Terms & Conditions of Service
Contractor: Emil Miller t/a Emilio's Pietra Deco (“the Contractor”, “we”, “us”)
Trading Address: 173 Rothesay Road, Blackburn, BB1 2ES, United Kingdom
Contact: emil@pietradeco.uk | +44 7375 557887
Website: pietradeco.uk
1. Scope & Acceptance
These Terms and Conditions apply to all consultations, quotations, supply of samples, and decorative finishing services provided by the Contractor to the client (“the Customer”, “you”).
The payment of a deposit, approval of a quotation, or instruction to commence work constitutes formal acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
2. Sample Boards
The first two bespoke sample boards are supplied at £50 each.
Where the Customer proceeds with the full project, the cost of up to two initial sample boards will be credited against the final invoice.
If the project does not proceed, the charges for the initial sample boards remain due and payable in full.
Any additional sample boards requested beyond the initial two are charged at £50 each and are strictly non-refundable.
3. Quotations & Pricing
All quotations are valid for 30 calendar days from the date of issue unless specified otherwise in writing.
Quotations are prepared based strictly on visual inspection and information accessible at the time of site survey.
Quotations cover only the specific works outlined in the written proposal. Any unforeseen substrate issues, hidden defects, or remedial work discovered after work begins will be discussed and agreed upon as a separate variation before proceeding.
4. Deposits & Payment Terms
A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total project value is required to reserve booking dates in the work schedule and secure bespoke materials.
Specialist, tinted, or bespoke materials may be ordered immediately upon receipt of the deposit.
The remaining balance of 50% is due immediately upon practical completion of works, prior to final sign-off, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Retention of Title: Title and ownership of all materials and installed finishes remain with the Contractor until all sums due have been received in cleared funds.
Late Payment: Overdue balances may incur statutory interest and recovery costs under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 (for commercial clients) or interest at a rate of 4% per annum above the Bank of England base rate (for domestic consumers), calculated daily from the due date until settlement.
5. Nature of Artisan & Decorative Finishes
Decorative plaster, microcement, and architectural finishes are hand-crafted, artisan products applied on-site.
Every installation is unique; natural variations in shade, movement, tone, trowel marks, aggregate dispersion, and surface sheen are inherent characteristics of hand application and do not constitute defects.
Sample boards serve as an indicative aesthetic guide only and do not constitute an exact replica of a large-scale wall or floor installation.
Decorative finishes cannot and should not be compared to uniform, machine-manufactured surfaces, wallpaper, or standard emulsion paint.
6. Substrates, Wall Preparation & Hidden Defects
Quotations assume structurally sound, dry, flat, and stable substrates based on visible site conditions at the time of quotation.
Pre-existing defects—including structural movement, settlement cracks, dampness, moisture ingress, hollow plaster, failing paint layers, or poor prior workmanship—may require additional preparation.
The Contractor cannot be held responsible for latent or concealed substrate defects that could not be identified by visual survey prior to work commencing.
Any additional priming, reinforcing mesh, tanking, or structural skimming required will be priced and agreed in writing before application.
7. Colour Matching & Environmental Conditions
While every care is taken to match requested shades, exact colour matching cannot be guaranteed due to natural mineral pigments and batch-to-batch variations.
Natural lighting, room orientation, artificial lighting temperatures (Kelvin rating), and adjacent interior colours directly influence the perceived colour and sheen of decorative finishes.
8. Customer Responsibilities
The Customer agrees to ensure the following conditions are met prior to and during the installation:
Provide safe, unhindered, and continuous access to the working area for the agreed working hours.
Clear the workspace of all furniture, fittings, wall hangings, and personal valuables prior to the Contractor’s arrival.
Ensure all wet trades, carpentry, electrical first-fix, and dusty construction activities are fully completed before decorative finishing begins.
Provide working 240V electricity, adequate lighting, running water, and a consistent ambient room temperature (ideally between 12°C and 22°C) with proper ventilation to facilitate correct curing.
The Contractor accepts no liability for delays, surface contamination, or finish defects caused by third-party trades, dusty environments, or failure to provide these conditions.
9. Variations & Additional Works
Any change, addition, or modification to the agreed specification requested after the quotation has been accepted will be treated as a variation.
Variations will be quoted separately and must be approved in writing before the additional works commence.
Variations may result in adjustments to both the total cost and the scheduled completion date.
10. Inspection & Snagging
Practical completion takes place when the agreed finish has been fully applied and sealed. The Customer will be given the opportunity to inspect the finished works upon completion.
Any cosmetic concerns or snagging items must be raised within 48 hours of completion to allow prompt remediation.
Standard of Inspection: Finishes are assessed under normal, ambient daylight or standard room lighting from a normal standing viewing distance of not less than 1.5 metres. Inspections conducted with artificial spotlights, torchlight, or at extreme grazing angles are outside standard trade tolerances and are not accepted as valid grounds for defect claims.
11. Cancellations & Cooling-Off Period
Bespoke Goods Exclusion: Under Regulation 28(1)(b) of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, statutory cancellation rights do not apply to goods and materials made to order, tinted, or tailored to the Customer’s bespoke specifications.
If the Customer cancels a scheduled project after materials have been ordered or bespoke blends mixed, the Customer remains liable for the full cost of those materials and any delivery charges.
Cancellations made within 14 calendar days of the agreed commencement date will result in the forfeiture of the deposit to cover allocated labour time, administrative costs, and lost scheduling.
12. Delays Beyond Contractor Control (Force Majeure)
The Contractor shall not be held liable for failure or delay in performing works caused by events outside reasonable control, including but not limited to: manufacturer material shortages, supplier logistical failures, transport breakdowns, severe weather, building moisture/damp issues, structural movement, or interference from other trades on site.
In such events, the completion schedule will be extended by a period reasonably necessary to overcome the delay.
13. Workmanship Guarantee & Limitations
Workmanship is guaranteed for a period of 12 months from the date of practical completion.
This guarantee covers delamination, flaking, or failure resulting directly from defective application.
Exclusions: The guarantee does not cover:
Structural movement, substrate settlement, building cracking, or deflection of the substrate.
Water ingress, rising damp, plumbing leaks, condensation, or environmental moisture.
Accidental damage, impact marks, scratches, exposure to abrasive chemicals/acidic cleaners, normal wear and tear, or improper maintenance.
Any remedial works or alterations carried out by third parties.
14. Photography & Marketing
The Contractor reserves the right to take non-identifying photographs and video recordings of the completed installation for use in portfolios, social media, marketing, and trade competitions.
We respect client privacy: personal belongings, house numbers, or identifying features will not be displayed without prior written consent. If you do not wish images of your space to be used, please notify us in writing prior to project commencement.
15. Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising under these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.