The best bang for a DIY buck is to paint a room, because paint is the least expensive fast fix-up for a facelift that we know. A new splash of paint brightens dull walls and creates a fresh, new feeling in a room and a uniform backdrop for furnishings. This is a no-brainer job, even for a beginning DIYer, because it’s goof-proof; the paint and equipment are relatively inexpensive, and you learn the skills on the job. It’s no surprise, then, that painting is the most popular DIY project.
A paint contractor will charge $880, which includes labor and material, to prepare the surface and paint one coat of latex paint on the ceiling, walls and woodwork of a 15-by-20-foot room (900 square feet) with two windows and two doors. A handy homeowner can buy the paint and equipment for $200 and do the job, saving 77 percent. Timewise, you’ll put in about 45-plus man-hours to paint a room. If there’s two of you on the job, that’s a long weekend project well worth the time.
