I agree with cpartist. However . . . it's only a mudroom, and now it'll cost you 11 percent less to heat and cool. It may make your 9' ceilings look more special by comparison, too. So, *if* you don't mind the low ceiling too much, keep that fact to yourself and consider grudgingly allowing them to make it up to you some other way. ;-)

Much more than likely, the framers dropped the ceiling in the mudroom as that's the builder's standard practice. Often small rooms feel odd with high ceilings.

Yeah, that wasn't an accident. I'm not sure how one could accidentally lower the ceiling a foot. It's possible there's duct work above mudroom, but most likely (as the others said) it was done intentionally to avoid creating a disproportional room, and to create a dramatic contrast as you move from the mudroom into the rest of the house.

However it happened, I would keep it at 8' for the reasons expressed above. If it was a mistake, point it out to the builder. However, I wouldn't ask for recompense for it, just make a point of it and tell the builder that becasue, they've done such a good job overall, you'll just live with it. This will build good-will that will pay off more than the cost to fix -- the builder will be more accommodating on other issues, see that his crew doesn't cut corners from here on out and have the house extra clean at move in.

If you paid for 9' ceilings then they need to fix it. How isn't your
problem. If they can't then they need to compensate you appropriately.

I agree that if they promised to make it 9', they should either fix it or compensate you. However, I don't think this is a very big deal at all -- it's a room where you'll just pass through, not a place where you'll spend time.

So, *if* you don't mind the low ceiling too much

8' isn't a low ceiling. It's standard.

It actually "costed" them money to lower the ceiling. I am with Andy, there is a hvac, plumbing or some other run.

I agree with mojomom. There are so many things that are part of your build that the builder will address and solve that you'll never see, having the builder's good will, having the builder and his subs respect and care about you, is priceless. Save the hard-line "fix it or compensate me" attitude for something more significant, if needed (hopefully it won't be).

Also, we have 9' ceilings throughout, including our laundry/mudroom, and if I had the option to do that over, I'd choose 8' for the reasons noted above. I think you're probably better off this way.

Pick your battles. This ain't one. No, you don't let it slide. But you don't throw a hissy either.

If someone walks into your house and cries out, "Oh my God!! Your foyer has an eight foot ceiling!" Give them drink and everything will be fine.

Well, I'm the outlier, I suppose. :) Even if NO ONE else might ever notice, even if it might lower you utility costs by a minute amount, even if the lower ceiling makes the 9' ceilings in the rest of the house seem more dramatic....YOU noticed. And now you can't unsee it. And you paid extra for 9' ceilings in the entire house. And the mudroom is 9' in the model....I wouldn't be a B about it but I'd calmly ask that it be fixed. I am a tad picky when making a large purchase.

omelet is corrected about that!

I did let go something at builder's fault and his first intended after signed contract. At final stage he did many things in my favors without telling. I was knew by 6th sense :-)

Still happy with my new home. He is still happy after got paid even he said I have expensive taste.

Thanks for all the input - I think we are going to bring it up but let it go ultimately - in another issue they ruined the staircase by staining it a dark kona/almost black and it was supposed to be a medium pecan. During the design stage My wife had specifically told our design person she hated the dark and made sure we had a medium brown. I think they are going to have to tear it out- they agree it was an error seem to be willing to replace but are saying our closing will be delayed (not sure if that's a bluff yet or not)

I'm with nini on that. If I'm paying for something, I expect to get it or be refunded the appropriate amount of money. And also like Nini said, you can do it in such a way that you are not being a B about it.

Just read your comment Nic. Since the staircase is the major issue, see if you can use the ceiling height to get the staircase quickly and correctly.

to me the issue is that the builder did not communicate with you regarding the ceiling height and would "he" continue to not communicate regarding other possibly more important things in the build

My house has mostly 9 ft. ceilings and a few vaulted rooms, but my mudroom area and laundry room are 8 ft. Even in a smaller space, I hate the 8 ft ceilings.

9 ft. ceilings has become the standard, or minimum, in many parts of the country and I wouldn't accept any less, specially if I had paid a premium for them in my contract.

Just read your comment Nic. Since the staircase is the major issue, see
if you can use the ceiling height to get the staircase quickly and
correctly.

I agree completely. The mudroom ceiling height isn't a big deal, but the wrong color on the staircase is not something I'd be willing to accept. I'd use the ceiling height as a bargaining chip ... evidence that you're willing to meet them halfway.

9 ft. ceilings has become the standard, or minimum, in many parts of the
country and I wouldn't accept any less, specially if I had paid a
premium for them in my contract.

I know that 9' ceilings are highly touted on this board and in high-end houses, but in the grand scheme of things, a whole lot more houses are filled with 8'. However, I totally agree that if you'd agreed upon 9' and paid for 9' ... you absolutely should receive 9'.

9' ceilings in the first floor wouldn't mean that you would want 9' in every room. There is likely a very good reason that it is 8' in the mudroom. If there is a second floor above the mudroom, then it cost more to drop the ceiling in that room. There may be a very, very good reason.

How about starting by asking why it is lower?

Take the builder into the 9' mudroom area in the model. Tell him you like it. Ask him about the ceiling. Is it part of the 9' package? Mention yours is 8'. Ask him to look into it. Don't connect it with something he's already obligated to replace because of his error on the stairway finish.