Everyday Cheapskate: Fresh Walls on a Dime

Hiring a professional painter is like hiring a magician. One day your walls are dingy, the next they're flawless. The only trick? The bill. A single room can set you back $400-$600. Multiply that by a few rooms, and you might as well start selling plasma.

The good news: You can paint your own walls. With the right tools and tricks, nobody will know you didn't pay a pro.

PREP: THE PART NOBODY WANTS BUT EVERYONE NEEDS

Painting is 80% preparation and 20% actual painting. If you rush the prep, you'll regret it when you notice bumps, drips or the ghost of every old nail hole.

Start by patching. A $5 tub of lightweight spackle will fill nail holes and mystery dents. Smooth with a putty knife, let it dry, and sand lightly. Next, wipe down your walls. Even if you don't see dirt, trust me, it's there. Dust, fingerprints, and kitchen grease will keep paint from sticking properly. A bucket of warm water with a drop of dish soap does the trick.

And about painter's tape: Use it wisely. Tape off baseboards, trim and maybe around the windows. But don't waste half your budget on taping the entire room. A steady hand and a good angled brush will do most of the heavy lifting.

PAINT: WHERE CHEAPSKATES SHOULDN'T GO TOO CHEAP

I know the temptation -- paint on clearance for $10 a gallon. The problem is, cheap paint usually means three coats. That's three times the work and sometimes three times the gallons. Suddenly that "deal" costs you more than a decent mid-range paint would have in the first place.

Look for paint labeled "one-coat coverage" or "paint and primer in one." It may cost $25-$35 a gallon, but it's worth it. As for finish: Flat hides imperfections but smudges if you even look at it wrong. Eggshell or satin is perfect for living rooms and bedrooms, while semi-gloss is tough enough for bathrooms and kitchens.

TOOLS: SPEND A LITTLE, SAVE A LOT

You don't need to buy the entire painting aisle. A few good tools will last you years:

A 2-inch angled brush for clean lines. Don't cheap out here -- you'll curse a $3 brush before you finish one window frame.

A roller with an extension pole. Saves your back and a trip to the ER.

A solid paint tray with reusable liners. Stop buying flimsy throwaways.

Drop cloths. Old sheets or even plastic tablecloths from the dollar store protect just as well as fancy canvas.

Skip the paint sprayer. Unless you enjoy cleaning tiny nozzles for hours, rollers and brushes are your friends.

TECHNIQUE: THE SECRET SAUCE

Start by cutting in -- the edges near trim, ceiling and corners -- with your angled brush. Then grab your roller and paint in "W" shapes, filling in without lifting the roller too often. Work in sections and always keep a wet edge. That's painter-speak for "don't stop halfway across a wall."

And don't overload your brush. Dip only the bottom third into the paint. You'll save paint, save cleanup and avoid drips.

CHEAPSKATE TRICKS THAT WORK

Wrap brushes and rollers in plastic wrap or a grocery bag if you're taking a break. Toss them in the fridge and they'll stay fresh until tomorrow.

Label the paint can lid with the room name before storing. Saves the guessing game of, "Is this bedroom beige or living room taupe?"

Use a bright lamp or work light to spot streaks and misses before the paint dries.

CLEANUP: THE LEAST FUN PART

Nobody loves cleaning brushes, but it beats replacing them every time. For latex (water-based) paints, warm soapy water works. Swish until the water runs clear. A brush comb -- yes, it exists -- keeps bristles in shape. Take care of your tools, and they'll take care of you.

THE MATH OF DIY

Professional painter for a 12-by-12 room: $400-$600.

DIY supplies: $60 paint, $40 tools (many reusable), $15 for spackle and sandpaper.

Total: about $115.

That's a savings of $285 per room. Do three rooms and you've kept nearly $900 in your pocket. That's more than a nice weekend getaway -- or at least several weeks of groceries.

Painting your home yourself won't make you rich, but it's one of the fastest, cheapest ways to make a space look brand-new. You'll save money, gain bragging rights, and maybe even discover that you have a hidden talent for rolling walls without drips.

So the next time you're tempted to hire a pro, grab a brush instead. You'll have fresh walls, a fatter wallet and a story to tell.

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Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary." This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living."