A small job upgrade like painting the deck of a porch makes a surprisingly noticeable upgrade, because a fresh coat of paint gives new life to foot-worn and weather-beaten wooden planks. Considering the small investment in the paint, it’s a project worth doing. The most time-consuming part is removing the furniture and preparing the surface before applying primer and paint.
To prepare, prime and paint a 450-square-foot porch floor using a good quality exterior floor and paint primer, a painting contractor will charge $850, which includes labor and material. A first-time DIYer can do the job for $75, the cost of primer and paint and save 91 percent. That’s assuming no carpentry work is needed to repair or replace any planks. If that’s needed, the job will cost more and require carpentry tools and skills.
