Is it possible that what was once old could become our future? If we look back at construction to pre-World War II, it was common to see the general contractor self-perform much of the work on a project. They would have carpenters and a few other trades.
Since plastering in southern California was inside and outdoors, many general contractors would self-perform this work, as well. There certainly were subcontractors but they were usually electricians or plumbers. After the war, tract houses and the mass production boom created the need for the specialists who could deliver quality and high production. These subcontractors could produce better quality and lower the cost through efficiency, production and skilled supervisors who were experts at the craft. The end result was doing a large volume of specialized work. The added classifications for various subcontractor licenses prove the point. But is that changing? We seem to be bundling and merging; a lathing license classification is gone and others have merged. Is the subcontractor ultimately going to become extinct?