I hate to see you suffering with this. Your build has been going so fast compared to most of those here on the forum. It really has. Rain/nature you have to take out of the equation, and I think you have. From the very beginning you've had to stay on your builder to get anything done. He has other projects going on and it seems like he, like many people, respond to the "squeaky wheel". I agree that you should respectfully keep up the pressure, but I wouldn't even think of it that way. I'd just think of it as "checking in as to the progress." Sounds like he makes a lot of statements (and MANY people do this) just to reassure you/get you off his back. I never believed you would be in as fast as you thought. Just like I don't for one minute believe my own, much trusted builder, when he says the time from building permit to CO is 5 to 7 months. NO WAY. HOWEVER, every statement like that becomes one I can repeat back to him--respectfully--just quoting him and use that as a tool to keep things moving forward. If I need to. And you apparently do. I do remember, however, that he is difficult to get in touch with. He's avoiding you? Since you're the one in charge now with DH away, why don't you talk to him, sweetly and calmly, and set up a weekly check-in. So you will not obsess and feel blown around in the wind. So he will know there is a regular report he needs to make. A good routine is a real help. Then leave the worrying off. Your build is a business arrangement; maybe treating it that way would make the builder act more businesslike. Assuming he's capable of it. My gosh! When in your schedule do you plan to go to a paid job? Or, maybe that will get your mind off your build and onto something else. You have more energy than anyone I know. Well, over age 22 anyway. BTW, I know you don't want to hear this, but it is really hard to move during the holidays. And if you could clear your mind of that expectation I think things would go so much easier for you. In fact, why not plan to wait till after the first of the year, whether the house is ready or not? That way, you can plan your holidays wherever you're living with whoever you're living with. Or, go on a mini-vacation and have your holiday out of town for a change--something to look forward to and take your thoughts off of: "Why, oh why, isn't the house ready for the holidays like the builder said it would be?" Put yourself in charge; not the builder. A mental shift like this is useful because it gives you such a feeling of control. You can control only what YOU can control. Is any of this giving you food for thought?

Hi liketolearn! (I hope this isn't too late!) !!! Are you having the "orange-peel" texture sprayed on walls? If so...let it dry a DAY or more, then prime on top of this texture!!! 1) ONE coat of primer is all that's needed if rolling on!! >>> Sprayed primer could use two coats-depends on operator and equipment. >>> UNLESS you were covering black or navy! Then 2 ROLLED coats of primer would be warranted. >>> It's normal for new primer on drywall to look hazy. Then, do TWO topcoats of color...even if it's white paint. >>> Main reason?? NOBODY puts on an even 1st coat...doesn't happen. Also; one film of dried color isn't very thick OR durable. Two coats evens out color-depth and toughness. 2) Same primer for walls & ceilings is fine under your LIGHT colors. Don't let your sprayed primer get TOO thin! Drywall seams are very thirsty, and may need 2 sprayed coats. 3) Use med.-gray primer under your darker colors. "Pencil-lead" gray is appropriate...then TWO paint topcoats. Leave a 5-hr. drytime between dark coats too! The additional colorant slows drytime a lot. If you're using a color that's heavy on red or magenta colorant, a THIRD topcoat can't be ruled out!! >>> This gray primer is too strong under light colors...sorry! In your case, 2 primer colors are needed:-) Any ?'s...lemme know! Faron

Sombreuil mongrel......yes, he used Durabond but I'm not sure if he did it adequately (I don't know anything about it). I know he used it for the first round of mudding (mixed with the ready-to-use drywall compound) but after that I think he just used the premixed. Our garage is not heated but it is insulated. The walls still look great 12 years on. I hope we didn't make a mistake by using drywall in our poolhouse. Anyway, I was at the paint store (supposedly experts) and they didn't think exterior or interior made a difference in this application and told me that oil primers are not what they used to be (they've taken out a lot of what made them so good because of new environmental laws and for lower toxicity, etc.) and that now they are not much better than the acrylic ones. His demeanor made me lack confidence in what he was saying (he didn't seem to know much when I asked for details), but I went ahead and bought an exterior acrylic primer. Someone tell me its going to be OK because I've just cut in the edges!

Hello mmmmmm, His approach and your descripton seems appropriate. >> Primed drywall can seem "rough" to the touch because the water in Latex primers does tend to "Fuzz-up" the outer paper-layer. Therefore, the light sanding he'll be doing is necessary...ESPECIALLY IF you'll be doing a higher-sheen paint like Satin or Semi-gloss. ANY little variation in wall texture is magnified by the higher sheens. >> In an ideal world, even rolled primer should be sanded for the BEST appearance. >> I'm real glad he's rolling the actual color coats!! This puts much more paint on the surface (per coat). It would take about FOUR spray coats to equal 2 "rolled" coats. Hope all goes well! Faron