Although it will be an expense, I think you need to seek legal advice asap. If not, then I would at least write a letter to the builder outlining all of your issues and how you want them to be resolved (i.e. changes to the building, free upgrades/additions or monetary compensation for living with the mistakes). I feel for you. I've also encountered issues with my builder. It's a difficult process. Good luck.

"I was wanti g to bring a tier forward to laundry and make the patio area smaller, then have lawn." I think I see. It seems a shame to change it as it looks like a lovely space, but that unusable laundry door is strange and your proposed improvements have merit. I think you need a structural engineer, as oklouise suggested, if you want fairly significant stone walls and backfill up to the house. Is that weepholes or sub-floor ventilation along the wall, it looks to be a sizeable step down from the laundry door? I wonder what was there before, what was the original access to the laundry, a deck perhaps?

Hi Doug Sorry, but my first question is why are you commencing construction without the engineering a) resolved and b) approved? If it has been approved then it is a variation and you are quite within your rights to question the engineer as to why the changes are now being put forward compared to the original approved drawings and what are the alternatives. If he has made a change to the original approved design then there needs to be a very good reason he hasn't issued revised drawings to both you and the drafty before sending anything to the fabricators. If he has sent revised drawings then I would be asking some very hard questions of my drafty. If it has not been approved and is being done on the fly then this method of construction is fraught with danger both from an approval and $$$$ perspective by proceeding without a fully resolved design. Your draftsman should be integrating the engineering into their drawings and discovering any clashes BEFORE final drawings are released for approval by the local authority and working around any issues. If there is an approval in place then there has to be engineering drawings around. Additionally, I certainly wouldn't be sending any drawings from an engineer direct to fabricators without them having correlated with the architecturals and without the drafty being in the loop. There is a breakdown somewhere that needs to be fixed otherwise it is going to cost. If i recall correctly, this is a floating concrete cantilevered floor? I would be surprised if anyone on here is going to be able to offer an engineering solution without seeing the whole design and/or loads. In truth, I would be having a chat with your engineer and see why the change or engage him to find a solution to what you now have. I would also be putting aside the design priority and focusing on what is going to work from the engineering perspective. That is the priority for this type of build. There are always ways to accommodate protrusions by making them a feature or covering them with a false facade/beam. Would need to see elevations to offer suggestions. As to the height I would suggest you post some sections of the whole room with elevations. Cheers

Dear Carol, sorry it took me a while to write back - I have been away a bit lately. Yes the reno cost on this particular project was fairly high. To do something high end in a 3 bedroom unit you may need about $500,000.00 for kitchen, bathroom, laundry, custom cabinetry through out, new flooring, painting, furniture, window coverings etc. This renovation was absolutely everything. Similar to building a new home. Please let me know if you have any more questions. Kind regards, Jodie