Must Have Stockpiled Items
25 Must Have Stockpiled Items
Here is a list of items that you will never regret having around your home. Some items are inexpensive and some may set you back $100 or more. But when you need them, they will be invaluable. Try to store these items in a cool, dry place. If in a basement, make sure that they are on shelves above any flooding possibility.
Plans and Specifications - Save two sets of these! I can't begin to tell you how valuable plans are for future reference. These will save you thousands of dollars in the future!
Owner's Manuals, Parts Manuals & Instructions - Every appliance, fixture, and building material often comes with these printed materials. SAVE them! They will help you if you need a part, or if you hire an expert witness like me to defend you in court.
Circuit Breakers - I never thought that the Wadsworth company would go belly up. They did and I had to change panels because I couldn't get their breakers!
Roofing Material - Save any and all extra materials. Make sure you have at least 2 squares worth of material.
Window Hardware - Window hardware, springs, or weatherstripping pieces are easy to get now!
Central Vacuum - The parts for the wall outlets and other accessories may not be made in 10 years. Plan ahead now.
Exterio r Trim Parts - Some parts of your exterior trim may be specialty items. Those items that will get the most wear and tear should be kept in stock. Railings, pickets, handrails, etc.
Brick - This is a must. Save several hundred or an entire cube if you can.
Brick Sand and a Mortar Bag - Save 3 or 4 five gallon buckets of the sand that was used for the brick mortar. The sand is a vital component to get a future color match if you need to tuckpoint! Save an empty mortar bag to help you get a future match.
Door Hardware - An extra lockset may come in handy one day, especially for those doors that get heavily used.
Light Fixtures - Some have special colored pieces of glass. Think you will find one when you accidentally break one? Think again!
Specialty Electrical Switches - If you have fancy dimmers and switches, what happens when the heavily used one breaks? These don't go bad sitting in a box.
Medicine Cabinet Light Hoods - That decorative piece of glass will not be found in 5 years!
Toilet Tank Lids - How many have you cracked because you tilted it up against a wall?
Cabinet Knobs - These will be harder to find than a needle in a haystack.
Ceramic Tile - It can change within a few months! Have plenty of tile and numerous pieces of each type of trim.
Faucet Parts - Faucet cartridges are inexpensive. Staple them to the inside of the cabinet.
Hardwood Flooring - Keep two or three extra bundles with assorted lengths. The grain will match perfectly.
Interior Wood Trim - Keep 100 lineal feet of each type.
Stair Parts - Stair railing spindles are maybe $5 each now. If you have to have two or three custom milled, it will cost you $150.
Vinyl Siding - It goes out of style! The siding on the house may fade so take a piece from the back to replace the cracked piece and then use the new stuff where it is least visible.
Built-In Appliance Parts - The clock/timer on my built-in oven is bad. I can't get the parts now! I wish I had a clock since I keep on burning things.
Sliding Door Hardware - Those rollers are not going to last forever. People constantly ask me where to get these parts.
Pocket Door and Shower Door Hardware - Any moving parts must be stockpiled. You will go crazy trying to find these in 15 years.
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