A related wrench that you should have around to handle any plumbing problems is the trusty old pipe wrench. This works like a heavy-duty version of the adjustable wrench. Its jaws clamp down on a piece of pipe as you turn it. "An 18-inch pipe wrench is a good size to have," says [Rod Albright]. "A 24-inch is a little big and the 12- to 14-inch wrenches are too small for most jobs."

Slip-joint pliers grip small objects and have an adjustment to help them hold onto things of various sizes. It's possibly the most misused tool in the home. "A lot of people use a pair of pliers in place of a wrench," says Jeff Klamath, a contractor from Anaheim. "They're great for removing small nails when you don't want to damage the wall, or bending metal. You should also have a pair of needle-nose pliers to handle small repairs; look for those that have a wire-cutter at the base of the jaws."

Probably the most common tool you'll use in the home is a screwdriver, although in many cases you're probably using the wrong one for the job. "A lot of do-it-yourselfers use the wrong screwdriver and tear up the top of the screw," says Mike Delaney of Fullerton Hardware. "Ideally, you want to have two slotted screwdrivers, with blades that are 3/16- and 1/4-inches long. You'll also want two Phillips-head screwdrivers, sizes 1 and 2."