We may earn a commission from links on this page.When it comes to the common, everyday tools we use to do quick maintenance and repair work around the house, there’s a tendency to just stick with what you have. If you have a measuring tape or clamp in your tool chest, you’re probably not going to think about getting a new one until the old one breaks. Usually, that’s a good practice—if a tool is doing its job, why waste money on a new one? One reason is to upgrade that tool. Just because the standard spirit level you’ve been using for the last decade still does the job doesn’t mean an upgraded version won’t do the job better. These upgraded versions of common, everyday tools make every project just a bit easier—and that makes them worth the investment.A waterproof notebookIf you’re like me, you have to make a lot of notes when you’re working around the house. I learned long ago that I need to be a “measure 15 times, cut once” kind of DIYer, so I tend to jot down measurements and other details in a little notebook—it's much better than writing on the wall, or your hand. That is, unless you’re working in damp conditions that turn your notebook into mush. That’s why buying a few of these weatherproof notebooks is such a powerful upgrade: Water, oil, dirt, sweat—it all just beads and rolls off, but you can write on it with a #2 pencil or a pen designed for all-weather use (you can use any old pen or pencil when its dry). Even when you’re knee-deep in a flooded crawl space, you’ll be able to make notes easily.Improved markersThough I like my little notebook, sometimes you’re in a tight space and you just need to mark something or make a notation anywhere. A standard marker is usually fine for this, but if you’re working in damp, dirty spaces, not only will standard markers fail, they’ll also get damaged. Enter these Inkzall markers. They’ll write on anything, even if it’s wet, dirty, or greasy. And if you’ve ever tried to write on a rough surface like concrete, you know that it will chew up a standard marker tip. These markers are made to handle rough surfaces, though, and will write just fine.Double-sided measuring tapesIt’s such a small innovation, but having a tape measure with markings on both sides removes one minor frustration with standard tape measures: When the tape gets twisted around, or you need to hook it onto something but read from underneath. This tape measure from Lufkin is not only double-sided, it has hooks on both sides as well, so you can just slap it into place and get a measurement. Plus, the matte black finish means zero glare from work lights, and makes it a little easier to read in dim spots.