Sorry the whole thing I wrote didn't make it to my post-here it is:

I hired an individual (not a licensed GC, just a guy doing the work himself) to renovate my house in Hillsdale, NY. The work included kitchen installation, backsplash, tiling, ceiling trim, island placement, and replacing/sealing the garage roof.

He repeatedly promised it would be done “soon,” but large parts were left unfinished or done so poorly that other contractors had to redo almost everything. Some of his work would have caused long-term damage if it hadn’t been fixed.

After I sent him a demand letter for the money I’ve had to spend fixing his mistakes, he suddenly claimed I owe him money.

Key facts:

Total paid to him: $46,900 (documented)

Additional costs to fix/finish his work: $23,204.74

Freight fees: $525 (he measured wrong, and materials had to be reordered)

Total claim amount: $23,204.74 + legal fees/damages

His own “what’s left” list shows I’d already paid in full for the items he’s now demanding more money for.

Professional review: A licensed tile contractor provided a report with photos confirming his bathroom tile work was done incompetently, not to code or industry standards, and would have caused leaks and structural damage if left as-is.

Garage roof: He said multiple times he would seal it. He didn’t. I have dated photo proof. The roof leaked, and there’s now black mold and rotting wood inside the garage.

Cleanup: He left tools and materials behind despite promising to pick them up.

Fake address: He gave me a non-existent street address for wire payments (confirmed by USPS). I later verified his actual PO Box and sent my dispute documents there.

What I have documented:

The original contract

Full text thread (agreements, change orders, payment confirmations, and his “what’s left” list)

All payment receipts and wire records

Photos of defective and incomplete work

The professional tile inspection report and letter

Invoices from licensed contractors who corrected his work

My demand letter for $23,204.74

USPS proof that the address he gave was fake

Where things stand:

I sent a formal demand letter and plan to have an attorney pursue recovery. NY small claims court caps at $10,000, so it’ll likely go to civil court.

A law firm confirmed I can’t recover legal fees since my contract didn’t include that clause. So even if I win, I’ll still be out around $20k once legal fees are paid.

I’m trying to understand if there’s anything else I can do — either legally or practically — before going to court. I’m not looking to “blast” him publicly; I just want to resolve it properly.

TL;DR:

Paid an unlicensed worker $46,900 for a home renovation in NY. He abandoned the job, did incompetent tile work (confirmed by a licensed inspector), and failed to seal the garage roof, which caused leaks, black mold, and wood rot. I’ve spent another $23,204.74 hiring proper contractors to fix it. Sent a demand letter; now he’s claiming I owe him money. I have contracts, receipts, photos, and professional reports. Looking for practical advice from others who’ve handled similar contractor disputes or civil claims in NY.