These 3 power tools that pay for themselves after one home project

Published Aug 19, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT Patrick Campanale has been in the tech space for well over a decade, specializing in PC/gaming news and reviews, as well as maker-focused products to build small businesses. With a start in technology back in 2010 surrounding the Palm/webOS ecosystem, Patrick spent his formative years developing mobile applications as well as blogging for various publications, eventually leading to starting his own website in 2014. After running a technology blog for a few years, he stepped out of that role and into the world of high-end custom PC manufacturing and building, with a focus on YouTube video production and overclocking. Then, six years ago, Patrick joined the 9to5Toys team as an editor/writer/reviewer with over 14,000 articles being published there there, ranging from deals and roundups to in-depth reviews on the latest technology, video games, 3D printers, and more. In his free time, Patrick loves to create projects from wood using various robots and methods, including leveraging the technologies of CNCs and lasers. If Patrick isn't working on a computer or playing video games, he's likely in his 2-car garage workshop creating something unique. In addition to all this, Patrick is also a youth pastor at his local church where he feels God has called him to serve, and he loves every minute of it. Are you looking to do some home renovations as summer starts to close out and fall approaches next month? Some DIY projects require thousands of dollars worth of tools to complete, but these three power tools can pay for themselves after just one home project. Doing your own trim work with a miter saw Doing trim work isn't that hard when you have the right tools Credit: Ryobi If you don't own a miter saw yet, then it's one of the most versatile tools you can have in your shop. I'll probably say that about multiple tools on this list, but the miter saw is especially useful. You can pick up a fairly budget-friendly, but also capable RYOBI 10-inch compound miter saw from Home Depot for $179, not on sale. There are a lot of other models, and Facebook Marketplace often has some for under $50, but going new, the RYOBI 10-inch is probably one of the better options, even if RYOBI tools aren't the most premium out there. A miter saw is perfect for doing trim work, which is actually quite expensive. On average, trim carpenters charge $75 to $125 per hour. That means your miter saw is paid for within just over two hours of labor alone from a trim carpenter. So, if you want to run 100 linear feet of trim, that could cost up to $900 when you include both labor and materials. While 100 linear feet of trim would cost you just $179 for the miter saw and around $125 in baseboard. One more thing to note is you'll need a few other supplies to finish up a trim job, but you could get away with just a hammer and nails on the cheap side of things instead of buying an air compressor and nail gun. RYOBI 14 Amp 10-inch Corded Miter Saw What's Included Miter saw, blade, dust bag, wrench, work clamp Special features Single bevel, LED cut line indicator RYOBI's 10-inch miter saw is perfect for your home DIY renovations. It features a LED cutline indicator to help make sure the blade lands exactly where you want it. Plus, has a single-bevel design that lets you cut trim like a pro without spending a fortune. Tackle a paint job with an airless paint sprayer Painting can be a pain, but a paint sprayer makes it less of a headache Credit: Graco Let's face it, painting is a pain, especially for larger projects. The problem is hiring a painter can be expensive. A normal 2,000-square-foot interior paint job can run anywhere from $4,000 to $12,000 or more depending on your area and home layout. That's just crazy. So, instead of hiring a paint crew to overhaul your entire home (or even just a single room), pick up an HVLP (high volume low pressure) or airless paint sprayer. HVLP and airless function similarly from the outside, but they work entirely differently. With HVLP, you'll need extra tools for the system to work, like a high-volume air compressor or a specialized HVLP spraying kit. On the airless side, things are much simpler and cheaper. The Graco Magnum Airless 2,800 PSI paint sprayer is the perfect starting point. Coming in at $268, this paint sprayer just sits over the bucket with the hose dropping into the paint. It handles everything else internally. You just have to aim the spray gun at a wall and pull the trigger. It's quite simple. Now, mastering spraying paint like this can take some time, so be sure to practice somewhere it won't matter first to make sure you have the technique down. But, a sub-$300 paint sprayer can save you thousands on painting your whole house, or even just hundreds for a simple room or fence paint job. Plus, you'll have it for years to come. Graco Magnum Project Painter Plus Paint Sprayer The Graco Magnum Project Painter Plus Paint Sprayer is perfect for painting indoor rooms, outdoor siding, or even a fence. It's a self-contained unit that doesn't require an external air compressor to run, making setup simple and saving you the hassle of hiring a painter every time you want to change a room's color. Clean your decks, patios, and more with a pressure washer Who knew pressure washing companies charged so much? Credit: Ryobi Pressure washing is one of those jobs that's never a one-and-done. My wife and I pressure wash our sidewalk outside our house around once a year, and we pressure wash the house itself every few years. We were able to find a refurbished pressure washer at Direct Tools for under $100, but, going the new route will cost you around $169 or so. Pressure washing companies routinely charge between $100 and $250 to pressure wash a driveway, which means that buying a pressure washer can pay for itself the first time you use it. Then, every time you use it after that you're just saving even more. If you pressure wash your driveway and sidewalks once a year, then that's annual savings you're putting in your pocket just for buying a simple pressure washer. Pressure washers aren't hard to use either—especially electric ones. Just screw the water hose in, plug it into power, and you're ready to go. It'll wheel around the house with you, and you'll be cleaning everything in sight. Plus, a pressure washer has a multitude of uses. It's not just for cleaning your house or sidewalks, it can also clean your fence, decking, car, and so much more. RYOBI 1900 PSI 1.2 GPM Cold Water Wheeled Corded Electric Pressure Washer What's Included Pressure washer, 25-foot hose, trigger handle, wand, 15-degree, soap, turbo nozzles Brand RYOBI RYOBI's 1,900 PSI pressure washer is the perfect buy if you want a compact, wheeled pressure washer to use around the house. With 1,900 PSI, you can clean driveways, siding, and even cars with this electric tool. Plus, there's no gas or oil to have to deal with. Building up an arsenal of tools requires some up-front investment of both time and money These three tools can definitely pay for themselves within the first use, there's no doubt about it. But, it requires more than just buying the tool—it requires a time investment, too. I have a garage full of DIY tools of various types that I love using. But, I've spent years mastering how to use them. At this point, I can build almost anything I set my mind to. I've built walls, ceilings, pressure-washed sidewalks, built fences, painted entire houses, and so much more. Just make sure before you dive head-first into a DIY renovation that you're ready for what could lie ahead. Painting the house sounds easy, and the people on YouTube make it look easy, but mastering that airless paint sprayer requires a delicate touch and some perseverance.