power tools on hand to help refine and perfect your renovation work. Here are a few essentials to add the finishing touch (although these can also help in other areas too!)

  1. Random orbit sander

You’ll find plenty of corded and cordless sanders here at ToolStore UK. But if we could recommend one type for renovation and DIY, it would be a random orbit sander. This tool uses circular rotations combined with a figure-eight motion to smooth and level surfaces without leaving marks. It’s ideal for removing paint and buffing away imperfections on organic materials like wood.

The DeWalt DCW210N 18v Brushless Random Orbit Sander is a top choice, offering a variable speed of 8,000-12,000 orbits per minute.

  1. Heat gun

A heat gun blows hot air at adjustable temperatures. From stripping paint and loosening wallpaper adhesive to heat shrinking tubing for electrical work and curing filler, it can be a useful tool to have available when renovating. 

When you need to remove layers cleanly, we recommend the DeWalt D26411 240v 1800w Heat Gun. This model features two heat settings (50? to 400? and 50? to 600?) and includes two cone attachments to help you accurately direct the airflow.

Tick off your power tool checklist with ToolStore UK

No matter the home renovation task at hand, we have an extensive range of DeWalt power tools and Makita power tools to prepare you for getting the best results. 

Don’t forget to stock up on essential equipment and accessories, too. From ladders and platforms to help you work at height safely to drill bits and sanding discs, we have everything you need. 

Shop now, and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

4th July 2025

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