What drywall work?

Folks pay for work like that every day but I wouldn't. Your house,your money, make it clear up front what you expect and don't settle for less.

The drywall seams on the ceiling?

Its a new home and the pictures are after the builder repaired it. Im asking the builder to redo the ceilings again because it still ooks bad The phrase they keep using is "Its Industry Standards."The model home walls and ceilings didnt look like this. and the paint job looks bad.

None of that would be acceptable for me, but expectations should have been discussed upfront.

Is this a custom home or a spec home? Small builder of large production builder?

We built in 2021, a custom home with a small builder, and the contract included the type of finish we expected for walls and ceilings. We also met with the builder and drywall/plaster sub just before they started, to review what we expected and what they could deliver. We have smooth walls and ceilings and no seams or framing are visible at all.

Custom home or tract home?

No I wouldn't accept that finish.

The drywall industry standards are written. Ask the builder to show you the written standard that demonstrates that is acceptable.

What did you specify? Level 4 or Level 5?

https://nationalgypsum.widen.net/s/mljkjhqswz/ngc_construction_guide_15th-ed

It's hard to tell from pictures but it could be more of spot painting issue after drywall repair than drywall fix issue itself. Why didn't they paint the whole wall, ceiling where drywall was repaired? I guess we all know why, but this job would unacceptable for me. Most of the time spot painting is not going to look good.

Thanks everbody! This home is not a custom build. And its kinda funny because when I was talking to the builder about the poor workanship. He made a comment about this home not being a custom build. Guessing there for I don't have the right to be complaining. 800k to me feels like I did paid for a custom build instead got a fixer upper. My Apologies for the rant, this situation has been very frustrating.

So The builder refloat, retexture drywall and repainted the entire ceiling upstairs. Before painting I asked the builder about the seams still being visible. The builder told me after applying primer and paint the seams will be gone. Although I know its really hard to see it from the pictures but I wanted to get everyones feedback on this drywall/paint job. So I may hold the builder accountable. Also to confirm I'm not crazy for seening these lines on my ceilings..lol

There are established, industry-wide definitions of drywall finish standards from level 0 through level 5 finish. The builder's obligation to deliver the home to any particular drywall finish standard should be documented in the plans, specifications or contract.

Unfortunately, model homes are sometimes built by higher quality trade contractors than are employed to construct the builder's typical production homes. The builder has created an expectation of the quality level with the model home and the OP should hold them to it.

This is what you need

I'm pretty sure your contractor doesn't have a copy of it and thinks a "standard" is whatever local contactors have been getting away with.

In my experience, a single family house contract written by a GC contains few technical specifications relying on a list of features with few quality standards. For that reason I've writtien the contract and specifications for my projects and include them in the bid documents. And I specify veneer plaster (blueboard) and no textured paint which is smoother and cheaper than level 4 drywall. Unfortunately, its not available in many parts of the US.

I'm not sure your can demand a particular level of finish unless there is one stated in the approved plans, specifications or a construction contract. If none is stated, I believe it's reasonable to use the builder's model home as the quality standard home buyers should expect for the fit and finish in their homes.

I'm not sure your can demand a particular level of finish unless there is one stated in the approved plans, specifications or a construction contract.

So could the contractor just do a level 1 finish and paint that then?

When things are not specified in the contract then they default to the normal and appropriate in that situation. I would argue that the drywall finish levels create a pretty clear picture of when each level is normal and appropriate. Level 3 is appropriate when the walls will receive sufficient texture, level 4 is appropriate for lower sheen coatings, and level 5 is appropriate at higher sheens.

I would argue that the joint photographing doesn't work for any of those.