I know what you mean about blossoming project budgets.
Sometimes it's cheaper, in the long run, to pay a pro to do the job - they have the knowledge/experience to assess the job, the proper tools to get the job finished quickly, and, if the job is not something you are good at, the repairs will be done better and last a lot longer. I'll do my own electrical (I was an industrial electrician) but get a plumber to do any big plumbing jobs (I'm not a plumber; I have a hard time getting water to flow downhill).