High prices for sloppy work
I caution anyone considering engaging Custom Glass Works of Fort Mill (Custom Glass) to be on the lookout for sloppy work, excessive mark-ups if working through a general contractor, and high up-front payment requirements.
Our general contractor (GC), Kennedy Robinson of Custom Creations, engaged Custom Glass Works to install a frameless shower glass door in our guest bathroom. We were provided with an original estimate for labor and materials of $1,700. However, the final installation price came in at $2,800, which was $1,100 or 65% higher. When we questioned the large increase from the original quote, we were told that the cost increased because we decided, after the initial estimate was prepared, to install a shower bench that the glass would need to wrap around and, as a result, the associated fabrication and labor costs went up. We assumed the cost would go up, but at that point in time, Custom Glass and our GC had us locked in and charged us an exorbitant amount to work around the shower bench. In my opinion, an $1,100 mark-up to cut and install around a shower bench is highway robbery! Given the excessive charges, we expected quality workmanship. Instead, we saw that the glue around the shower glass hinges was seeping out (see attached photo). I can only assume Custom Glass neglected to properly wipe the excess silicon glue before it dried. Also, the glue lines along the bottom of the shower glass door are crooked – the glue line started flush with the glass and eventually stretched out to about an inch along the tile at the other end of the glass. The result was a shower glass install that provides functionally but gives the appearance in some areas of an amateur or DIY installation.
By the time we transitioned to the master bath shower, we were on high alert for the potential overcharges and poor workmanship that could result from re-engaging Custom Glass. Therefore, we solicited a competing quote outside our GC. We ultimately decided to engage another glass company, Accent Glass. We saved $700, or 34%, over Custom Glass for the same exact project by not engaging Custom Glass. By using the other glass company, we not only saved a considerable amount of money, but also experienced an installation that was pristine and exhibited high-quality workmanship without any of the last-minute surprises we experienced with Custom Glass. Custom Glass also requires an unnecessarily high 50% deposit when the order is placed; their competitor, on the other hand, did not require any payment until the job was completed 100% to our satisfaction.
