One more question - I am also concerned about areas where I feel the flooring should be under the door casings, but they stopped/cut the floor short and and just caulked a whole lot (see pictures). (You can also see the shoe mold isn't sitting flush with the floor, which it should ). What is the proper way this should be done? (as I plan on telling the builder HOW I want the problem to be fixed).

Thank you in advance!!

All of that is completely unacceptable. The caulking looks like ass. The tiles are already starting to crack the grout, and the fitment is amazingly poor. The baseboard looks like it was textured - gross. And what's up with the sheetrock above the baseboard? it's all wavy.

If this is indicative of everything - I'd be having a ton of heartburn right now.

Pass the Tums.

That looks like shoddy workmanship. Hopefully it's just the finishing work that is shoddy.

Is this a new home? The paint on the trim looks like it's a 50 year old home. Just horrible.

Calk is a poor substitute for quality carpentry or painting and a true professional will rarely use it - and most assuredly never use it in the manner you're dealing with. Telling the builder HOW you want this fixed is one thing. Getting the builder to do that is another matter and even if there is agreement on what needs to be done, do you want the same hacks back in for another go-round? Sorry you're dealing with this - a new house should not look like this.

I concur, when I saw these picks, I thought "30 year old tract house that just got refinished by the homeowner".

My heart goes out to you. Don't accept "this is good enough" for an answer.

You've moved in, already had a punch list and remedial actions, and now you're finding this? Have you paid the builder 100%?

Yes, unfortunately this is a new build construction.

I agree with all comments and have gone through multiple bottles of TUMS!

I agree - I prefer not to have the same incompetent people coming in trying to fix these things. Have people indicated to the builder requesting other subs come out?

Punch list/walk through was April 1. We physically moved in april 7. Work was supposedly done between the 1st and 7th. There was no 2nd walk through after the 1st/before we moved in. Some items were completed on the punch list; some were completed but not satisfactory; some items were not done, period. And some things i have found since living in the house. Yes, unfortunately the builder was paid 100%. The bank would only allow us to withhold weather related items (i.e. concrete, driveway, exterior related things). I am never doing this again. Just trying to make the best of a bad situation and salvage all I can. Thanks.

I'm so sorry to hear this kbear. What does your contract say in terms of warranties? I believe ours has a one year warranty and something to the effect they will come back and correct punch list items within the year?

That looks absolutely terrible. How are you only finding this now?

i'll go back and comb through the contract. builder told us there is a one year warranty

Another term comes to mind: TWI - tiling while intoxicated.

Just wanted to say I am sorry you're dealing with this. I hope you are able to enjoy the rest of the home enough to compensate for these errors. What city are you in?

cleveland

"i'll go back and comb through the contract. builder told us there is a one year warranty"

and he will tell you, punch list is not warranty, if he even returns your calls.

Hard to believe that is work on a new home. Almost looks like they put old used wood in there. Hopefully you can make them replace it. If the builder refuses just tell him then you will put a sign in your yard that says " Come inside and see the crappy work ( builder's name) did on my new build".

If your builder is a member of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland, and the builder does not respond satisfactorily, a complaint can be registered with the Home Builders Association. Looking at the work, I'm guessing this builder is not a member, but it's worth checking.

http://www.hbacleveland.com/HBA/HBAWarranty.aspx

How awful! I feel for you, having to deal with this builder and having such horrible finish work. I would do something to fix it, even if he doesn't take responsibility because this will gnaw at you every time you see it.

The last 2 photos don't make any sense trim wise ... can you show us a photo from further back. A weird collection of casings, baseboard, moulding and lots of caulk.

Sorry you are having to deal with this, but didn't you see all this before you closed? The only action that might have gotten you an acceptable end result would have been to refuse to close.

That looks awful! Can I ask if it was a small local builder or one of the larger semi-custom builders? We are building about an hour away from Cleveland so I just want some reassurance that this isn't the same builder...

chispa: this is a photo further away

We had to close; lease was up and we'd be out on the streets.

lakeerieamber - send me a message and i can tell you the builder

Does anyone have any suggestions/ideas to fix this? That was my main question so I know what I most likely will end up doing. Thanks again.

That is atrocious. Really bad. I had volunteers for Habitat do a MUCH better job and they had no experience before doing trim work.

Talk to the builder. Insist the bad paint job and all the trim problems be fixed properly. If he does not quickly fix it, find a lawyer.

I know, that sounds severe, but sometimes you have to be a nasty person to get what you paid for in the first place---that's what good lawyers do.

The fix is to re do the trim. Trying to fill a giant gaping hole with caulk is never the right answer. And no one is going to fit tiny slivers of molding into that and glue it flush with the tile and THEN add a wee bit of caulk.

Be upfront and gauge the builders opinion on the situation. Does he/she believe it needs to be fixed? That will guide you as to your next step.

Discuss with the builder and if he's not willing to fix it, let him know you'll be seeing him in small claims court.

Thank you for everyone's comments/suggestions. We shall see what happens..

by any chance - anyone know if a great article that i can print out and give the builder that mentions you are NOT supposed to have caulk all over the shoemold, all over parts of the baseboard and onto the wall?

Just look at it.