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When it comes to general contractor work, there are hundreds of tools that you may need to be successful in what you do. Some jobs you will handle require that you bring the whole toolbox and others will need only a few. Depending on your specialization, there are basic tools you need and there are assistive tools that come in to help you get the job done. Some of the must-have for success in construction work includes:
1. Basic Contractor Tools
A standard toolbox contains all the basic tools you need to carry out your job every day. If you ever forget one tool from the basic toolbox, your day will go to waste. Different contractors need different tools in their basic toolbox. For instance, a plumber needs a pipe wrench, level, hacksaw, channel locks, nut driver set, pipe cutters, and thread sealants. A woodworker needs clamps, power tools (drill, nail, gun, circular saw, reciprocating saw), ladder, levels, sawhorse, screwdrivers, framing square, and hammer and claw.
You need all the standard tools to handle your daily job.
2. Contractor Apps
Any contractor who needs to stay organized, share ideas with other contractors, and manage their finances needs contractor apps. There are apps for all construction work – whether you are a handyman, a plumber working with scaffold planks, or a general contractor, there is an app to help you. With an app, you will do your job more efficiently and fast, and this saves you money and time.
Some of the common apps you might need to include All-In-One Calculator Free and Building Calculator to help you with construction calculations. PlanGrid is another that makes it easy for you to access and share digital blueprints. With the app, you can track and document the progress of a project through photos.
There are many more apps including Fieldwire, DEWALT Mobile Pro, Autodesk BMI 360, GasBuddy, Canvas, and Procore among others. Choose one that serves your needs.
3. Skills
If you have all the above supplies and no skills, you will still deliver poor products. A contractor’s first arsenal is there skills. There are so many skills you need, depending on what you do.
For starters, you need strength and endurance to handle heavy tools and materials every day. You need great hand-eye coordination for jobs that require precision. Technical knowledge is a must-have if you need stellar results. Most contractors fail due to a lack of sufficient training and experience.
Every contractor needs impeccable reading and math skills, memory, and communication. These skills enable you to read a map, do the needed calculations, and share with other contractors.
As technology is quickly turning into a significant part of the construction process, every contractor needs to know how to use technologies such as drones, apps, BIM (building information modeling), virtual reality, augmented reality, and construction management software.
4. Safety Gear
Whether you are using manual or power tools, there is a risk of injury from the tools you use. Some contractors belittle the importance of safety gear or leave them in a bid to stay light and work more. Again, even when the weather is unforgiving, you have to step out and get the job done.
For starters, you need protective gloves to protect your hands. Construction work gloves are rugged to handle stones and wood without damage. You also need hearing protection, especially if you work with power tools such as welding. When cutting, chipping, grinding, or welding, you need full-face shields or masks to protect your face. Chemical splash goggles are also ideal when used together with face shields to protect you from chemicals.
Other gear you need include respiratory protection, fall protection gear if you work above 6 feet, and any other gear specific to the kind of construction work you do. For instance, welders need welding leathers and welding masks while electricians need FR clothing. You might also want to buy clothes for different weather such as boots and raincoats so that rain doesn’t stop you from doing your work.
Conclusion
There are no set education requirements for entry-level contractors. As long as you have the skills, you can work as a contractor. Experience in construction work, use of tools and technologies, and knowing how to solve different construction problems will help you become the best contractor in your field.
