I'd like to follow and I hope some experts will help you. It looks awful.

Likely the framers didn't plumb the framing before drywall was installed. Not a structural flaw.

Here is what the mandatory Warranty Programme I used to build under has to say on the matter:

This is likely the result of poor quality control during the framing phase. Guessing the studs are not placed directly in line with the bottom plate of the wall. I'm guessing if you see it at the floor you will probably see it some places where the walls meet the ceilings. This is the result of rapid production building, and is unfortunately the new normal in most of the homes built today. If the framing is ok, it's possible the drywallers installed the drywall with reckless abandon and screwed the sheet over debris in those spots. If you only see the issue at the floor then I'd guess this is the more likely scenario.

Nothing wrong with pursuing them to fix it, but I'm doubtful you will win.

Best of luck

Yeah, looks likely to be really sloppy framing. A little tough to tell how bad this sort of distortion is in photos, but the photos look bad. It may be worth getting a big level or straightedge, running it along the wall, and measuring the amount of deflection/difference.

Yes both of these spots run from floor to ceiling. Some other places in the home bow at the ceiling but not all the way down. I am still waiting on a response from the builder.

They look just as bad in person as in photos. Its extremely disappointing when you spend so much on a home. I was more worried about how these will look over time with settling, and if it was a structural issue.

I agree with Worthy, not a structural issue.

It looks terrible. I’d be throwing a fit about that.

Tract builder special. Move on to the next home ASAP. No time to do it right.

After the furniture and you are moved in it will probably not be noticeable. If it is still noticeable it is opportunity for some creative sculpture.

Have there been any reports of missing drywallers?

Its not structural, but, it is also not attractive. I do think with furniture in place, and art on the walls, and you living with it a while, it will not be all that noticable, and wont bother you as much. I would ask to have the worst spots repaired, however.

As worthy stated there are specific build requirements that are considered 'acceptable' versus unacceptable. In worthy's document you see '15mm' is the allowed bowing. To be clear that's 1.5cm = 5/8". You might be hard pressed to show your bowing is MORE than 5/8".

Go ahead and check your building contract. I will warn you that the 'fix' might be worse than the disease. You have a texture finish that can be HORRIBLE to do a 'patch' type of correction. The entire surface of the walls (in question) would have to be retextured and repainted.

1st: Check your contract (to see if there are requirements for flat/plumb)

2nd: Send documentation (photos) via email to builder. Be sure to use low-tack painters tape (blue is common) on your walk through to show the 'bucket list' of issues you want the builder to fix. This is a normal process that occurs before closing.

What your photo shows is the product of putting the cheapest framing materials in the hands of the cheapest framing contractor and then hiring the cheapest drywaller (who wasn't paid enough to check and shim the framed walls) to install drywall on top of the cheapest framer's product.

Whether it's acceptable or not depends somewhat on the price point. I submit it would be acceptable in an entry-level townhouse (not that I like it), but not acceptable in a move-up home and certainly not in a custom home.

It's tough to specify fit and finish in a home. Homeowners who select their contractor based on a competitive bid generally get what they pay for. Sometimes you can see and tell the difference, and sometimes it's hiding behind the drywall.

Often stuff like this is a strap or large pipe.

The builder responded and said he would go take a look. Nothing else beyond that.

It isn't a "custom" home, as it is in a neighborhood with more cookie cutter style homes with big name builders. But for a $400K home I definitely expect better. Some things are more custom, and are upgrades. So we weren't able to pick our contractors or anything like that.

Sorry to say but you have a Tract home. They are built like assembly lines. As each lot is sold and the house style chosen by the owners, the builders start 'throwing things up'. That's why you have to choose your finishes WAY ahead of the closing date. By the time you pick your finishes your foundation has been dug and poured and the utilities have been run from the property lines to the home.

Within two months you will see the framing up and things moving at a serious pace. Another month and they have the roof up and they are putting up....you get it.

These cookie cutter homes are mid-range products at best. The $400K price tag is more for the size of the house rather than the quality of workmanship.

Just remember that Canadian standards are not US ones. The US as a whole is pretty ornery and resistant to establishing codes and quality standards. It’s happening slowly. But plenty of locations still dig in their heels.

I hear what the pros say about tract homes. And I get it. But I've lived in SoCal so long.... it must be the mecca for tract homes. And though they aren't built like a custom home would be, none of the tract homes I've seen look like that.

I would go check the other homes in the tract and see if others have that particular defect. If they don't, then the builder is more likely to agree to fix the worst of the problems. You can put up a fight and say you're not going to close.... but you need information to weigh all your options. Would they be able to sell this house for even more money if you backed out? Or would they stand to lose money? Do you know others purchasing homes in this tract? Can you chat with them to see how willing to fix the builder would be? Can you talk to some of the tradespeople to see if management is having them fix stuff? I would keep at it and fight as much as possible. I do not think those wavy walls are typical of any tract home that I've ever seen.

Mrs. S-

I have spoke with others we know in the neighborhood that built with the same builder, one even with the same floor plan and they did not have any issues like this. They had smaller minor defects like chipped tile on the fireplace, a cracked trim board, or small holes in walls from where contractors weren't careful moving in equipment. They are all completely shocked, as we were on how bad the walls look. The project manager did say he was going to see what the issue was, I just haven't heard back since. If we decided to back out, I do believe they could sell for more than we are paying. We started our home building process in March, so the market in the area has gone up some in the last year (even with Covid). This is the only "new" subdivision in our area in a really long time and the lots are selling very fast.