We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
Tool of the Year Awards is an annual tradition of celebrating the most notable new tools and solutions for pros and average Joes. This series spotlights the handiest products launched in the last 12 months across eight essential categories, ranging from power tools to cleaning tools.
When curating our collection of the best DIY essentials of 2026, we considered the value of time. There’s never enough—and that goes for all DIYers. You may be skilled and resourceful, but your weekends are limited to 48 hours. With that in mind, we chose products that will help you knock out projects quickly and efficiently without sacrificing quality in the results.
This year’s picks include brushes that hold more paint per load, primer/sealer and stain/topcoat products that only require a single coat, and framing hardware that installs faster and holds stronger than ever.
Purdy Spirex Paint Brush
Photo: Mark Wolfe for BobVila.com
To paint faster, you don’t need a bigger paint brush. You need a better one. Purdy Spirex brushes feature spiral-wound nylon/polyester filaments that trap and release up to 50 percent more paint per load than traditional paint brushes. They are designed for comfortable use and a long working life, with durable, lightweight wood handles and stainless steel ferrules. The medium-stiff bristles offer excellent control for cutting straight lines with any paint, stain, or finish.
Our tests aligned with Purdy’s claims with regard to paint pickup, smooth finish, and user control. To us, the medium-stiff bristles made it fairly easy to maintain a crisp edge. The brushes also seemed easier to clean than conventional brushes, which was an added benefit, as clean-up is often the least enjoyable part of any DIY paint job.
Valspar Oil-Based Interior Primer Sealer
Photo: Mark Wolfe for BobVila.com
Valspar Oil-Based Interior Primer Sealer is the crucial first step for paint jobs that will cover stains, encapsulate odors, or prepare raw surfaces for a durable finish. It’s also safe and effective for drywall, wood, plaster, brick, and concrete masonry. A single coat completely hid permanent marker, grease stains, and water marks on our test project, and it dried fast. We were able to sand it after 3 hours.
We painted over raw knotty pine lumber that we had partially stained with permanent marker and vegetable oil. Coverage and adhesion were outstanding. After a single coat, none of the color variations or stains showed through. It dried to a smooth, paintable surface in about an hour (at 85 degrees Fahrenheit). One top coat was all it took for a perfect finish.
Hillman Power Pro Framing Screws
Photo: Mark Wolfe for BobVila.com
Framing screws are ideal fasteners for tight joints with strong withdrawal resistance and precise placement with the ability to disassemble cleanly. ICC-certified and code-approved for walls, floor and ceiling joists, and deck framing, Hillman Power Pro Framing Screws feature self-drilling cut points and diamond shanks that engage wood quickly and drive easily, eliminating the need to pre-drill. Wide-diameter screw heads give them strong pull-through resistance.
We are not equipped to test certified engineering claims, so we tested the user experience by driving them into old scraps of dried-out pressure-treated lumber. Even through the hardened surface, they spun for just a second or two before biting into the wood and pulling straight in. Surprisingly, the wide heads seated themselves flush without splintering the wood surface. For a fastener that drives this easily and holds this securely, the Power Pro can easily find a spot in any tool kit.
ProWood 4×4 Deck Railing Post Pocket
Photo: Mark Wolfe for BobVila.com
ProWood 4×4 Deck Railing Post Pockets are an easy, code-compliant way to give your new deck a clean appearance. They eliminate the need for long carriage bolts, clamps, and bulky surface brackets above the deck boards, and they make a strong connection directly to the deck framing with completely hidden fasteners. They are made of 14-gauge steel, with internal pressure tabs that prevent posts from wobbling and integrated weep holes that prevent post rot.
Our test deck railing post installation revealed the sturdy build you can get with this hardware. It was not more difficult to install than surface-mount hardware, but it hid everything. Our 42-inch post fit perfectly into the sleeve, with a little bit of convincing with a sledgehammer. Once installed, the post withstood 250 pounds of force pulling sideways, and it did not budge.
Minwax One Step Water-Based Stain and Topcoat
Photo: Lowe’s
Minwax One Step Water-Based Stain and Topcoat cuts project completion time by combining steps. The water-based formula dries fast, cleans up easily with soap and water, and produces a durable finish on bare or previously finished wood. For deeper color, multiple coats can be applied, with light sanding between coats. Minwax One Step Stain and Topcoat is available in 240 tintable colors, in satin or semi-gloss finish.
