Wood Window Makeover

I can't say enough good things about this company. I did not find them on Angie's list, in fact I searched for years to find someone who could restore rather than replace my home's old classic wooden windows. I had gotten plenty of estimates from guys who said my windows were not worth repairing, that "everybody just replaces these old style windows these days". However one of the reasons I bought my house (South Tampa Bungalow built in 1941) was for these large double hung wooden windows. By chance I attended an Historic Homes Workshop presented by Tampa Preservation, Inc. and I found this company. I have 14 double hung old fashioned sash windows (the kind that uses pulleys and weights). Many of my windows had aging glazing that was failing which they repaired. Also, many of my windows would not open and shut easily which they repaired. But the most unexpected and satisfying aspect of the restoration was that they were able to return complete function of all 14 of my windows---now all of my windows can be opened from the bottom up AND from the top down. From the day I moved in I had thought my windows could only open from the bottom up, I HAD NO IDEA the tops were designed to be able to be pulled down as well. A four-man crew spent an entire day at my house, assessing each window and performing the needed repair/restoration to make each of my 14 windows structurally sound and fully functional. If you are lucky enough to have old fashioned wooden windows and would rather restore than replace them, you need to give these guys a call. They know what they are doing and they do it well.

This is a classic change order contractor (if he's even licensed, I didn't check). The price you sign up for will not be the price you pay. Make sure you read carefully the estimate you sign because he uses "packages" that may or may not reflect the work you need regardless of what he says or what was discussed even moments before. Don't sign it then and there because there's lots of fine print and he's not showing up to start anytime soon anyway. Have him send it to you so you can review it carefully without him hovering over you. He's a nice enough guy but either an idiot or a shyster and I think it's the latter. For an "expert" he is surprised by a lot of things he finds in the window once he actually starts. this is where all the change orders start piling up. I ended up paying much more than the estimate for much less work than agreed and had to hire someone else to finish up after him. I needed two windows repaired - one which was leaking badly and the other which was literally falling apart, but I could afford some more so we started adding windows to the scope until we reached the number I was comfortable with. All the while, he took pictures of what we were discussing. When he finally got around to coming out to do the work, he claimed we never spoke about the leaking window. Though the work showed up in the estimate, he said it referred to a different window since the estimate didn't identify the number of windows, just little scope packages. He refused to show me the pictures he took during the estimate. His true colors came out on one of the front picture windows of the house. I needed two things addressed on this window: repair a rotting sill and replace a large piece of glass with a bb hole in it. He said he would take care of it under the "exterior makeover" package - a mere $1100 for this window. this would be a better deal for me and it will look like new. Well the fine print of this package says "no glass replacement" and, even though during the work we discussed replacing the large piece of glass several times - I had told him I had glass at my shop that he was welcome to use if it would save him time and money (at best a $75 piece of glass) - I come home to find, after a week of working on that window in his shop, that he has reinstalled the piece with the bb hole int! So $1100 later I still have work to do on this window. Who, with any kind of pride in their work, would spend that much effort on something and then put a broken piece back in knowing I wanted it replaced? Last, it was a two week job for which I paid the 10% deposit two months before he started. When he started, we agreed I would pay an interim payment of 50% and a final payment. This is a good deal for anyone in contracting for a two week job. So Friday comes and I pay him 50% even though he's really not there. Next Friday comes and he's not quite done. will be done on Monday. At this point things have gone downhill - I have an entire window left out of the scope and have racked up the change orders. There's no way I'm making the final payment until he is complete. According to him this will be one day later but he gets all bent out of shape because I won't pay him on Friday and then again on Monday. Whines about how I'm screwing him - that's the pot calling the kettle black. I get it - he was clearly broke and needed weekend money, but I owed him no favors at this point. I'm a trusting soul for the most part and take people at their word and will continue to do so. This guy's word means nothing, though, so I won't be calling him again.

I hired Steve Quillian to repair upstairs sash windows. I ended up having to file a police report and report him and his company to the Better Business Bureau. Please see case 1-900-93263-67192518-8-500. The police report is public record City of Tampa. He took and refused to return over $1200 dollars of antique glass, window parts, antique hardware. As proof that he knew full well that he was obligated to return the parts, he did return a few windows, but offered to sell me back my own items. He used or will use these in other projects - check out his web site, you'll see photos of stacks of windows and parts, which he sells for a premimum. Although I cannot prove it was his workers, I also lost over $500 dollars of coins that my parents gave me before they passed away. Steve says that that couldn't have taken it because "they are nice and play soccer". The cops laughed at that one. Please note that nothing has been stolen from my house before or since I had Steve in. I couldn't ask the workers as Steve refused to give me their contact info as they don't speak English. The police had to interview them. I tried very hard to work with Steve for the return of my items. As I said he offered to sell them back to me. He lacks professionalism; he actually screamed at me when I cried over the missing items my parents gave me. He said to speak with his attorney. I did attempt to work with the attorney, but Steve bluffed and told him to tell me he threw everything away. Not likely, too valuable to his business. He knows he is in the wrong, as he refused to even speak with the Better Business Bureau. I do have the consolation of knowing that he will be given poor references by them. Also, I am saving for court fees, and will ask the court for him to reimburse for those when I take him to court. Run Run Run away from Steve Quillian and this company.

Steve Quillan and crew completed a phenomenal job at my house, restoring 6 windows to their original working order. I have struggled to restore a few windows myself, so I appreciate the craftsmanship and knowledge Steve draws on to beautifully and efficiently restore historic wood windows. His team's work practices are top rate: they show up on time, they take care to not make a mess of the house and landscape, and they are problem solvers, not an excuse makers. In short, I would gladly hire him again or recommend him to others.

They are absolutely incredible. Their work is excellent. I would recommend him and I'm using him again in 6 six months. I would give him a key to my house; he is just that trustworthy.