Really poor article, IMO. Of course they were 'surprised', they didn't do a lick of research!
' We neglected to budget for the gravel and sand'
And unless I missed it, they didn't mention renting a powered gravel compactor - without that, their patio is probably going to look like heck in 6 months.
I also didn't see where they stated what their final cost was versus a pro. How do you 'compare' w/o that?
Funny thing is, I'll be dropping a check off today to have someone put in a paver block patio for us, also ~ 240 sq ft. I'd guess that the materials are ~ 1/3 the cost. But when I think about digging out 120 cubic ft of dirt, leveling, moving all that heavy stuff, where am I gonna put the gravel,sand,pavers while I do this, I'll have to rent the compactor, etc, etc. It's more than I care to spend, but not something I want to do myself. Plus, I would probably hurt my back in the process, maybe if I was 30 YO.
I do a LOT of DIY around the house though, my reasons are usually:
A) It's a small/medium job - too much hassle to find someone willing to do it.
B) Just because they are pros, doesn't mean they will do the job as good as me (this varies - some people I've hired have done excellent work, faster, better, maybe even cheaper than DIY).
C) It's something I kind of plan as I go - depending what I find as I tear out, how one thing matches with another, etc - so it's hard to spec it to someone, so they will need to quote big $ to cover themselves.
D) Save money.
E) Sometimes, it *is* something I wish to 'show off' , and take pride that I DIY.
F) I might take an 'unconventional' approach (not violating codes though), just not something your average contractor is going to do - not worth the risk for them.
G) If I DIY, I know how to fix it.
H) Sometimes, it's tough to justify NOT doing it yourself, like
get away from the computer and do something!
Stuff I'm glad I've paid for:
Wood floor installed, sanded, stained, sealed.
Roof replaced.
Attic insulation blown in (need some more though in spots - will DIY that, I guess - dreading it though).
Snow plowing (long driveway).
Stuff I was (relatively) happy to DIY:
Install pre-finished wood flooring.
Replace some doors/trim w/Oak.
Tear/out/install tile floors (kinda tough work, but fairly low SWF (swear-word factor).
Install crown molding, baseboards.
Install kitchen/bath cabinets - big savings, pretty easy if you have basic carpentry skills.
Lawn cut, spray, fert (1 acre).
A few custom/creative projects (built a large teak table to match another smaller piece we bought).
Stuff I DIY that I really don't like - cheapskate factor here:
Painting...
Questionable:
Bathroom remodels - man, a LOT of work. Last one (and I mean LAST one) was a complete tear-out. Painful. But I imagine I saved some big bucks. The pain does fade in time....
-ERD50
Maybe I'm not holding my tongue right. 
