Book Report: ‘Screw It! I’ll Be My Own Contractor’

I think of contractors like orchestral conductors. The symphony members (subcontractors) are each experts in playing their instruments (hanging drywall, laying tile).   Still, for all their talents, these musicians or subcontractors need a conductor, a leader, someone holding the baton, to coordinate the whole effort into a beautiful symphony, or into your new house or remodel.   In my mind, good contractors have skills and abilities beyond anything the average homeowner could ever hope to possess. But not everyone wants to pay for the services of a contractor (perhaps 20% of the cost of the project). And not everyone is convinced they can find a good contractor. And for these people, self-contracting becomes the goal.   It is to these enterprising souls that William Trimble’s new book is aimed. The title — “Screw It! I’ll Be My OWN Contractor” — reflects the frustration people often feel just before setting upon this course of action.   If you have decided to travel along that road, the question here is: Will this book be a good companion on your quest?   First I’ll discuss the presentation, and then the substance. The book itself is not flashy and it appears to be [...]