Should You Pay Your Roofing Contractor Upfront?

Not everyone has the confidence to talk about payments, particularly when it’s for a major project like roof replacement. However, foreknowledge in roofing payment schemes will not only give you the confidence to raise the subject with a contractor, it will also help you avoid potential scams. In today’s post, local roofing company Chase Roofing LLC discusses how roofing payments work.

Why You Shouldn’t Pay Your Contractor Upfront

To answer the question posed above: no, you shouldn’t pay your roofing contractor — or any type of contractor or remodeler, for that matter — upfront.

The problem with upfront payments is that it can be easily exploited by scammers posing as contractors. Once they have the entire amount at hand, it’s easy for them to just run with the money and disappear. Or, let’s say the contractor didn’t take the money and run, but botched the roofing job. The contractor will have less incentive to correct their mistakes because you’ve already paid them in full.

Your Contractor Should Ask for a Deposit

So how should one pay for their roof replacement? The standard practice among legitimate contractors is to offer a payment scheme, which involves at least three parts:

1. Deposit. The deposit or down payment is due upon signing the contract, and should not exceed a third of the total cost of the quoted project cost. At this point, it’s important to review and understand the contract before applying your signature. In addition to being the customer’s guarantee of commitment to the project, the deposit will cover the cost of materials and logistics. In storm damage insurance claims, the first check issued by the insurance provider is equal to the deposit.

2. Installments. Further installments may be due at certain milestones of the project, such as upon material delivery or completion of major parts like the framing. Some roofers may ask for a single sum, others may divide this into smaller installments throughout the project.

3. Final payment. The final payment should be withheld until the job is completed to the customer’s satisfaction. This makes the roofer adhere to a high standard of quality throughout the project, and also serves as your leverage in case their work falls short of expectations or encounters significant delays. The contractor should collect the final payment a few days after completion, during which the client signs the remaining paperwork, including those for the warranty coverage.

When you need a roofer that you can trust, give Chase Roofing LLC a call at (757) 872-0700 or (757) 206-1948. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation quote. We serve Newport News, VA, and the surrounding communities.