Want to torch your savings fast in 2025? Start a home renovation. Just when you think you’ve saved enough for that bathroom overhaul or kitchen extension, prices jump, materials disappear, and contractors get booked out months in advance. The cost of building and home upgrades has exploded over the last few years, the pressure is very real. But not every improvement has to come with the chaos of structural changes. I’m a Gold Coast Painter and I might be biassed but I believe there’s one option that remains both affordable and highly effective: a professional paint job.
Let’s take a look at what’s driving these crazy renovation costs and why painting is one of the few ways to add serious value to your property without blowing your budget.
Structural Steel and Rebar: Steel prices hit their lowest since 2016, driven by China’s property slump. They’re expected to stay flat, offering budget relief for some industrial projects while hinting at larger economic challenges.
Structural Timber: Timber prices are falling due to low demand. But with hardwood logging bans taking effect, builders may soon rely on pricier composite alternatives.
Concrete: Concrete prices saw a slight rise but are expected to hold steady for the rest of 2024. Meanwhile, Seven Group’s $1.9 billion buyout of Boral signals potential market shifts.
Diesel: Diesel prices remain steady for now, but ongoing tensions in the Middle East could disrupt this balance at any moment.
Plasterboard: Plasterboard prices are on the rise again, with higher energy and labor costs pushing prices up. Saint-Gobain’s acquisition of CSR only adds to the industry’s shakeup.
Bricks: High demand and energy costs continue to push brick prices upward, especially as builders rush to complete late-stage projects.
Copper: Copper prices surged to near-record highs in 2024, and with investments pouring into renewables and data centers, don’t expect them to fall anytime soon.
Why Painting Still Delivers
Compared to the logistical nightmares of major renovations, painting stands out as a fast, affordable, high-impact upgrade that doesn’t require permits, demolition, or expensive materials.
For many homeowners, a quality repaint can deliver more perceived value than a small-scale structural update — especially in key living areas. Buyers and renters form impressions within seconds, and fresh, well-finished walls create a sense of care, cleanliness, and style. In fact, according to a HomeGain survey, interior painting can offer a 107% return on investment, and exterior painting a solid 55%.
Let’s break that down. Say your home is worth $1 million. Even a 3-5% value boost from a fresh, professional repaint means an extra $30,000 to $50,000 in potential resale value. Not bad for something that usually takes under a week to complete.
And here’s the best part: painting doesn’t require disrupting your entire life. No jackhammers. No framing inspections. Just a quick site visit, colour selection, and a few well-timed days of prep and application by a professional team. Take a look at this real world example I just completed last week on the Gold Coast.
Why Doesn’t Paint Cost as Much as Other Trades?
Unlike trades that involve demolition, structural alterations, or complex systems like plumbing and electrical, painting is a finishing trade. It doesn’t require heavy machinery, high-risk labor, or expensive raw materials. There’s no concrete mixer, no scaffolding to engineer, no underground piping to navigate.
Most of the cost in painting comes down to labour and quality materials — not bulky hardware or specialty equipment. That’s why, even with premium paints like Dulux or Taubmans, painting remains one of the most affordable ways to make a major visual impact.
And while it may cost less than other trades, it shouldn’t be underestimated. A bad paint job can ruin the look of an entire renovation — while a flawless finish can elevate even the simplest room.
Conclusion: High Impact, Low Fuss
In a renovation climate where almost everything feels overpriced and overcomplicated, painting remains the unsung hero of home improvement. It’s fast, affordable, and delivers real, tangible value — whether you’re refreshing your forever home, prepping for sale, or just want your space to feel new again.
Skip the structural chaos. Forget the inflated material costs. A professional repaint gives you the polish and property value boost you’re after — without the budget blowout.