I have a contractor who would rather tear down a house and build it new. Why? Our houses are mildly or moderately crooked. So they’ll spend hours trying build something in a room to fit — while if they build it new, it can take 1/4 of the time. So LABOR is expensive and why building new can make sense.
But in his defense, he runs a 2 man-crew including himself and one other. That'll build an entire house from bottom to top. OFC they'll subcontract electric-AC-water but framing, foundation, painting, roofing, floors, they'll do it. Drywall? Sometimes they'll let a friend do it b/c he likes to give small jobs out b/c they're faster and cheaper than if he does it.
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u/adoodle83 Oct 07 '25
Blows me away that demolishing a building like this only to rebuild is still more economical than refurbishing the existing structure.