Cheaper to get someone in than do it yourself?

It could be cheaper to get someone in to do a professional job than attempt a DIY project yourself, according to new figures.

While homeowners are well aware that it is normally quicker and easier to buy-in some expertise, rather than attempt work yourself, research from Abbey shows that taking the DIY option could also prove more costly.

"Overwhelmingly the perception of getting someone in is that it costs significantly more than doing it yourself," said Jeff Scott, head of Abbey loans.

"However, our research shows that this is not necessarily the case."

Abbey's data shows that 28 per cent of homeowners are already choosing to get someone in to do the work.

And they might be taking the cheaper option.

Some 43 per cent of households currently have unfinished DIY projects, some of which have taken between one and two months to get started.

Three quarters of these projects were started 12 months ago, meaning a typical DIY project takes almost a year and a half to complete.

And as well as the time, the cost of such extended ventures builds up.

A professional would charge around £500 to sandpaper a 25 square metre room and take six hours.

To DIY a similar job can take twice as long and costs £420, Abbey calculates, not counting preparation time, physical effort and the clean-up time needed for the job.

"The cost of DIY can be significantly more in terms of physical and emotional stress as well as money, particularly when the cost of leisure time and fixing DIY mistakes are factored in," Abbey's Mr Scott said.