Question about free forum skins.
 

I'm not sure where to ask this as I have e-mailed and posted in the original creator's forums but with no reply. I am currently looking for a new style for my forum but have found 4 free templates that interest me but are not exactly how I want them. Unfortunately I lack the tallent or I'd edit them myself. My question is would it be unethical/illegal to hire a designer to edit a free template to fit my site? I could not find any terms of use or EULA on the site the free templates are on. I've made requests for the original creator to do the edits for me in exchange for the cost of their time but I don't know how much longer I should wait (my forum is on hold until it has a theme).

As long as the code is for private use only and there are no specifics with regards to altering the original code, the simple answer is no; it won't be unethical or illegal. Keep all original copyright intact when doing so.

Ok thank you, but I'm guessing the pricing will be around the same whether I go with a custom design or get a free template edited.

The pricing will vary, dependent upon what you want done. That you'll have to negotiate with the coder/developer. Be specific on what you want and he/she should give you the price up-front. :)

The pricing for a custom modification could be more costly than the actual style itself. It all depends on what kind of alterations are required and how much the person will charge for the alterations. :)