Costs paint DIY buffs into a corner: Rising prices of materials mean that doing it yourself could be an expensive lesson in home economics

Decorating your home yourself may not be the money- saving pursuit it once was, after big increases in the price of the DIY enthusiast's raw materials.

With professional decorators willing to barter over prices, you may find it more economical to get the work done for you.

The price of paint has gone up by an average 79 per cent in the past four years, although there are signs that in the second half of 1992 it is more likely to fall as the recession begins to bite into the painting and decorating business.

Other DIY items have not increased quite so dramatically. Ladders, for example have gone up by 26 per cent and bath sealant by 25 per cent. But interior filler, a must for almost any DIY job, has soared in the same period by 126 per cent.

So doing it yourself is less financially attractive than it was and errors will be more costly.

As one painter put it: 'There's more to decorating than just slapping paint on the wall. It's all down to the preparation work beforehand.'

Repainting a smallish room could use around pounds 50 worth of paint. If you do it badly and have to repaint, you're talking about nearly pounds 100, plus time, effort and all the other items, such as brushes, paint thinner, filler and sandpaper.

If you hired a painter, who would prepare surfaces, move the furniture, paint, replace furniture and clean up, it would probably cost between pounds 250 and pounds 400, depending on the size of the room; a small price if you value your own time highly.

One painter I spoke to told me that although ideally he would charge pounds 80 a day, he could be bargained down to pounds 50 because there was so little work.

Peter Myers, a painter, decorator and carpenter, said: 'I am still getting the work, but people are expecting everything to be done on the cheap. It's not difficult to paint and decorate, but it takes time if you're not used to doing it, and it's messy. A painter will be far quicker, and they have to guarantee their work.

'I charge around pounds 110 a day. If I had to paint a smallish room, which would entail making good the walls, undercoat and finish I would charge pounds 350. Paint would be on top of that.'

And it pays to shop around when looking for paint (see table). A professional painter can buy at trade prices, and although he will usually charge you the retail price he can still save you money, because he knows where to buy the cheapest (and not necessarily the poorest-quality) paint.

Mr Myers said: 'There are so many places the public can get paint at a good price if they look around, but of course if time is of the essence they will probably buy at the first place they go. I found a little shop in the Edgware Road in London (Leyland Paints) which makes its own paints. Not only are they far cheaper, but they are much better quality, so you use far less paint. It's all very well buying one of the major brands, but you use more. Trade quality paint is the best, but it is very, very expensive.'

Another material whose price has gone up sharply is wood. Mr Myers reckons it is now far cheaper to buy a second-hand piece of furniture and adapt it, than start from scratch. 'Wood is so expensive, and it is not good quality, and then you have the cost of screws, wood- glue etc, which are also pricey. It's much better to buy solid furniture. Not only have you got the cost of wood, but you have to pay for the time it takes to make it.'

If you are redecorating because you want to sell your house, you are unlikely to recoup the cost of the decoration. But it might help you to obtain the sale.

----------------------------------------------------------------- HOW PAINT PRICES VARY ----------------------------------------------------------------- Supplier Brand 5 litres 2.5 litres white colour ----------------------------------------------------------------- Carpenter Dulux 16.99 13.99 B&Q Dulux 14.99 12.99 Own Brand 12.49 10.49 Homebase Dulux 14.99 11.49 Own Brand 12.99 10.49 Leyland Own brand 11.05 8.30 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Trade paint Dulux 23.40 - Sandersons - 29.50 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Prices shown are for vinyl-based matt finish -----------------------------------------------------------------

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