Before you buy

Tool and equipment reviews

A contractor quote is mostly labor, so the real question is whether the tool costs less than the labor it displaces. Each review answers that, links the calculator that prices your job, and says plainly where renting beats owning. We do not test these products in person, and we say so on every page.

• Decking DEWALT DWE7491RS 10-Inch Jobsite Table Saw about $599 A DEWALT DWE7491RS table saw review for 2026: rip capacity, the rolling stand, dust collection, the honest weaknesses, and whether buying one beats hiring a deck builder. Read the review
• Flooring DEWALT DWS779 12-Inch Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw about $399 A DEWALT DWS779 review for 2026: crosscut capacity, dust collection, the missing XPS light, and whether it pays for itself against a flooring or trim installer quote. Read the review
• Tile DEWALT D24000S 10-Inch Wet Tile Saw with Stand about $999 A DEWALT D24000S wet tile saw review for 2026: cut capacity, accuracy, silica dust and water control, and the honest math on buying versus renting for one bathroom. Read the review
• Painting Graco Magnum X5 Airless Paint Sprayer about $314 A Graco Magnum X5 review for 2026: real coverage, overspray and masking time, cleanup, the honest weaknesses, and whether spraying beats rolling on your painting budget. Read the review
• HVAC MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 12,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump about $1,800 An MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 12,000 BTU mini split review for 2026: the pre-charged line set, what still needs an electrician and a permit, cold weather limits, and install cost math. Read the review
• Water heater Rinnai RX199iN Condensing Smart Sense Tankless Water Heater about $1,533 A Rinnai RX199iN tankless water heater review for 2026: 11.1 GPM output, UEF 0.98, venting and gas line requirements, hard water maintenance, and real installed cost. Read the review
• Water heater Rinnai REHP50 Electric Heat Pump Water Heater, 50 Gallon about $1,690 A Rinnai REHP50 heat pump water heater review for 2026: UEF 3.75, 73 gallon first hour rating, the space and noise trade-offs, and whether it beats a gas tank on running cost. Read the review
• Electrical ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV Charger, Hardwired 50A about $494 A ChargePoint Home Flex review for 2026: adjustable 16A to 50A output, hardwired versus plug-in, what an electrician and permit actually cost, and panel capacity limits. Read the review
• Plumbing AFWFilters 48K Grain Water Softener with Fleck 5600 SXT Valve about $794 An AFWFilters Fleck 5600 SXT 48,000 grain water softener review for 2026: sizing by hardness, the metered valve, install requirements, salt cost, and what softening protects. Read the review
• Waterproofing Zoeller M98 Flow-Mate 1/2 HP Cast Iron Sump Pump about $331 A Zoeller M98 Flow-Mate sump pump review for 2026: 4,320 GPH, cast iron and oil-filled motor, the switch question, and whether it beats a cheaper pump for a wet basement. Read the review
• Radon RadonAway RP145C Radon Mitigation Fan about $152 A RadonAway RP145C radon fan review for 2026: where it fits in a sub-slab depressurization system, why fan sizing needs diagnostics, and what a full mitigation costs. Read the review
• Backup power Westinghouse 9500 Peak Watt Dual Fuel Home Backup Portable Generator about $949 A Westinghouse 9500 peak watt dual fuel portable generator review for 2026: rated versus peak watts, propane derating, transfer switch requirements, and carbon monoxide safety. Read the review
• Garage Rust-Oleum RockSolid Polycuramine High Gloss Garage Floor Coating Kit about $250 A Rust-Oleum RockSolid polycuramine garage floor coating review for 2026: coverage, cure times, why prep decides everything, and how it compares to a professional polyaspartic floor. Read the review
• Roofing BOSTITCH RN46 Coil Roofing Nailer about $198 A BOSTITCH RN46 coil roofing nailer review for 2026: nail range, the shingle guide, depth adjustment, what it costs to compressor it, and when to hire a roofer instead. Read the review
• Cabinets Makita SP6000J 6-1/2 Inch Plunge Circular Saw about $502 A Makita SP6000J track saw review for 2026: 12 amp motor, variable speed, cut capacity, why the rail is sold separately, and whether it beats a table saw for cabinets and flooring. Read the review
• Tree work EGO Power+ CS2005 20 Inch 56V Cordless Chainsaw with 6.0Ah Battery about $489 An EGO Power+ CS2005 20 inch cordless chainsaw review for 2026: 55cc gas equivalent power, runtime per charge, safety limits, and when to call an arborist instead. Read the review
• Dust control DEWALT DWV010 HEPA Dust Extractor, 8 Gallon about $484 A DEWALT DWV010 HEPA dust extractor review for 2026: automatic filter cleaning, 150 CFM, the EPA lead RRP rule, silica dust, and whether it beats a shop vacuum for renovation work. Read the review
• Drywall WEN DW5084 Dual-Head Variable Speed Drywall Sander about $154 A WEN DW5084 dual-head drywall sander review for 2026: variable speed, the triangular head for corners, dust collection reality, and the asbestos warning for old ceilings. Read the review
• Power tools DEWALT 20V MAX 6-Tool Cordless Combo Kit (DCK661D1M1) about $799 A DEWALT DCK661D1M1 20V MAX 6-tool combo kit review for 2026: what each tool is good for, where combo kits cut corners, battery strategy, and whether buying separately is better. Read the review
• Exterior cleaning Westinghouse WPX2300e Electric Pressure Washer about $161 A Westinghouse WPX2300e electric pressure washer review for 2026: rated versus max PSI, what 1.76 GPM will and will not clean, siding damage risks, and driveway prep. Read the review