Should I Give My Roofer a Deposit?

A Florida Homeowner’s Guide to Roofing Deposits

When Homeowners embark on a roof replacement in Central Florida, inevitably the subject of deposits comes up. They may be asking themselves “Should I give my roofer a deposit?”

The short answer is: it depends.

Roofing Material Delivery

The longer answer is important, because how and when a roofer asks for money can tell you a lot about their business practices, financial stability, and professionalism.

In this article, we’ll explain:

• How roofing deposits typically work in Florida

• When a deposit is reasonable

• When it is not

• What reputable roofing contractors do to protect homeowners and themselves

Is It Normal for Roofers to Ask for a Deposit in Florida?

Yes… but not always, and not in every situation.

Florida roofing contracts vary widely. A deposit request by itself is not a red flag in fact, it’s relatively standard, but how deposits are handled matters.

Reputable contractors structure payment schedules to protect both the homeowner and the roofing company.

As a homeowner, you should clearly understand:

• What the deposit is for

• When it is collected

• How it is protected

• What happens if the project is delayed or canceled

What Roofing Projects Shouldn't Requires a Deposit?

For most roof repairs, collecting a deposit is unnecessary as repairs typically use materials that are readily available and the actual service should be completed quickly; without the need for special order products.

When Does a Deposit Make Sense?

There are situations where a deposit is reasonable and appropriate, particularly for full roof replacements, insurance-related projects, and jobs involving special-order materials… The key here is timing.

Special-Order Roofing Materials

Many Florida homes use concrete tile, clay tile, or specialty metal roofing systems. These materials are often ordered specifically for your home and are not returnable. 

They take time to produce and manufacture, have large shipping costs and less flexible terms surrounding their purchase.

Our Policy on Deposits:

• We do not collect deposits for repair work unless there is significant custom/special order material involved.

• For most residential, shingle roof replacements, we only collect our initial deposit at material delivery—not at contract signing.

• For projects involving custom or special-order materials, we usually collect 1/3 of your project total when the order is placed and confirmed by the manufacturer/distributor. 1/3 at the completion of the in-progress/dry/in inspection with the county/city municipality and the remaining balance at completion (Projects related to insurance claims may have different terms depending on how payments are structured from the carrier. These details are always discussed and outlined in writing in advance of the project so everyone is on the same page).

• • For exceptionally large projects, or those with extended wait times for special order materials, we also offer third party escrow services to handle deposits and milestone distributions.

  
  

We’re homeowners too and of course we would feel bettter giving a contractor a deposit when we can see actual progress being made, items of value delivered etc.

With that in mind, we always try to take that same approach and extend the same courtesy when dealing with deposit requests from our customers.

Roofing Deposit Red Flags

Be cautious if a roofer:

• Demands a large deposit for repair work or before materials are ordered

• Requests full payment upfront

• Cannot clearly explain their payment schedule, cancellation and refund policy

• Pressures you to pay immediately

Florida Law and Roofing Deposits

Florida law does allow contractors to accept deposits and there has been much discussion in the Florida Legislature the last two years surrounding best practices on how to protect Florida Homeowners after hurricanes and storm events.

Ultimately, many provisions were deemed burdensome and left out of final legislation, but there are still requirements in place.

Florida Statute 489.126 generally requires that when a deposit of more than 10% of the contract is collected in advance, contractors must:

1. Apply for permits necessary to do work within 30 days after the date payment is made, except where the work does not require a permit under the applicable codes and ordinances, and

2. Start the work within 90 days after the date all necessary permits for work, if any, are issued

The Bottom Line

• Most Roof repairs should not require a deposit.

• Special-order materials justify deposits, but should be clearly outlined.

• Roof replacement deposits and progress payments should align with material delivery and/or progress, have a structured schedule that is clearly defined in writing, and come with a clear understanding of what happens in the event of project delays or cancelation.

• A contractor should clearly define their payment schedules in writing and should not rely on homeowner deposits to fund other jobs or overhead.

Perhaps the most important piece of advice for homeowners is this:

If you’re uneasy, unsure of the contract language or just don’t fully understand how the deposit or payment schedule works… slow down, pause and ask your contractor for clarification, have a trusted friend or family member review the request, and/or if necessary, consult with an attorney to have them review the details of the contract.

Clarity and communication help roofing projects and their respective contracts run smoothly.