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Color does wonders. With $50 worth of paint, masking tape, a roller and a brush, you can completely transform a room in one afternoon. And if you do the prep work carefully, you’ll be rewarded with smooth, long-lasting results. Big savings, because a painting bid is about 90 percent labor. It’s a great project for you and your spouse—if you can agree on colors!
Replace a light fixture
Remodel the easy, inexpensive way. A new light fixture by itself can revitalize a dreary room. The catch: Few electricians have the time or inclination to go out and install a single fixture. If you want it done in this decade, do it yourself. Learn electrical basics so you can replace a fixture both correctly and safely. Bonus: It’s always fun to visit lighting showrooms to find that perfect fixture.
Build a garden path
Can you lay a professional-quality path across the backyard? Yes. Thanks to uniform-size pavers available at home and garden centers, even a novice can get high quality without special skills. The many colors and patterns will give your creative juices a chance to flow. But be prepared to sweat—you have to move dirt and stone. The payoff: a path that will last a lifetime.
Put up trim
You no longer have to rely on a master carpenter for handsome trim work. Now, with a little practice, you can cut sharp, clean miters and fine-tune joints as well as the pros do. The keys to success are two moderately priced tools—a power miter box and an air-powered nailer. Together they cost about $400, but they ‘ll equip you for fast, precision work. And don’t stop with standard “production” trim. Add multipiece trim or even paneling for a high-quality custom look.
Build a shed
You want to put up a nice shed at a nice price? Unfortunately, most of the shed kits you see are strictly utilitarian and may well become eyesores in your backyard. They’re not cheap, either. The truth is, you can easily build a better shed for about the same price. But what you need is a good set of plans. You can now find them in shed books at home centers and through the Internet. (Type “shed plans” into a search engine and browse.) And if you want a really handsome shed, look at the shed plans in our July/Aug. ’05 issue.
Replace a faucet
Put that old, worn, drippy faucet to rest—permanently. Most modern faucets are durable and troublefree. And you’ll find a zillion styles to choose from. Unfortunately, hiring a plumber will probably cost more than the new faucet, so replace it yourself. Don’t worry—most hardware stores stock the extra parts you need if something goes wrong.
Seal attic bypasses
With energy prices soaring, there’s no better time than now to tighten your house and cut your energy bills. Your home will be less drafty and more comfortable too. Begin with a professional energy audit (call your local utility). In most cases, the best improvement you can do yourself is to seal attic bypasses (air leaks to the attic). The materials are cheap; mostly what it takes is your time.
Lay a hardwood floor
Thanks to new types of engineered flooring, it’s easier than ever to lay a beautiful hardwood floor. Tough factory-applied finishes eliminate the dusty sanding and smelly finishing steps of traditional wood floors. And many handsome styles are available with edges that you simply snap together or nail with a power nailer. You need no special skills to assemble them. Install a complete floor in a day!
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