bang for the buck home projects: board and batten wainscoting

[Emilyngh]

We just put board and batten up in the dining room (and one wall in the kitchen).   Total cost was less than $100 (for mdf, trim, primer, paint, and a mitre kit we'll use again) and I think it really fits our 1905 farm house.   It really kicks things up a notch for the cost, IMO.

Husband and I put up in about 5 half days (with a 2 yr old this was better than full days).   We have no experience with really anything similar and I'd say it wasn't hard (just followed the steps in this blog http://theturquoisehome.com/2013/04/how-to-install-board-and-batten/ ), but it was tedious.   

Next on our list is redoing our kitchen counters ourselves (taking down mini backsplash, painting and sealing the counters using a resin, repainting walls).   I'm thinking we can probably do that for about $250.

Any previous or planned home projects that are aesthetic but high bang for the buck?

[ManyMountains]

Wow, that looks great! A job well done.

[Junior667]

That came out really nice!

I have a storage shed in my back yard where I keep my lawn and garden stuff. It is one of those "cheap" metal ones and was so badly beaten and rusty I almost replaced it. I ended up patching it up and treating it with a low cost rust stabilizer from the hardware store. A nice coat of Rustoleum later and it looks great from my porch as I drink a beer and chill. After materials I saved myself about $550 vs. replacing it.

[meadow lark]

Looks beautiful!

[Emilyngh]

That came out really nice!

I have a storage shed in my back yard where I keep my lawn and garden stuff. It is one of those "cheap" metal ones and was so badly beaten and rusty I almost replaced it. I ended up patching it up and treating it with a low cost rust stabilizer from the hardware store. A nice coat of Rustoleum later and it looks great from my porch as I drink a beer and chill. After materials I saved myself about $550 vs. replacing it.

That's a great idea!   I tend to too often let fear (fear of what exactly? I'm not sure) overcome sense when I see things that are rusty and rush to replace.   The few times I've tried something similar, I've saved money and it's worked out well.   I need to remind myself that if there's a cheap option, in the long run of projects I'll probably come out ahead even if I try it first, and then only if it doesn't work I eventually go the more expensive route..   Worth the risk of doing it twice (because of the many times one doesn't have to), IMO.