Contractor Did Terrible Work and Won't Fix It - What Are My Options?

I hired a contractor to remodel my master bathroom back in October. Paid him $18,500 for a complete gut renovation - new tile, shower, vanity, the works. He finished about 6 weeks ago and I've been dealing with problems ever since.

The issues are pretty bad:

• The tile work is crooked - you can literally see the lines aren't straight when you look down the wall
• The shower has been leaking into the wall. I noticed water damage on the ceiling below after about 2 weeks
• Grout is already cracking in multiple places
• The vanity countertop has a chip they tried to hide with caulk

I've called him multiple times. First few times he said he'd come back to fix it. Then he started making excuses. Now he's not returning my calls at all.

I have the contract (just a basic one-page thing he gave me), text messages where he acknowledged the problems, and photos I took during and after the work. What are my actual options here? This is in California if that matters.

California has some of the strongest contractor laws in the country, so you actually have several good options here. Let me break down the legal framework:

Your Claims:

• Breach of Contract: The contractor agreed to perform work in a workmanlike manner. Crooked tiles and a leaking shower clearly fail that standard.
• Breach of Implied Warranty: California law implies a warranty of good workmanship in every construction contract, even if not written.
• Negligence: A leaking shower causing water damage goes beyond poor aesthetics - that's negligent construction.

California-Specific Protections:

• Under Business & Professions Code Section 7159, contractors must provide detailed written contracts for jobs over $500
• The "one-page thing" may not meet legal requirements, which could actually help your case
• California contractors are required to be licensed - verify his license at cslb.ca.gov

First step: Send a formal written demand letter requiring him to repair the defects within a reasonable time (14-30 days). This creates a paper trail and is often required before litigation.

For a detailed template, check out this California contractor defect demand letter.

Had almost the exact same situation last year with a kitchen remodel. Contractor did a bad job on the cabinets and countertops, then ghosted me.

Here's what actually worked for me:

1. Sent a formal demand letter via certified mail (kept the receipt as proof)
2. Gave him 14 days to respond
3. When he didn't respond, I filed a complaint with the CSLB
4. Within a week of the CSLB complaint, he called me wanting to "work things out"

Turns out contractors REALLY don't want CSLB complaints because it affects their license. He ended up coming back and fixing the work properly, and even gave me a partial refund for my trouble.

The demand letter was key though. It showed I was serious and knew my rights. I used a template I found online and modified it with the specific issues and photos.

Before you do anything else, get an independent inspection done. I'm a licensed home inspector and this is critical for several reasons:

Why you need a professional inspection:

• Documents the full extent of damage (there may be issues you can't see)
• Provides expert opinion on whether work meets code and industry standards
• The leaking shower especially needs investigation - there could be mold starting behind the walls
• Creates official documentation for any legal action

What to ask for:

• Written inspection report with photos
• Opinion on what repairs are needed
• Estimated cost to repair properly

An inspection will run you $300-500 depending on scope, but it's worth every penny. Courts and contractors take a licensed inspector's report much more seriously than homeowner photos. Also, if there's hidden water damage, you need to know about it before it gets worse.

I'd also recommend getting 2-3 written estimates from other contractors to fix the work. This establishes your actual damages.

@FrustratedHomeowner_Mike - One option that often gets overlooked is going after the contractor's bond. In California, licensed contractors are required to carry a $25,000 contractor's bond.

How the bond works:

• It's essentially insurance that protects consumers from contractor poor workmanship or failure to complete work
• You can file a claim against the bond even if the contractor won't cooperate
• The bonding company will investigate and can pay out for legitimate claims

When to use the bond:

• Contractor refuses to fix defective work after demand
• Contractor has abandoned the project
• Contractor is unresponsive or has gone out of business
• You want to avoid the hassle of small claims court

You can look up the contractor's bond information through the CSLB website. The $25,000 should more than cover your bathroom repairs if you can't get the contractor to fix it.

Here's a resource for filing a California contractor bond claim.

Let me add some practical cost-benefit analysis here since I've been through contractor disputes twice now:

Cost of repair vs. cost of litigation:

For $18,500 in damages, here are your realistic options:

• Demand letter: Free to $200 if attorney drafts it. Often resolves things without going further.
• CSLB complaint: Free. Can result in contractor being ordered to fix work or face license action.
• Bond claim: Free to file. Can recover up to $25k. Takes 2-4 months typically.
• Small claims court: Filing fee around $75-100 in CA. Limit is $12,500 ($6,250 for businesses). No lawyers needed.
• Superior court: For amounts over small claims limit. Attorney fees could run $5,000-15,000. Usually not worth it unless damages are significant.

My recommendation for your situation:

1. Get that inspection and repair estimates first ($500-800 investment)
2. Send formal demand letter with documentation
3. If no response in 14 days, file CSLB complaint AND bond claim simultaneously
4. Small claims court as backup if the bond doesn't fully cover it

This approach costs you maybe $1,000 out of pocket and maximizes pressure without attorney fees eating into your recovery.

Update for anyone following this thread:

Took everyone's advice. Got an inspection done - turns out the shower pan wasn't properly sealed and there's mold starting in the wall cavity. Inspector said the tile work also doesn't meet standards. Got estimates from two other contractors to fix everything properly: $8,200 and $9,100.

Sent the demand letter via certified mail with the inspection report and repair estimates attached. Gave him 14 days.

He actually called me on day 12. Initially tried to argue about the inspection findings, but when I mentioned I was preparing a CSLB complaint and bond claim, his tone changed completely. Long story short - he's coming back next week to tear out the shower and redo it properly, fix the tile issues, and replace the damaged drywall. He also agreed to pay for the mold remediation out of his own pocket.

I'm going to supervise every step this time and already have another contractor lined up if he doesn't show or does another bad job.

Thanks everyone for the advice. The demand letter with documentation was definitely the key - it showed I knew my rights and had evidence to back up my claims. Will update again once the repairs are done.