Construction Tools

The construction process plays a vital role in the development and modernization of cities, as well as in advancing industrial life. To effectively carry out these tasks, specialized tools and equipment are necessary. Construction tools refer to the implements and machinery utilized in erecting bridges and various structures, such as homes, hotels, educational institutions, animal shelters, grain silos, factories, and more.

The Significance of Construction Tools

Selecting the appropriate construction tools in terms of size and type is critical, as it significantly influences project productivity, the effort required, and the time needed for completion. Moreover, these tools are essential for enabling supervisors to exercise their authority and evaluate the contractor’s role at each stage of the project, ensuring that the contractor’s work complies with the stipulated specifications. Additionally, construction tools assist supervisors in understanding and addressing problems that may arise. Hence, these tools are extremely valuable for project managers and construction planners, who must be well-informed about the tools being employed in the construction process.

Key Construction Tools

Manual Construction Tools

Manual construction tools are those used without machines, and some of the most notable ones include:

Axe: A tool used for digging foundations, mixing, and turning raw materials.
Shovel: A long wooden handle connected to a wide, flat metal piece; used for mixing concrete, lifting earth, and transporting materials during excavation.
Chisel (Furouh): Similar to an axe, this tool consists of a long metal or wooden handle with a metal piece at the end, primarily used for digging foundations.
Masonry Hammer: This tool features a pointed metal head attached to a short metal handle ending in a wooden grip, utilized for breaking bricks and shaping stones.
Trowel: A small flat piece of metal attached to a small metal handle, ending with a wooden grip, used for spreading concrete between bricks during construction, plastering walls, and applying white paste before painting. There are two types:
- Circular or oval trowel: Used for spreading mortar (concrete).
- Square trowel: Used for cleaning.
Chisel: A flat rod with one end blunt and the other sharp, used for creating openings in walls for installing fixtures by striking it with a hammer.
Bucket: A steel container used for transporting mortar to the construction site.
Bucket: A container, made of iron or copper, used for lifting and transferring water.
Wheelbarrow: A deep container mounted on a sturdy frame with two long handles and a single wheel, used for transporting building materials like bricks, sand, or gravel.
Roller Brush: A brush shaped like a roller attached to a long, lightweight metal handle ending in a wooden grip, used for painting ceilings and walls.
Corner Tool: A metal tool shaped like a corner, used for adjusting the angles of wall intersections. It comes in several forms depending on the required angle measurement, including acute, right, and obtuse angles.
Leveling Line: A long string used to ensure wall alignment.
Measuring Tape: Used to measure long distances that a standard ruler cannot accommodate. Notable types include a metric tape inside a box that can be used by one person and a long-distance tape made of steel or fabric that requires two people to operate.
Sieves: Tools resembling strainers, typically made from iron or aluminum, used for sifting building materials before mixing.
Spirit Level: A rectangular device made from aluminum, plastic, wood, or iron, designed to ensure the horizontal and vertical alignment of walls.
Drill: A small electric motor fitted with varying metal bits, resembling a gun, utilized for drilling holes in walls, installing electrical boxes, and running wires.

Mechanical Construction Tools

Mechanical construction tools save time and effort for construction workers. Below are some of the most common types:

Concrete Mixer: A machine consisting of a large cylindrical closed metal container connected to a motor, featuring a control room. It is used for mixing large quantities of building materials to prepare concrete mixtures for pouring on roofs and buildings.
Compactor: A metal box containing a motor with a large handle that ends in a sharp point, used for breaking rocks, digging in areas that require excavation, and creating drainage pits.
Press: A hollow metal machine used for manufacturing bricks; a special mixture is placed inside and compressed to produce the desired bricks in various shapes and sizes, typically used in brick manufacturing facilities.
Stone Cutter: Found in stone quarries, this tool varies in shape but generally consists of a very sharp and wide metal piece connected to a powerful motor, used for cutting rock and shaping extracted stones according to required specifications for use in constructing building facades and other applications.