Should I pay a roofer upfront?
A contractor may reasonably request a deposit or staged payments for materials and larger projects, but homeowners should be cautious about paying the entire contract value before work begins. Payment stages and what triggers them should be agreed in writing.
Deposits versus paying upfront
A deposit towards materials on a larger job is not unusual, particularly where a covering has to be ordered specially. Paying for the whole job before work starts is a different proposition and leaves you with no leverage if things go wrong.
Payment terms should be written down before work begins, including what triggers each payment.
Protecting yourself
Pay in a traceable way rather than cash, keep the written quotation and any variations, and ask for an invoice that describes the work carried out.
Be wary of a request for full payment in cash on the day, especially from someone who approached you rather than the other way round.