The funny thing is - when I look at the house foundation - how much foundations is exposed between ground and bottom of brick siding - it all looks even to me. There is no way there is a 6" or more difference between the 2 ends of the house. So it still really surprises me that our yard is so unlevel. When it rains, we never notice precipitation draining towards our driveway. Not sure if we are going to try again this year. The whole thing is covered with snow right now. We never took it apart - I just drained it before we got that storm. So to start over we would need to first disassemble what we have. We originally installed it shortly after Thanksgiving. On a relatively nice day. But we didn't lay out the tarp then - I was concerned about potential branches falling. Or neighborhood dogs running through it. And if you get a hole in your tarp, the tarp is useless. And we didn't level it then. Since we weren't sure where the frame would need to be leveled. And we have no means of checking the leveling over the 34 foot span. (And in hindsight, I would have leveled the wrong places!) The manufacturers instructions say to wait until you are filling the rink to lay the tarp, and they say to level it as you fill it. I just never dreamed that our front yard was on such a slope. We own the rink now. In huge letters all over the box there are huge caution signs saying that you cannot return the tarp after you open it. So make sure your yard is level before you open the tarp. And I'm reading it saying Duh, how does someone not know if their yard is level or not. So I guess I'm that huge Duh! My daughter is a skater, so I justified the purchase of this rink by telling myself that I wouldn't have to pay for practice ice time over the winter months. But instead I just bought ice time for January and February. The world is full of good intentions.

"Yes, if you and your husband are not in accord on this, then it's sure to be exploited by the builder. And it's sure to introduce strife into your relationship as well. If you're not happy with the floors, but your husband is, then you need to pick your battles. You've had enough other issues on this build where having your husband's support to correct is vital. " this is a very good point. as are several made in this thread. movement of wood,,,floating flooring use of fillers etc. but none of it solves anything if it isn't put into effect. expecting perfect just isn't going to happen, having the correct install should be the goal. the reason I asked twice about where the foam insulation was installed, and if load calc was done for hvac is for a good reason. granted you can't see it..which seems to be your main view, but different types of foam insulation allow moisture to exit, others don't. hvac removes humidity. high relative humidity inside a house will cause wood to swell. low rh causes it to shrink. new builds have a lot of RH. moisture content of lumber used for framing, subfloor...sheetrock mud, paint all add to RH load. wooden flooring should always be put inside the house several weeks prior to install....with hvac system running. this acclimates the wood so that you don't have cupping gaps etc. I realize that this is an excellent place to vent your building frustrations...but ignoring the good advice you get here isn't solving anything. understand that you are one house. GC will build other houses & has a working relationship with insulator, hvac company, flooring co...and so on. each will do cya for each other so that the warranty runs out. and then you are left with substandard flooring...brick whatever flavor it is today. they build and move on..you live there. the one advantage you have is that the gc hasn't been paid in full. and having been to court for my own clients...it doesn't often go the way you want. its that cya good ol boy network. you & your husband need to chose what you can live with and can't live with. complaining about every little thing puts you on gc/builder/sub's sh!t list. not saying it is fair...but it is the way it is. construction is a tough field with good and bad players. chose your battles, stick to your guns & keep your complaints short to the point, factual & without getting on an emotional rollercoaster, as it will only make things worse. let your husband handle it if you can't distance yourself from your feelings. it isn't about making friends...it is about getting what you paid for in a huge investment that you will live in for years. IMO this thread is like a train wreck...one can't help but see the latest advent. I'm not trying to put you on the defensive, but as a woman in a man's field of work...these are the things I've learned. best of luck.

Wheelies and Heelies are NOTHING like skates. I have skated all my life both roller and ice and the point of balance is entirely off on Heelies. Nothing like Roller, ice or inlines. Roller blades (inlines) and ice --almost the same. Quads - Entirely different from roller blades and ice. Wonder that I ever survived my childhood. Speed Club- no helmets, no padding ,no wrist guards. Bare skin and short skirts for artistic - floor burns were a badge of honor. Water on the knee? Get some ice on it, see doctor in a day or 2 who might drain it, slap on an ace bandage and go back to practice.

Muskokascp, Where have you been hiding the gorgeous kitchen! Did I miss your reveal? If so, can you include a link when you post the nighttime pics? I have some Hunter Douglas Silhouette's in the adjoining dinette. I would seriously consider moving them to our new kitchen windows and getting something a little more dressy for the dinette. We'll see. Rococogurl. Now don't laugh but in a pinch, I could put a pair of sunglass if need be if the sun got too much. Not sure what kind of shades you were referring to, I would anticipate them being very difficult to adjust because of the long walk around to the area. Sunglasses seem fun, crazy, but workable. Hello to Lavender Lass! I wish they were popular because it wouldn't have taken me 3 years of searching to find one to visit. I find on rare occasions one small window above the sink. Forget the one I'm looking for. I'm not sure why you consider it more modern. The first 2 pics I posted were traditional. The small appliance wall and base cabinets would determine the style of the overall kitchen. I was going to go modern, but now I'm softening the look. Who knows by the time I actually get this kitchen started. If there is one thing I don't think would EVER, EVER go out of style and that is windows. Since windows open the outdoors into your home, nature would have to go out of style and that isn't going to happen.