Questions covered in this guide
Get the project into a written agreement
The FTC recommends obtaining multiple written estimates and an agreement that captures the work, materials, price and timing. Use that as a starting point for your roof project. Ask the contractor to turn important verbal promises into the written scope, including removal, cleanup and the process for unexpected work. Resolve blank or ambiguous entries before signing.
Build a milestone sheet
Make four columns: payment amount, event that makes it due, evidence of that event and who confirms it. Ask the contractor to explain each requested payment using those columns. For example, a proposed material milestone needs a shared understanding of which materials and what confirmation you will receive. This is a comparison format, not a recommended deposit percentage or a statement of your state's payment rules.
Keep changes and financing distinct
Ask how additional deck or flashing work will be documented, priced and authorized. Keep any financing agreement separate from the construction scope and compare its terms before accepting it. The FTC warns against paying the entire project price up front and says state down-payment rules vary. Check the requirements that apply to your agreement instead of treating a national article as a contract review.
Define completion in practical terms
Ask what records accompany the final milestone: agreed work completed, cleanup, product and workmanship documents, and applicable permit or inspection status. Record unresolved items and the promised follow-up rather than relying on an informal conversation. The roofing calculator helps organize a budget; it does not verify a contractor or judge a contract. Save the final proposal, milestone sheet and approved changes together so later payments can be checked against the same agreed scope.
Putting it into practice
The milestone sheet ties a requested payment to an observable event and confirmation record. Extra work and financing remain separate decisions, with completion documents made part of the proposed handoff.
Sources and supported claims
The FTC recommends multiple written estimates and a written agreement specifying home-improvement work, materials, price and timing.
Source ↗ · national · Checked 2026-10-12
The FTC advises against paying the full project amount in advance and notes that state down-payment rules vary.
Source ↗ · national · Checked 2026-10-12