I've gone thru the OP's situation twice in Alexandria, Va. and shredxcam's twice in rural Mississippi.
In Alexandria the first time (about 2012) I was having a very small (650 sq ft) house get a kitchen redo and other "minor" upgrades.
This was to prepare the house so my adult son could effectively move back into the house with his wife and yet to be born son.
I had bought the house and the half acre lot in 1978, moved out in 1984, then had been renting the house.
Alexandria has very strict building regs and inspections.
My son had found an independent guy with a helper through Boy Scouts and it was one of those "I'll do it at cost for a friend price" arrangements, minimal written contract. I'd buy supplies, get permits etc.
A learning experience to say the least.
It could have been worse.
The contractors lived about an hour away in Washington, DC traffic. That's an hour if traffic was light.
After about a month or so of work they were getting to the point of finishing up, traffic was getting worse and the work day became about 9 am to 3 pm, with a short lunch.
I was on site every day if need be or not. My son stopped by frequently.
We got along fairly well but it got strained towards the end. He believed in high quality workmanship at times. The guy would be redoing drywall patches 2 or 3 times to "get it right".
But all was OK, my son and his family were only going to live there for three years, then I could go back to renting it or sell it.
Two years later the family of 3 was becoming a family of 4. The 3 year plan was extended. Decided to put on an addition. Added 1,000 sq ft plus. Hired a GC (general contractor). Went through one architect that thought I was rich. Found a second one we could work with. Detailed written contract. Went thru 1 contractor almost immediately. Thought the contract was only a general guideline.
Second contractor was good, but still a headache.
The GC was an additional expense but by that time (2015) I was in the fifth year of my 3 year plan to retire to the house we had bought in Mississippi and couldn't be on site every day. And due to the construction my son and family moved out for some of it.
So for the OP, see if you can get a mediator in that can talk some sense into your contractor and also quit the "run to town to get something". I found my first contractor really liked going to Lowes, they gave away coffee and sometimes doughnuts.
And as far as shredxcam's situation - I'm told that's the way of the rural areas. If I want high quality work done they charge just as much or more than they charge in DC. And they are booked until the next coming of the Lord.