Nice Looking build.

All beautiful!

My build has been very much delayed by bricks! We have been waiting for months for the bricks for our chimneys to arrive, which has meant that the roof cannot be started...Grrr. It is very frustrating because I started the brick process back in October of 2025, and it has been quite apparent that the residential salesman for the local brick distributor is not very motivated to do any business. Given that, in February, we were finally able to get our order in, not with samples supplied by him because he never bothered to get us any, instead we drove around the neighborhood to pick out some that we liked! (Really infuriates me that he got the business anyway due to lack of choice of places to purchase them from.)

However, at that point the brick manufacturer was not planning another batch of "our bricks" until the end of March, and so we wait.

Another issue that has popped up is that 2 load-bearing columns for the front porch arrived last month and were the wrong style!

No one copping to the error, but we are getting a full credit including shipping (Yeah!). However, new columns need to be manufactured again, so this slows us down for several weeks as we are unable to finish up with trim, siding, etc., around the front porch.

In other news, the electric, plumbing, HVAC, and insulation is all in, and drywallers will, hopefully, arrive soon.

I love seeing other people's projects, and hope we will get some more participants on this thread.

@AC M

That is a sad story. Unacceptable customer service by masonry salesperson & would suggest you move on to a motivated supplier unless they've proved production of your order. We had similar issues when a local masonry yard was bought out and got rid of long time sales staff.

@AC M we have had brick issues as well, but not to your magnitude. We are using the same brick vendor that we have used on the last two builds with no issues. However, this time something just isn't right with them. I've yet to receive a final bill of sale or delivery slip for our two deliveries. I went back and forth for weeks trying to get an accurate quote and got to the point that I just said bring the brick and we'll figure out the metal details. Two deliveries later I still haven't received a final bill of material or delivery slip. At some point they are going to want to square up on payment. They can only bring 6,000 brick per delivery and every other day for reason unknown. My most recent communication with the salesman I was instructed to call dispatch with delivery issues. Uh no, you are my point of contact, not dispatch. I will likely call and talk with the GM and express my disappointment. We aren't a frequent builder so we may be getting second hand service as a result. IF we build again I will strongly consider using another brick vendor.

On another subject, we passed electrical rough in inspection yesterday! For the past three weeks hubby has been diligently working at it. I know he was relieved to see that blue sticker in the panel.

Insulation is scheduled for end of next week. Still trying to narrow down a siding, soffit, fascia quote. We'll have about 500 square feet of siding above the roofline. HOA has rejected vinyl on this house (current house in same subdivision has it). We're exploring LP Smart Side, Hardie, & Mastic Everplank. Does anyone have any insight into these products?

Nicely thought out traditional homes!

If only occasional builders didn't have to deal with, say 60% of the trades and suppliers who see us as too fat cats to be skinned! And our projects as inviting corners to be cut.

*

Our finished home awaits a new owner, with a closing no earlier than March 2027. Enough time to settle in and plan anew.

But, this being my 26th move within TO, the current mrs. worthy may not be in agreement!

We picked the floor a while ago, a glue down LVP. My wife nixed the more redwood tones I like and wanted something more "peanut colored"

Meet Peanut. He rescued himself by breaking into our yard repeatedly to get with our old pack.

The local flooring store had some stair tread that was very close, and we went for that. It is a commercial LVP with 20 mil wear layer. We have radiant heat and wanted glue down vs floating.

Today I looked at some Hemlock streamlined base and we are going with that. I can get hemlock interior doors and trim which suits my wood fever.

The floor color?

Barkley!

OK moving to VG fir on the trim and casework on the stairs. We finished the french doors and the flooring looks nice next to it.

We finished one in San Mateo six months ago. I am thinking to renovate one more rental property in LA. Hopefully next month!

I like all of your pics guys. Do well!

I've been working on the design for the one landing rail in the house. I am taking inspiration from the styling of the slatted Morris chair for the top rail and wider balusters in VG Fir.

I have always loved that particular design.

@Kelly M seems very much a craftsman styling or maybe its called mission?

Very much craftsman. I am having fun designing the stair works on the fly. I cut OSB pieces and make templates and test fit things before hacking on the expensive VG Fir.

I am starting with 4x4 posts and taper cutting them on a sled or with a jig and my beam saw.

I think I will taper in the width only to accommodate a rectangular top that complies with IRC handrail rules.

That gets a 0.0625" radius on the corners but the AI drew the profile for me.

I can plow the rail ( dado cut a groove) for the 1" thick balusters.

My brother and I were spitballing on the phone and now I may plug the screw holes with sapele for a deliberate contrast.

It is a bit more red/orange than fir.

the concrete crew placed the first 12' out from he carport, including the landing for the stairs up to the deck. They do good work.

We do the form work and they just bill me for the hours on the job. It has been a good working relationship.

The next 12' goes farther east to provide a backing spot.

Big tiles going up in the upstairs main.

LVP is stocked and will be ready to lay on Sunday.

ceiling fans are up and all the lighting is done. This pilot likes the fan shape.

Everything is low voltage DC

Bricks again! Turns out that we ordered bricks in an unpopular size (Queen), meaning very few production runs. Though that fact as well as that they didn't have a run scheduled in the foreseeable future was relayed to our salesman when he put the order in, he didn't think it was important enough to let us know. Now two months after we were expecting delivery, we were offered smaller bricks, and after much back and forth with my builder, architect, husband, and some incredibly nice people at the brick manufacturer, we landed on a compromise of using the smaller bricks on the two chimneys only. That allows the roof to be installed before summer storms, and will provide much better protection to the interior than relying on the waterproof membrane alone. We have ordered the rest of our bricks again, in a more popular size. Could be 2 mos., or 4 mos. nobody knows.....

Friday was a good day. Drywall began!

To think when we signed with this builder we were told we could be in by July 4th.

Guessing they meant of 2027.

As Jimmy Buffet said "If we couldn't laugh, we would all go isnane"

.

@Kat

Missing completion estimates is common. This is for those building. I've published similar lists before.

Here are a few things you can do to "help:"

Deliver 100% of decisions now. Drywall completion is 1/2 way so we are usually completing any outstanding orders by now in order to receive these materials when needed. Any exceptions almost always contribute to added delay. Your builder may vary and/or may not have explained.

ORDERED IN TRANSIT or ORDER NOW

Exterior colors, appliances, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, doors, light fixtures, garage doors, hardware, slabs, tile, hardwood, flooring, all trim, closets if painted onsite, stair finishes

READY TO ORDER (final decisions signed off)

Balance of hardware & accessories, paint, mirrors, cabinet glass, cabinet hardware, door bell buttons, address numbers, railings. flatwork layout

Make sure each decision is 100% complete

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor we have built several custom homes, the previous one during peak of Covid.

All you've said is important to staying on track, but that doesn't in anyway mean that doing those things guarantees a smooth timeline.

Homeowners can be prepared, make all their selections and still get delay after delay, due to poor management by the contractor.

I will take a bit of responsibility for the time lost, but could make a very long list of issues we've experienced that had nothing to do with us or are decision making and nobody really cares.

Like every profession there are varying degrees of capability, quality and having pride in the finished work and the customer service delivered.

We wanted to build in a specific community where we were limited by the builders we could choose from, especially for a custom home.

Probably not the smartest decision we've ever made in our years of home ownership.

I don't disagree. Common issues. Covid magnified these issues.

My posts are for all who find themselves in this situation.

Both my best and worst decision makers (in terms of decision making) were industry professionals (who should know better.) 150 day builds for each of two clients who got decisions made, 14-20 months for each of the two clients who did not prioritize.

If the builder has all the information they have fewer excuses.

With all the info and items ordered, trades usually schedule the home that's ready first vs the home that's partially ready to proceed.

I'm finding that many of the suppliers/subs just don't seem to care very much. A big chain is doing my plumbing fixtures, but for kitchen appliances I finally abandoned them for a smaller dealer as it took weeks for my rep to ever get back to me. After almost six months of mistakes on my quotes, I was stressed out, the contractor was nudging me to get things finalized, and I was losing sleep. All fine now!

I also went in and picked out some bathroom tile in mid April, and I just got my proposal last Friday 6/12! 8 weeks to just get me prices on the tiles and quantities. I kept telling the builder that I needed to know because I wasn't sure that what I picked out was on budget. (It Isn't) . (That's another thing..the showrooms act like the prices are a state secret. My builder works with this tile company all of the time, they know what his usual discount is to give me a rough idea of costs.)

I'm going to have to go somewhere else and mostly start again.

It's so discouraging.

Our house was supposed to be done 15 months after breaking ground, in early October of this year. Last month even before the brick and column setbacks occurred, they were saying that the first of next year would be the earliest. I just keep reminding myself that this too shall pass, just as I did when my children hit very difficult stages.

But I'm very jealous whenever I see an episode of 100 Day Dream Home on HGTV!

We are marching though the first floor with the LVP glue down. Looking from the west wing door to our suite through the butler's kitchen, kitchen, and living room.

I'm the anomoly that builds cabinets, so I tuned up the island idea a bit and laid it out so we did not floor under it. I am marking out the cabinet footprints as we go.

Tile guy is a friend of mine and he has this one ready for grout. I have two roll in showers and one 6' soaking tub/shower and he will get them all tiled and grouted by Sunday.

Enjoying all the pictures and updates!

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor I appreciate your list below. I'm trying to stay in front of the subs with material orders and deliveries. I've got my priority list for this week, must order.

We're just over twelve weeks in. I don't want to say brick is DONE, but it kinda is. There are a couple of punch list items to review and roll lock to be installed once the back deck is finished. Pre-drywall Insulation is complete and inspection passed. Drywall hanging begun today. I'm looking forward to walking the house this evening, it's going to look and feel completely different.

12 weeks in and ready for drywall. Excellent!

"staying ahead of the subs" means the subs need to trust you will have work ready for them in order to prioritize your project over others that are ready.

Drywall can be complete 3-6 weeks depending on local labor & level of finish (smooth takes longer).

The deliveries I want at drywall completion are Doors & trim, closets (to be painted), wood stair parts, sometimes cabinets (prefinished) and tile for showers as if necessary we can mask off finished items for paint. Garage doors to secure it.

Not all GCs do exactly the same so unless you are DIY you should check in.

Quoted lead times are critical and almost always optimistic. This isn't AMAZON and only the lower end commodity materials sit at the big box stores.

You create g good luck!

@Joy M your house is looking beautiful. How did it feel with the drywall hung? Everything you hoped for size wise?

We have some electrical corrections being done this week and then the drywall for them will need to be repaired, then I assume we'll be ready for at least a coat of primer.

I'm hoping tile work starts next week, but no confirmation of that.

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor I appreciate your insight. Interior doors have been ordered and expected soon. I need to acquire the master bathroom tile and go ahead and order hardwood floors (for installation after doors, tile, stone and paint). I've been slightly dragging my feet on those, but I know the materials are readily available.

@Kat thank you. The house feels pretty good with drywall. One of the secondary bathrooms (that will be used daily) feels a little small, but no changing it at this point. Do you have any progress on your exterior? Your house is going to be so pretty I know. I love the coastal Carolina area, reminds me of my FL roots.

Here are some pictures of drywall going in and of our back porch. We decided to deck instead of concrete because of cost. To the ground is about 8' and the amount of gravel, or steel decking was more than we wanted to spend. We did choose to use Timber Tech composite decking and will end up having additional storage under the deck. I can't wait to watch college football on the back porch this fall!

This is looking into the kitchen.

The great room. We're doing round river rock to the mantle.

Looking into the butler's pantry.

Back porch view from the master. There is access from the great room / dining area as well.

Following this thread from a few steps behind -- still stuck in the floor plan spiral rather than actual construction. We've been at this for about eight months now, which I keep telling myself is normal, but watching people compare LVP samples and argue about brick delays makes me feel like I'm still waiting in the lobby.

The honest truth is we kept looking at plans and something felt off, and it took us way too long to figure out it wasn't the plans, it was that we hadn't locked down what the lot was actually asking for. Once we stopped shopping floor plans and started from the site -- slope, sun angle, views, where the trees are -- the whole selection process got easier and a lot more frustrating at the same time, because now we know exactly what we need and everything else looks wrong by comparison.

Hoping to be in the brick-delay-complaint club by this time next year. Godspeed to everyone who's already there.

Best of luck with that process, @GTBucky

That is what we did, look all over and figure out the spot on the lot and the views, and I designed a scratch plan from that. It is arduous for sure.

New July thread can be found here.