36 Must Have Construction Tools? Best for Civil Engineer

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Civil engineering construction tools are one of the most important accessories used to make the work easier. Construction workers and engineers used many types of construction tools for easy construction. Depending on the construction types, tools are varied. How many tools do a construction worker use? Is there any limited number? No, they use a wide variety of construction tools on the site.

Mentioning all the tools is not possible in one place. We have sorted some most used construction tools to help our understanding better. If you are trying to know the names and a short specification of construction tools, then continue reading.

What are the Civil Engineering Must Have Construction Tools?

Construction tools are some instruments or devices that they use during the design project of building, repairing any structure, construction of any new structure, etc. While Civil engineers work on the site they need to use these construction tools like hammers, drills, face shields, hard hats, safety equipment, head protection, hearing protection, etc.

On the other hand, when Civil engineers work in the office, they also use other tools which include technology and software. They use these types of software to produce detailed infrastructure designs and ideas. In some cases, Civil engineers get training to specialize in those software and apps to make safe use of them in the projects to avoid any unwanted accidents.

List of Must Have Construction Tools:

These are the most common construction tools any site needs. You can check all tools along with the definition.

  1. Hammer
  2. Safety Equipment
  3. Saw
  4. Circular Saw
  5. Wrench
  6. Screwdrivers
  7. Measuring Squares
  8. Levels
  9. Plumb Bob
  10. Shovel
  11. Measuring Tapes
  12. Chisel
  13. Float
  14. Pliers
  15. Drills
  16. Concrete Mixer
  17. Chainsaw
  18. Wheelbarrows
  19. Hoe
  20. Gloves
  21. Ladders
  22. Rubber Boots
  23. Safety glasses
  24. Safety helmet
  25. Trowel
  26. Vibrator
  27. Sledge Hammer
  28. Tile Cutter
  29. Putty Knife
  30. Pick Axe
  31. Earth Rammer
  32. Sand Screen Machine
  33. Straight Edge Brushes
  34. Polisher
  35. Measuring Wheel
  36. Head Pan

Following are the Must Have Construction Tools?

1. Hammer

hammer Civil Engineering Construction tools

A hammer is a common tool every worker or Civil engineer needs.  They use a wide variety of hammers to perform various tasks like driving nails into wood, making any specific shape of metal, and sometimes in demolition work. However, demolition work hammer size is bigger than normal hammer size.

A wide range of hammers is available as per the Engineer’s or worker’s needs like Claw hammers, ball pen hammers, club hammers, cross peen pin hammers, etc.

2. Safety Equipment

Safety Equipment

Any employees on-site use various personal protection equipment (PPE) to keep them safe. If a Civil Engineer is also on a construction site visit, they also use the required PPE. PPE is very important to protect employees on site from different accidental hazards.

There are lots of safety equipment that employer uses like protection gloves, face shield, safety glasses, hard hat, safety hats, etc.

3. Saw

Saw Must have construction tools

In construction sites, cutting different materials like wood, marble, or metal is necessary. Civil engineers use different types of saws on the construction site. Though saws have various types, they are typically made with a blade, chain, or wire along with a hand-toothed edge. It’s one of the must have construction tools on construction sites.

The hand-tooth edge is used to cut various types of materials. Civil Engineer uses a different type of saws depending on the job like hack saw, bow cut saw, coping saw, crosscut saw, back saw, circular saw, jigsaw, etc.

4. Circular Saw

Circular Saw Must have construction tools

It’s a type of saw used to cut wood and wood board along with frames. When you need the most accurate cutting, then this construction tool is used. It’s a portable sawmill that can cut wood with accurate dimensions and quickly. Compared to a hand saw, a circular saw is more efficient and accurate. It makes the construction process much quicker than a manual saw.

5. Wrench

Wrench construction tool

A wrench is a tool that can tighten the nuts and bolts. A wrench is usually used in steel building construction. When there are nuts and bolts used, this construction tool is used to tighten them. It has various sizes depending on the nut and bolt size. One of the best tools to work with nuts and bolts on steel construction sites.

6. Screwdrivers

Screwdrivers Construction Tools

To tighten a screw, screwdrivers are used. Any construction site uses two types of screwdrivers. One is a manual that is made of a handle and metal. Another one is automatic. The drill machine works as an automatic screwdriver. It uses an extra head with a drill machine and it tightens or loosens while rotating in different directions.

7. Measuring Squares

Measuring Squares Construction Tools

Whenever you need to measure the right angle then measuring squares are used. It’s a handy tool to measure a right angle on a construction site. While giving site layout, this tool is important. Except for the, plastering at the corner this tool can measure a perfect right angle. If there is any miscalculation in measuring the right angle, the drawing implementation might be difficult.

8. Levels

Levels Engineering Tools

The level is a handy construction tool to check the horizontal level of tiles, brickwork, plaster, and other works. The level is important for any construction work. In tile fitting and brickwork, levels are widely used. To check the level of any surface you can use this construction tool.

9. Plumb Bob

Plumb Bob Engineering Toolsa

Plumb bob is a combination of thread and metal top. An engineer or worker uses this tool to measure a vertical wall. To check whether any wall or surface is perfectly vertical or not, this tool is used. There is an additional horizontal element to match the level of the top at the end of the thread. To measure anything perfectly vertical, this tool is used.

10. Shovel

Shovel Digging Construction Tool

One of the must have construction tools is used to dig soil and transport them from one place to another. Loading and unloading of sand, aggregate, and soil are done with these tools. When digging soil for drain pipe laying or electrical lines, a shovel is used. It’s a long-handle construction tool for digging and transporting material.

11. Measuring Tapes

Measuring Tapes Measuring Construction Tool

It’s a portable and important construction tool for Engineers and laborers, which you can carry in your pocket. Construction work is almost impossible except for this tool. It is used to check the measurement as per the drawing. So, to build accurate measurements as per the drawing, this construction tool is important.

12. Chisel

Chisel Wood Cutting Tools

This tool is used in woodwork including making a hole in wood or removing unnecessary parts of the wood member. There are major two types of chisels; one is made of metal and a wood or plastic handle. This type of chisel is used in woodwork. There is another type of chisel made of metal that can remove concrete bumps or excessive concrete from any hardened surface.

13. Float

Float Plastering Construction Tool

A widely used wooden tool used to make the plastered concrete surface smoother. Float contains a handle and a smooth wood surface attached. This lightweight construction tool helps mason to make a smooth plaster surface easily.

14. Pliers

Pliers Nut Bolt Tightening Tool

A metal with rubber handle cover construction tools is used to twist nuts and bolts. Additional rubber cover offers perfect grip. Except for twisting nut and bolts, pliers is also used to strip wires, cut cable, or bend light metal. You can also cut GI wire using pliers.

15. Drills

Drills Hole Making Tools

Drills machine is a must have construction tools used in various jobs like screwing or unscrewing from various surfaces. Its main purpose is to drill on concrete or metal surfaces. A rotating device is available in both cordless and cord. The cordless option is available with a replaceable battery and it works with a wide range of screw sizes.

16. Concrete Mixer

Concrete Mixer Construction tool

A concrete mixer is one of the heavy construction tools. It is used to mix different ingredients of concrete like cement, finer aggregated, and coarser aggregate. This construction tool can produce a huge concrete mix with a perfect mixing ratio and water. Concrete made with a mixer is great in quality and can maintain perfect strength.

17. Chainsaw

Chainsaw Wood Cutting Construction Tools

A chainsaw is a heavy cutting tool of wood and metal. It can cut a wide range of materials on construction sites. This tool is made of a chain attached to the rotating blade. It’s a heavy mechanical saw that is way better than the conventional manual saw.

18. Wheelbarrows

Wheelbarrows for construction site

A wheelbarrow is a vehicle made of a handle, one-wheel, and metal pan used to carry material from one place to another inside the construction site. This tool is the best to move material inside the construction area. In the case of larger construction area, wheelbarrow helps workers the most. Its easy construction with a large handle ensures less painful emptying the material from the pan. Any heavy material can be moved from one place to another without much pressure on the hand.

19. Hoe

Hoe Digging Construction Tool

A long-handle construction tool that is used for excavating soil. Its metal plate with high sharpness and long handle helps cut the soil and remove or make a ditch. During foundation construction, Hoe is a handy tool to remove soil from the site.

20. Gloves

Gloves Hand Tools

Gloves are useful in construction sites to protect hands from various hazards. It’s a cloth-made tool that prevents direct contact with harmful materials like cement and paint. It also protects the hand from different heavy materials and tools. Wearing a pair of gloves might prevent different types of injuries to the hand.

21. Ladders

Ladders must have construction tools

In construction sites, climbing from one level to another is a common case. A ladder is a construction tool used to reach a higher place smoothly.  Reaching from one story to another, workers use this tool in construction sites. It also comes in handy for electrical and plumbing work on the site. Usually, they are made of different materials including wood, bamboo, aluminum, metal, etc.

22. Rubber Boots

Rubber Boots must have construction tools

It’s an important construction tool to safeguard the leg during construction. It can protect the legs from various accidents during construction including chemicals, cement, etc. It’s made of rubber material and comfortable to wear. So, to safeguard the legs in the time of construction, these boots are the best option as a must have construction tools.

23. Safety glasses

Safety glasses

Safety glasses are a protective tool for the eyes. It provides safety for the eyes during construction from chemicals or dust. This Civil engineering construction tool is made of various materials like metal or plastic. Safety glasses can ensure sure full safety of eyes during construction.

24. Safety helmet

Safety helmet must have construction tools

It’s an important construction tool for head safety. It provides a safeguard from various falling hazardous materials from the upper level. Any sharp material can fall from a height, a safety helmet can ensure protection.  So, for head safety from fatal accidents or injuries, a safety helmet must be worn.

Recommended: Best Construction Safety Helmet

25. Trowel

Trowel Construction Tool

During plastering or brickwork construction, the trowel is used to apply a small quantity of cement mortar. This tool is made of steel and wood handles to provide a comfortable feel during work. A small tool in a construction site is useful for mortar application.

26. Vibrator

Vibrator for Concrete Compaction

During concrete casting, the vibrator is used to compact concrete to make a compact one. When a vibrator is available, the water quantity in concrete is reduced making a high-quality and high-strength one. A vibrator is a mechanical tool that can compact a greater amount of concrete in a short time. To make the concrete construction fast, this tool is the best one.

27. Sledge Hammer

Sledge Hammer

A larger size hammer made of wooden handle and metal. It can break any hard surface like concrete to help dig the soil. When any ground is hard, this construction tool is used to break the layer. After removing the hard layer the soil can be removed easily.

28. Tile Cutter

Tile Cutter

A tile cutter is a construction tool used to cut tiles. Nowadays, larger size tiles are used and it’s difficult to cut manually. With the help of this tool, any tile can be cut at any wall corner easily. When a larger tile cutting is difficult then this tool is useful.

29. Putty Knife

Putty Knife

A small construction tool is used to level the putty finishing on various surfaces including tiles. It also reduces the thick finish surface to a thin one. It’s made of a metal plate with a  plastic or wooden handle.

30. Pick Axe

Pick Axe

Where a spade or hoe is not applicable to dig soil, then a pick axe is used. It’s a useful construction tool to dig hard soil. This long-handle tool has two parts steel and wood handles.

31. Earth Rammer

Earth Rammer

Earth Rammer is used to level the excavated ground if it’s uneven. This construction tool is made of two parts, one is the main metal square shape which is used to compact earth and level, and another part is the handle which is normally made of wood.

32. Sand Screen Machine

Sand Screen Machine

There might be impurities or larger particles within the fine aggregate used for concrete mix. To clean this fine aggregate, a sand screen machine is used before mixing it with the concrete. In the same way, during plasting, finer aggregate is cleaned using this must have construction tools.

33. Straight Edge Brushes

Straight Edge Brushes

While plastering, especially in the corner, straight-edge brushes are used to make the surface smooth. Any extra sand is removed and the plastering surface is smooth after using this brush.

34. Polisher

Concrete Polisher Machine

It’s a polishing device that is used to smoothen the tile’s surface along with woodwork. After finishing any floor there might be dust, so a polisher is used to make it shine.

35. Measuring Wheel

Measuring Wheel

In measuring the length or distance of anything, this tool is used. It has a wheel of known diameter and it records the number of full revolutions for a certain distance. After multiplying the number of revolutions and multiplying with wheel dia, distance can be measured. It makes distance measuring easier.

36. Head Pan

Head Pan

A more commonly used tool in construction sites. A metal-made pan is used to carry soil, sand, cement, concrete mix, etc.

FAQs

Where to Buy Construction Tools?

In a couple of ways, you can buy construction tools. The easiest way is to get them from the nearby hardware store. Most construction tools are available in the hardware stores. You can also collect them from online stores like eBay, Walmart, and Amazon. If there are any of these types of stores around you, then can buy them directly too.

What Tools Are Required for Civil Engineering?

It depends on the type of construction you are doing. Some must have construction tools are common for any construction site. In case of heavy construction, there is some heavy construction equipment. For a small construction site, a bulldozer or excavator may not be necessary but, for a heavy construction site, they are common.

What is the Material Used in the Construction Tools?

Depending on the type of must have construction tools, various types of materials are used like metal, wood, hard plastic, etc. Some tools used a combination of materials like metal for the main construction and wood for the handle. So, a construction might use different types of materials depending on their functions.

Summary:

Learning about must-have construction tools may not be ended. But, we have listed some most important ones. Hope, you have a brief idea about construction tools. Using construction tools will make your work simple and less laborious.

If you are working on a construction site and need them to purchase, then can visit Amazon to get the best deal.

A Structural Engineer in Profession, having B Sc in Civil Engineering Degree from DUET. I have deep interest to learn and share knowledge. He is the CEO of Home & Abroad Structural Solutions.

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