The season is starting to shift. The cherry blossoms are blooming, Farmer’s Markers are opening again and it’s getting slightly warmer. That can only mean one thing: Spring is on the way!

Or maybe two things. This shift also usually means homeowners are done hibernating through the windy, cold and rainy months, and they are again ready to tackle their list of home improvements.

But those projects often require tools you might not have, and you most likely won’t want to invest in
So, what’s an enthusiastic DIY-er to do?

If you’re lucky, you may have a tool lending library near your home which you can sign up for and “rent” from their warehouse of tools on hand.  Community based tool libraries are a great asset to neighborhoods and the people that live in them.  The North Portland tool library is the nearest to my home, and all I have to do is fill out a sign-up form and bring a utility bill proving I live within the neighborhood. Then I can start borrowing from a list of over 500 tools for projects large and small.  Look at this Wikipedia entry on neighborhood tool libraries to see if there is one near your home.

No neighborhood tool library? The Home Depot has tool rental services. A quick google search will also lead you to other independent tool rental companies. The one downfall is you’ll have to pay to use these tools. But if you’re looking for a one time use of something like a nail gun or a dovetail jig, then it’s still a good option.

Another smart choice is always to hire a local contractor to do the job. They’ve likely already invested in the tools for the project, and they’ll have the expereince to get the job done quickly and correctly.

What projects are you looking forward to this spring and summer to spruce up your home?.

Tags: home improvement projects, tool libraries, tool rental

This entry was posted on Monday, April 13th, 2009 at 3:39 pm and is filed under General Remodeling, Home Maintenance, Working With Contractors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.