Steve said:djamwolfe said:Around these parts you can build your own house from the ground up --- you still need to pass all inspections, but you can do it yourself.. Id hope if they are to regulate the installs they dont take that right away from the homeowner.. just my $.02
Maybe in principle you can build it yourself, but at least in the Lansing area the general concensus seems to be that if you don't hire union guys to do the work, you'll be forever getting your inspections and occupancy permits.
Got that view from both sides when I was looking at doing a master suite addition. Estimates were between $160 and $200/sf for nothing fancy (everything available from Home Despot). I talked to a guy who's a site manager for one of the big companies and a guy who has spent a couple years trying to build a house himself. Both said the goal is to give the DIY guy the runaround to keep the jobs in the community (not exactly sure how community is defined...)
Steve
unions started out ok but now................
steve sounds like you live with the mob. you pay them or you get nothing.