Thanks to RicodJour, Steve B and ameijers for the insight into the way
the contracting business is run. This was (and is) a simple honest
inquiry about what the going rate for carpenters is and what other
hidden costs there are that the contractor or carpenter might be
shouldering that I don't know about because I'm not in that business.
If you read anything else into it, you're beating on a straw man -- fun
and therapeutic, but looks a little silly to the people watching.