buggyone,

What you have to remember is that the cost per square foot for any building is well planned out before the building even starts, including the labor cost as well as the materials, if there is a cost increase in materials/labor then the next job takes that into consideration and the cost per square foot goes up. Usually the builder has a contract for the materials on the one that he is working on so the raise in material cost stays the same for that building. So you will pay x amount of dollars per square foot no matter who builds your building. When illegals are hired does the contractor lower the cost per square foot? No, they just pocket the extra money as profit. So instead of making a 20% profit, they are now pocketing a 40% profit and YOUR cost remains the same.

Now do you understand it makes no difference who swings the hammer, your cost will be the same, only the contractor/subcontractor makes more profit.