34' Thompson

[anxious_f]

It has seemed to me that a LOT of 34' owners went with the Thompson, yet I don't see a thread for them yet. Weird.

Well...welcome Thompson owners!!

What elevation? What kind of upgrades, if any?

[anxious_f]

To any other Thompson owners that may be on here....

Did they say anything to you during any of your appointments or walkthroughs about making the wall between the laundry and 2nd bedroom a quiet wall? It wasn't in the drawing, but we were told that they made it a quiet wall while we were on our walkthrough. Unfortunately, they had already drywalled over top of it so I couldn't see it right away. When I went back, I peeked between the pieces of drywall and saw that it is NOT, in fact, a quiet wall.

I just wanted to know if anyone else got it as a quiet wall.

[Greg]

Its not a quiet wall in our house, nor were we told it would be one.


Here are some things I have noticed that differ from the drawings and/or model:

- The portion of the breakfast bar between the kitchen and the living room is narrower than indicated, it is the same thickness as the section over the cabinet between the kitchen and dinette.

- Instead of top swing cabinet-style doors for the banquette seating its has drawers.

[JFiolek]

I was told the quiet wall was just a 2x6 instead of 2x4 and insulated, does that sound correct???

[anxious_f]

Its not a quiet wall in our house, nor were we told it would be one.


Here are some things I have noticed that differ from the drawings and/or model:

- The portion of the breakfast bar between the kitchen and the living room is narrower than indicated, it is the same thickness as the section over the cabinet between the kitchen and dinette.

- Instead of top swing cabinet-style doors for the banquette seating its has drawers.

I take it you got the family kitchen then? We only did the pantry and not the full upgrade.


I was told the quiet wall was just a 2x6 instead of 2x4 and insulated, does that sound correct???

Yes, that's what it's supposed to be. I wasn't expecting them to do it in mine either. I was going to do it myself (at least the insulation part) before they put up the drywall, but they were too quick for me.

Not a big deal.

[Greg]

Yes we did get the family kitchen.

The quiet wall for us isn't a 2x6, its regular 2x4. I also have a suspicion that the bit of wall between the master and the side bedrooms isn't quiet, like its supposed to be.

[anxious_f]

I was looking at that yesterday and at quick glance, I don't think the rooms really overlap as they do in the drawing. I think that the linen closet seperates the two. No?

[Greg]

Nope, they do overlap. The reason I think its not insulated there is because I was in the house after the other quiet wall had its insulation put in and just before the drywall went up.

[anxious_f]

I'm not as concerned about that portion of the wall. I think, however, that it would have been a good idea to do the wall between the ensuite shower and the 3rd bedroom. With the cold air return there, it would have been useful to keep the noise of the shower from going through.

[Greg]

For us the cold air return is on the wall between the side bedroom and the walk-in closet, so it shouldn't be too loud, I hope.

Speaking of which, that is another thing that I noticed that varies from house to house. I have seen Thomspons with the cold air return on the half wall between the kitchen and the living room (under the bar) but ours has it on the wall between the living room and the dining room.

[Style]

For us the cold air return is on the wall between the side bedroom and the walk-in closet, so it shouldn't be too loud, I hope.

Speaking of which, that is another thing that I noticed that varies from house to house. I have seen Thomspons with the cold air return on the half wall between the kitchen and the living room (under the bar) but ours has it on the wall between the living room and the dining room.


Sometimes I wonder if different framers even use the plans! have seen alot of things framed incorrectly in my place as well and they truly are silly mistakes! I think if they were all more consistent with their work there wouldnt be so much future owners being skeptical if things were done right or wrong!

Just my two cents!

[Greg]

There were numerous framing mistakes with my house, and a lot of carelessness. They framed the door the master bedroom in the wrong spot so it didn't line up with the arch that its supposed to be centred on, they forgot a windown in the master bath, and I won't even bother listing all the careless stuff they did/didn't do. In the end they fix the major things (after Mattamy goes through and writes it in a big black marker for them), but still.

[anxious_f]

For us the cold air return is on the wall between the side bedroom and the walk-in closet, so it shouldn't be too loud, I hope.

Speaking of which, that is another thing that I noticed that varies from house to house. I have seen Thomspons with the cold air return on the half wall between the kitchen and the living room (under the bar) but ours has it on the wall between the living room and the dining room.

Did you get the 'Fireside Gathering'? We got it and we have a cold air return on the living room side of the breakfast bar as well as the the wall between the front closet and the dining room. (I think)

Now that I think of it, the cold air return might be on the closet wall and not the shower wall.

[guin1060]

My post in the problems thread relates to the thompson homes. In the paper work I have it shows the walls for the laundry room insulated, as well as the overlapping wall that exist between the master bedroom and the other bedroom. I may have overlooked this on the framewalk. Are you guys saying that they did not insulate these walls in your houses?

[guin1060]

by insulate I mean sound proof.

[JFiolek]

My post in the problems thread relates to the thompson homes. In the paper work I have it shows the walls for the laundry room insulated, as well as the overlapping wall that exist between the master bedroom and the other bedroom. I may have overlooked this on the framewalk. Are you guys saying that they did not insulate these walls in your houses?

mine was built with 2x6 and insulated completly around the laundry room.

[Greg]

No fireside gathering, and we too have a return between the closet and the dining room, its a double or even triple length one.

The only sound proofing that are shown on my plans are between the master bedroom and the laundry room and side bedroom. The wall between the laundry and front bedroom is not shown to be insulated. I know that they did insulate between laundry and master, but I don't think they insulated between master and side.

[anxious_f]

That's probably why your cold air return is in a different place for the great room. I imagine that the people with the Fireside Gathering can have the cold air return on the wall where the media niche is, so they move it to the breakfast bar.

The insulation between BR2 and the laundry was not on my drawing either, but Tom from Mattamy told us that it was insulated. That leads me to believe that some were and some weren't.

[guin1060]

If you opted for the knee wall, then you most likely have have the cold air return under the breakfast bar.

This could possibly be a stupid question, but why do they put the cold air return so high up on the walls. For example, the one in my master bedroom is at the top of the wall. Hot air rises, would it not make sense to have it ground level? Just something I noticed while going through my place.

Is there anyway of telling if your wall is in fact insulated, after the drywalling? Attic?

[ShaunnNRachel]

The reason they put them up high is for air conditioning. All new houses have the sheet metal designed for air conditioning. By putting the air return at the top its going to pull the cool air up, because cool air falls. Older homes didn't consider air conditioning so they put air returns at the foot of the walls. Hopefully this info helps.

[anxious_f]

The reason they put them up high is for air conditioning. All new houses have the sheet metal designed for air conditioning. By putting the air return at the top its going to pull the cool air up, because cool air falls. Older homes didn't consider air conditioning so they put air returns at the foot of the walls. Hopefully this info helps.

That's great info...I didn't know that. Makes sense, however.


If you opted for the knee wall, then you most likely have have the cold air return under the breakfast bar.

This could possibly be a stupid question, but why do they put the cold air return so high up on the walls. For example, the one in my master bedroom is at the top of the wall. Hot air rises, would it not make sense to have it ground level? Just something I noticed while going through my place.

Is there anyway of telling if your wall is in fact insulated, after the drywalling? Attic?

If you knock on the wall that is insulated, you will here a difference from the wall that is NOT insulated. If they haven't mudded the drywall yet, then you could peek between the seams of the drywall pieces. If you can see through, there's no insulation.

[guin1060]

Great info Shaunn.


Just saw your post now anxious, funny thing is that I went to house today prior to seeing your post and I tried the good old knocking trick.......but I can't tell the difference between an insulated knock and a hollow wall knock, lol. I'll just not it for the inspector to check.

[guin1060]

Has any Thompson owner received the post and pickets at the top of the stairs? Just curious.

I forget who posted a remark about the master bedroom door not being centered to their arch, but thank you. Our door is not centered as well, maybe an 2 inches and a bit off center but I did notice it after the person posted their mistake.

[guin1060]

Also, was anyone told that they would not be putting in the post and pickets at the top of the stairs?
There is definately something different in the hallway and foyer of the thompson model and the thompsons being built at millpond, I just can't pin point it, probably because my house is flipped and I can't get my head around the flip. But if anyone can figure out the differences in these areas, let me know.

[Greg]

Our master door wasnt centred. We do have the pickets.

[anxious_f]

I don't have ANY pickets yet, top or bottom. Our house isn't that far along yet. But it doesn't seem to me that we will have pickets at the top of our stairs.

However, these might be some of the last things to go in so that they don't get damaged while the house is still being worked on.

guin1060, when do you close? I didn't see you listed in the "Which lot did you purchase?" thread.

[guin1060]

We close Feb. 11th. Lot 148/House 83......possibly the only house on Callaway without a number.

[gagnon777]

That's great info...I didn't know that. Makes sense, however.



If you knock on the wall that is insulated, you will here a difference from the wall that is NOT insulated. If they haven't mudded the drywall yet, then you could peek between the seams of the drywall pieces. If you can see through, there's no insulation.


Anxious --- that's why a framewalk lets you see the insulation (approved by the inspector) before they drywall. I asked our guy yesterday and he said he was surprised that they did framewalks with the drywall up. We had our framewalk yesterday and we got to see all the insulation, wiring, etc. and was able to make adjustments.

[JFiolek]

Hey guys I don't have pickets either, but as far as the framing goes I guess I got lucky. I have a friend that is doing framing in the millpond and he asked if he could do ours. He did an awsome job there wasn't to much of the black marker and spray paint. He mad sure he was doing his job right. It seems these other dicks that build your homes just need to pay more attention. I thought with a builder like Mattamy you wouldn't get Mickey Mouse builders. The stuff you are talking about I can't believe they missed it, we are going to the site todayto take another look after hearing your problems.

[anxious_f]

Anxious --- that's why a framewalk lets you see the insulation (approved by the inspector) before they drywall. I asked our guy yesterday and he said he was surprised that they did framewalks with the drywall up. We had our framewalk yesterday and we got to see all the insulation, wiring, etc. and was able to make adjustments.

I agree that the point of a framewalk is to see what's been done and it's extremely frustrating that they went ahead and started drywalling before we were able to get there. Knowing the speed in which the drywallers work at, they started drywalling after we had already set up our appointment and were almost done the home by the time we got there at the end of the next day. I'm sure that they could have waited the 24 hours to start, but didn't. When I questioned them about it, they basically told me it was too bad.

[Style]

I agree that the point of a framewalk is to see what's been done and it's extremely frustrating that they went ahead and started drywalling before we were able to get there. Knowing the speed in which the drywallers work at, they started drywalling after we had already set up our appointment and were almost done the home by the time we got there at the end of the next day. I'm sure that they could have waited the 24 hours to start, but didn't. When I questioned them about it, they basically told me it was too bad.


That is too bad! I would be telling them that It's too bad for them! Your the damn customer and not them! If you have issues they are there to rectify the problem! I would of made them start tearing it down if they did that to my house!
Just makes me feel kind of uneasy on what they are trying to hide or cover up! I dunno but thats just a gut feeling that i would get seeing that!

Don't want to alarm you though! if you and your spouse are truly uneasy about it see what they can do for you! It doesnt take long for these guys to drywall! You need to make sure you get everything that you pay for,or else ask them to compensate you somehow! Just a suggestion!

[anxious_f]

I was at the house frequently and I know what was done. The ONLY thing that I missed was the insulation. I would assume (and hope) that it was done properly.

It doesn't make it any less frustrating though.

[guin1060]

Our master door wasnt centred. We do have the pickets.

Hey Greg,

When you say you have the pickets are you talking about the ones at the top of the stairs opposite of the handrail?

If so, what thompson elevation do you have? Also, do you have 9' ceiling on the main floor?

[guin1060]

I have an unexpected support column that stands near the basement staircase. Since the column is in line with staircase and easy to box, I didn't make a big deal about it.

Just another difference from the model that I have noticed.

I am extremely satisfied with the job they did with the basement in my home. They tucked the furnace, water heater and sump pump nicely in the corner. Generally, the furnace ducts and the wiring was neatly done.

[gagnon777]

that's too bad.
hopefully all was ok behind the dry wall.

[Greg]

Hey Greg,

When you say you have the pickets are you talking about the ones at the top of the stairs opposite of the handrail?

If so, what thompson elevation do you have? Also, do you have 9' ceiling on the main floor?

Yup, pickets and post opposite of the hand railing. Its elevation A with 9' ceilings on the main floor.


One thing that kind of pissed me off was the extra wall in the basement that they put in to support the floor joists because of the step down from the 8' foyer to the 9' dining/living/kitchen level. The model didn't have this and I wasn't expecting it. To boot it had no door in it till the very end! I noticed that in some of the Thompsons a nice wide opening was framed in that wall from the start, mine only got a regular width door as a 'black marker note'.

[guin1060]

Hey Greg,

I would like to hook up and tour both our homes, if you would like. I'm really only interested in the location of this staircase and these damn pickets/post. I understand if your too busy or just don't want to. Let me know.
I'm available anytime.

Geoff Guin

This also goes for anyone who would like to take a glance at my place, open door concept, just let me know.

[guin1060]

Greg,
I didn't realize you already moved in but got reading that other thread and realized it was you. I definately understand if your too busy now.

By the way, congrats.

[Greg]

Thanks.

Yah, I don't have all that much time at the present. I'm installing my appliances (looking forward to tinkering with the electrical panel to hook up the dish washer feed), I need to research and get a water softener, then research and get a central humidifier so my hardwood stops shrinking, I also need to get some window coverings because I'm not really an exhibitionist and of course there is unpacking to be done.

But if you see a black Acura TL parked in the driveway by all means stop by to take a look.

[anxious_f]

Thanks.

Yah, I don't have all that much time at the present. I'm installing my appliances (looking forward to tinkering with the electrical panel to hook up the dish washer feed), I need to research and get a water softener, then research and get a central humidifier so my hardwood stops shrinking, I also need to get some window coverings because I'm not really an exhibitionist and of course there is unpacking to be done.

But if you see a black Acura TL parked in the driveway by all means stop by to take a look.

Hey Greg, you should call Applewood and ask about the humidifier. I talked to one of the sales guys from there and he said that we would get a good deal from them on a unit like that. His name escapes me now, but I have it written down at the office.

[Greg]

Do you have a phone number for them?

[anxious_f]

That is also at the office so I will get you the phone number and the guys name when I'm in there later today.

[guin1060]

Here is the contact info for a friend of mine that works at Applewood (the same company that installed our furnaces). Contact him regarding group buy information on A/C, humidifiers etc. For better pricing let him know that you were given his contact information by Geoff Guin.

His information is as follows:

Greg Stephen
HVAC Consultant
Applewood Air Conditioning
416.997.9406
stephengreg@hotmail.com

He will need the address of your home as well as lot number in order to look at the engineering dwg. of your house. This will allow him to get the correct size A/C, humidifier etc.

[anxious_f]

Geoff,

I was in my house yesterday and they have installed the pickets and railings for the stairs. They did, in fact, put in a railing at the top of the stairs. I only have 8 ft ceilings as well.

Have you had this issue cleared up in your place yet?

[guin1060]

No, I have not had this issue cleared up. I have no idea why you both yourself and greg have pickets and railings opposite of the railing. Only difference is the model type. I have "C" opposed to your "A".

I guess only time will tell.

[anxious_f]

No, I have not had this issue cleared up. I have no idea why you both yourself and greg have pickets and railings opposite of the railing. Only difference is the model type. I have "C" opposed to your "A".

I guess only time will tell.

I have learned through experience that you should tell them about a concern when you find it. If you wait until the end, (ie during your PDI) then they are more likely to tell you that it's too late or try to just brush it off.

As I've mentioned in the past, I kept things that I noticed to myself, thinking that I could just save them all for the framewalk, and then was told during the framewalk that it was too late. They weren't major enough issues for me to fight Mattamy over, but still things that I would have liked done a bit differently.

[guin1060]

Trust me, I am very vocal. I have called our design rep., Sophie, and the top design person at Mattamy, Barb McDougal (think that is her name). I also talked to about four different foreman at the site.

I went to the design centre today and talked with Jen Lukasen. Going back on Monday to finalize what they are going to do.

I really need to take a peek at your place or Greg's place and figure out the differences. If you would like to meet up sometime on the weekend it would be much appreciated.

I don't understand how there is space for the pickets and post in your homes, they can't fit in the space we have in our hallway.......hmmmm.....

Wish there was someone out there with 9' ceilings and elevation "C".

[JFiolek]

Hello we got an "A" and we don't have the pickets either.

[anxious_f]

Trust me, I am very vocal. I have called our design rep., Sophie, and the top design person at Mattamy, Barb McDougal (think that is her name). I also talked to about four different foreman at the site.

I went to the design centre today and talked with Jen Lukasen. Going back on Monday to finalize what they are going to do.

I really need to take a peek at your place or Greg's place and figure out the differences. If you would like to meet up sometime on the weekend it would be much appreciated.

I don't understand how there is space for the pickets and post in your homes, they can't fit in the space we have in our hallway.......hmmmm.....

Wish there was someone out there with 9' ceilings and elevation "C".

I'm by the house fairly frequently, but I usually just drop in. I will probably be there sometime around lunch time on Saturday next (we have people coming to see our current home).

You can feel free to pop in anytime you want to. If I show up while you're there, just introduce yourself and I'll be fine with it.

[guin1060]

I might take you up on that offer. Feel free to stop in our house if you would like to see the progress so far. It is pretty much completed with the exception of the kitchen.

Thanks in advance.

Geoff Guin

L148, 83 Callaway

[anxious_f]

Hey Geoff, I was by the site this morning when I dropped my girls off at daycare and their putting your siding on today. You close next week, right?

[guin1060]

Yeah, we close next wednesday. They still have a few things to finish, but at least we finally have a house number and siding. We are still waiting on some missing kitchen cabinet boxes and cabinet boxes for the bathrooms. PDI is scheduled for next monday.

[anxious_f]

Awesome!! Let us know how it goes. We close in a few weeks and it would be great to add to the list of things to look out for.

[anxious_f]

Jason and Geoff,

Just curious...did they put in your upper pickets and railing in yet? I would really hope that yours is in, Geoff. What reason did they give you that it hadn't been done?

[JFiolek]

Jason and Geoff,

Just curious...did they put in your upper pickets and railing in yet? I would really hope that yours is in, Geoff. What reason did they give you that it hadn't been done?

Yes mine is in but we didn't get pickets at the top

[bill w]

I was reading a post about diffrences to the Thompson Model against the one's bieng built in Millpond. I have a elevation C and moved in on May 14th. The biggest diffrence is the lack of the picket rail at the top of the stairs and the media niche is much smaller in Millpond. I dont mind the pickets it actually makes the space seem bigger at the top of the stairs but I am a little dissapointed in the media niche. I also read about the unexpected post in the basement, if you have the opportunity to ask them to make sure it lines up with the stair wall they build. I didn't notice untill it was too late. I was able to put half of it into the wall and create a interesting design feature in the hallway. All in all I am very happy with my Mattamy experience.

P.S. They dont hook up the breaker for the dishwasher and they don't tell you until you ask.

[bill w]

I have a elevation C with 9fts and no pickets, you are welcome to take a look if you have not moved yet

[Greg]

Indeed, took me a bit to figure out that the dishwasher breaker wasn't wired, though I should have known better. Of course they aren't going to wire the cable in the panel if the other end is just sticking out of the floor, bare and exposed.

Another big and strange difference is that with 9' main floor ceilings there is an extra wall in the basement, right at the bottom of the stairs. This annoyed me because mine didn't have a door framed into it from the start so they had to go in afterward, I only got a standard width opening where houses that had it framed from the start got a nice and wide opening.

[bill w]

I didnt have a wall, my basement was completly open with the exception of the miss placed post. I have lookouts so that may be the diffrence