Leather & Glass Expert

Hello Justin, thank you for your feedback. The company would like to clarify the situation point by point for accuracy. First of all, fingerprints, sealant marks and other minor traces visible in the photos do not represent the final result of the work. On any project, such marks can remain during the process, but at the end the craftsman always goes over everything again and cleans it up. All of the photos you attached show only an intermediate stage, not the finished result. The pictures clearly show tools and unfinished sealant, whereas in the end all joints were sealed. Secondly, before the job even began, you agreed that the sealing work should be done “strong and reliable” rather than only “perfectly neat.” This was discussed because in many areas the tile had shifted and there were wide gaps of 1/8 to 3/16 inch. To seal such gaps properly and prevent leaks, a stronger application of silicone was required. In such cases, it cannot look like a thin cosmetic line — the priority is durability and function. Third, regarding the caulk color: the craftsman asked you before starting whether you preferred white, almond, or gray. Your response was that it didn’t really matter, as long as the color wasn’t too bright or ugly. Based on that, the final choice was made together. Fourth, regarding costs: the original estimate was $800 for a specific scope of work. Later, you personally asked to add extra tasks — sealing the kitchen and four additional windows. Naturally, this increased the final price. Otherwise, should such additional work have been done for free? Fifth, regarding the dryer vent replacement: the craftsman explained that a full replacement was unnecessary and that only the damaged section could be changed. It was also made clear that the new paint would not match perfectly, since your house paint is old and faded. To achieve a perfect match, a physical sample would have needed to be cut out from the wall. You said it was fine as long as the color was reasonably close. Despite this, you insisted on replacing the entire vent to match the neighbors’. The craftsman warned that the new vent would look thicker and different in color, but you still asked to proceed. At the final inspection, the craftsman once again offered to correct any remarks free of charge. You responded: “No need, everything is fine.” That is why the work was closed. In fact, you even asked him to come back later, after you purchased paint, to do some touch-ups. The craftsman agreed and said he would return in 4–5 days, once you had the paint, and do it free of charge. Yet just two hours after he left, you wrote that you were disappointed — even though shortly before you had confirmed everything was fine. As for material overuse — the only extra expense on the entire project was indeed the craftsman’s fault: at first the wrong sealant color was chosen, which cost $14. If you consider this significant, the company is ready to refund the $14 — simply provide the payment details. And most importantly — instead of directly saying: “I have concerns, my wife is unhappy with this and that, please redo it” — which would have been resolved immediately and free of charge — you chose not to mention it and later presented the situation in a negative light. Every step of the work was explained in advance and approved before proceeding. Nothing was done without agreement.