found two links that be might of interest to the op
found crins one i was looking for http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/Severe-Glitch-with-Stairs-Flowers-and-Fences/m-p/238416#M12511
http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/The-Sims-3-Graphic-Mistake/m-p/75864/highlight/true#M3673
edit to add might
Hmmm.... Now that I see the links... I'm thinking rumbutter could be right about that graphic card.
Do any of you know where I could find an update? I tried to use control center to search for one but it says my card is up to date, which it isn't.
if your card is an ati go to http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx
if your card is nvidea http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
