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To: ansel12
As a contractor "for 30 years" I suspect you may have a little bias. Nonetheless, over the past thirty years I have done a real mix of my own work as well as hired contractors. Yeah, I've done some crappy work but then I've also had to pay for some crappy work to contactors who drive fancy new detailed F-350s. I suspect these contractors knew I didn't have the time or cash to chase them down with lawyers to get the job done right. Othertimes, of course, I've had excellent work done by excellent contractors. It's often a crapshoot and the guy who did a great job three years ago is frequently nowhere to be found when you want to do some more work. Many of these issues encourage people to DIY as well as a very healthy desire to learn something new.

I would suspect those with extensive computer skills would also prefer people call professionals rather than trying to upgrade their systems on their own, install some hacked security software, set up a home network or clean out those annoying cookies. I would say that when it comes to computers too we are in a period of DIY like never before. I think this too is a good thing.

On the other hand, when it comes to fixing automobiles, I have seen fewer and fewer Do It Yourselfers. Few people know what anything does under the hood these days as car engines have become so very complex.

91 posted on 08/07/2006 9:36:43 AM PDT by rhombus
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To: rhombus

"Yeah, I've done some crappy work but then I've also had to pay for some crappy work to contactors who drive fancy new detailed F-350s. I suspect these contractors knew I didn't have the time or cash to chase them down with lawyers to get the job done right. "



You uncovered the second part to this Home Depot nation.

It isn't only homeowners that have come to believe they can do anything, now there is a large number of pickup truck, contractors that know about as much as a handy weekender (they shop at Home Depot too).

I have come to hate Home Depot and the cheap materials, and short cut, do it yourself methods.

One of the things I notice is tile work, compare tile work in tract homes from 1980 back to whenever it originated, then look at modern DIY tile jobs.


100 posted on 08/07/2006 9:56:15 AM PDT by ansel12 (Life is exquisite... of great beauty, keenly felt.)
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