Torn between these two elevations for our modern transitional home. Would you keep the stone skirt or go all brick?
Looking for the most timeless, clean look. Which one would you choose?

I have very little knowledge of roof structure - how well is this part of a home usually built? can any of these beams support a hammock? I’m about 110lbs

We have been in our new constructuion home for 2 winters and continue to try and get resolution from the builder on our inadequately insulated house. Thermal heat loss is causing moisture to build in the walls with moisture reading on the drywall reaching over 50% with a wood stove and dehumidifiers running non-stop all winter. A professional has come out and acknowledged that the house has voids around the perimeter of the room where the walls meet the trusses. With visible sagging from the exterior and now a known issue, is there a way to check for moisture in the spray foam?

What steps are recommended to address? (the builder has stopped responding)

Thank you!

I have 2x10 floor joists. I have the ceiling open to change lights and I noticed the split near the bottom of the joist that has the orange sprinkler line going through it. The other joists are all fine.

Does this need to be replaced or are there ways to fix it in place? Do I need an engineer?

I'm close to doing a walk through with our GC and the framers that did the structure for our major remodel prior to the next money draw and have some concerns with the quality/materials used on the deck. This is located near the East Coast of Florida and I'd love some feedback rather than relying on the inspector to save me. I know enough to be dangerous but y'all are far more experienced than me so please chime in. I'll provide pictures and respond to comments as best I can. In no particular order;

1. I'm pretty sure they used bright nails instead of proper (galvanized? SS?) nails since the work was done less than 3 months ago and the heads are all rusty. I may pull one to see but any tips on making sure I bring receipts here and don't get brushed off.

2. 70% of joists and band joists (2 and 3 and 4 sandwich beams) don't have any screws tieing them together (GRK?) I see a few on the structure but not where I would expect them.

3. Hangars are missing in obvious places, including where the tie in to the house is. Wtf.

4. I suspect Hangars may be missing in non obvious places, need y'all to chime in here.

5. Warped/bowed members and garbage level blocking.

6. Flashing issue on large sliding door sill.

7. Are there any hurricane tie type items missing that I'm not seeing?

8. Missing Zip Tape on lower edge of cutout for dog door (makes me so frustrated as I've mentioned zip tape issues like this repeatedly)

9. Ground level too close to structure. I was surprised that the GC pushed back on me on this one but if they do that again I'll just ask if the material is rated for ground contact and watch them squirm.

10. Split beam for garage awning and lack of hurricane ties/measures on the same.

Also, please point out anything I did not enumerate as I don't know what I don't know.

We had a hail storm come through some months ago we hired a company to do our siding and roof overall I think it looks good and from a distance it is looking great but when you get close up there are quite a few scratches and dings and they are not even done yet.

Some details the horizontal siding is vinyl and the Board and Batten siding is steel. The siding has taken way longer than they said it would we are on month number 2 of what they said would be a 2 week process. I checked the contractor we can’t really hold them to any timeline apparently which is fine so long as it is done well I am just not sure I am being too picky or if I should bring it up with the contractor.

House is being built on the lot next to mine. Builder wants me take my fence out so he can grade between our properties and then I can put it back up. Fence would be my expense and about $3k from the original company that put it up. Came home from work today and he essentially built a wall of dirt to “show me what it will look like if I don’t take the fence down.” I’m in central VA and in a HOA. I was almost going to agree until he pulled this nonsense so now I’m having second thoughts. Any thoughts on this? He also told me I should put a retaining wall up by my driveway which I said no to. I’m in the middle of a hardscape and pool being put in my backyard. By doing this they already messed up one section of fence. My son is about 46” tall for comparison. New build to the right.

*Since this has completely blown up way more than I ever expected I wanted to give an update. HOA doesn’t really seem to care besides asking if the builder offered to pay for fence removal, that is a clear no. County contacted me and I spoke to them this morning. Sent a follow up email and will call them lunch time tomorrow if I have not heard back. However, I have ceased any and all communication with the builder and have a consultation with an attorney tomorrow mid afternoon.

I appreciate all the feedback and will keep everyone updated as things move forward.

Southwestern Ontario. I already own the land, and I’d be putting this over an unfinished basement. I’ve got a kitchen priced from IKEA including appliances for $10k (good enough for now and will upgrade later). I plan on being equally cheap with the bathroom - nothing fancy.

These aren’t official plans of course, so local contractors aren’t giving me quotes; but I’m looking for general ideas of quotes because I’m trying to determine if this is worth it or if I should sell the land.

Ty!

It is so hard to pick a house color based on a one inch sample! It is equally as hard to find houses with the Certainteed siding color snow. I'm wondering if having Certainteed snow siding with colonial white trim will clash. Help!

Closing soon on this house. Seller is painting the areas soon.

Not sure if this is the right sub for this question but I just bought a new build and have only been in it for a month and these cracks appeared, is this normal? Hoping a home inspector will chime in. These cracks weren’t there when we had the home inspection done.

We decided to make it by ourselves to remain budget and spend only for the construction materials. We took the windows and the door from the scrapyard of and old house.

Started sleeping inside it by two weeks!

I have been welding professionally for the last 10 years and absolutely love my job. I am incredibly passionate about welding and building, and my dream is to buy land one day and weld the steel frame for my own house. I am very grateful to have friends and family members with experience in almost every stage of the building process (including a plumber, electrician, architect, deep foundation expert, roofer, and land surveyor). However, I do not have a structural engineer in the family.

Does anyone know someone who has actually been able to pull this off? I know it is very rare to find a residential house with steel construction. My vision is to build a relatively simple, 2,000 sq. ft., open-concept steel beam house. Is steel rare simply because wood is easier to work with? I would love to hear from any home building professionals out there! Please let me know how I can make this dream a reality, and feel free to share any advice or insights on navigating a steel-frame build.