"RicodJour" wrote
I just watched this episode of Dream House that raised some questions.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_drh/e..._47389,00.html

The owners had hired a general contractor to take care of the new
construction and remodeling, and the husband and wife were taking care
of the demolition themselves to save money. Neither had any
construction experience at all. If people want to take risks, well,
that's their business and their limbs and lives at risk, right? But
several questions came to mind.

Full stop, right there.
What contractor in his right mind would take on such a thing?
A contractor whose contract didn't commence until AFTER the demo work was
completed, thats who.
Or a complete dumbass.

In all remodeling work a certain amount of time and money must be allocated
to *repairing* the existing structure where the new joins with the old and
this is largely an unknown area as its not possible to see beyond the skin
of the building as to whats inside. You can't just go willy-nilly tearing
stuff apart without the benefit of hindsight from other projects or the
ability to perceive what *may* occur.

Suppose a part of the demo area was structurally supporting another part of
the building and the unexperienced homeowner knocked it down, causing the
supported area to collapse, hurting or killing someone? (shoring an existing
header, for example, before tearing it out).

I imagine HGTV has a very tight contract drawn up with the homeowners and
everybody involved to escape liability.
The homeowners in these glamour shows are the ultimate losers as they trade
their security for a mere 15 mins (or should I say, 22 mins) of fame.