I am certainly not a pro but that seems a little high to me. I just placed a 50% deposit on special order tile (although installer is separate). I gave my GC about 1/3 deposit when cabinets went into production and then weekly progress payments. I am in California and there is a limit to the amount contractors can charge for a deposit.

Karkli,

The deposit amounts seems somewhat high to me.

I paid for the tile out of pocket (at contractors rate). I didn't pay for the installation until the job was complete. For my cabinets, I put down 40%. I didn't pay the balance (cabinets and installation) until the day the cabinets were delivered, which also happened to be installation day.

Paid 100% of cabinets when order was placed. We installed ourselves.

Tile and all other stuff was 100% when order was placed, we installed everything but the granite.

I think the granite was 40% down? I know it wasn't more than 50%.

We paid a 50% deposit on cabinets and the remainder was due on the delivery date of cabinets. To the GC it was 10% to start, 40% on demo day, 40 % upon successful installation of cabinets and countertops, and 10% at the end. HTH

I paid 40 upon signing of contract, 40 upon delivery of cabinets, and 20 after install of cabinets. The only expenses not covered under my KD was appliances, plumbing, and electrician. Granite was included in my price.

I ordered my cabinets early, so I paid 1/2 at order then 1/2 at delivery. The 1/2 of install on day 1 and 1/2 at finish.

Granite was 1/2 at order and 1/2 at install.

GC was about 1/3 deposit, then checks as needed, and I still have a final payment of mostly the overage costs and tile install left.

I purchased the tile online, paid in full at order.

Floor and assorted plumbing (toilet, sink, faucets, etc) was 1/2 at order, 1/2 at delivery.

I think as long as you cover the actual cost of materials needing to be purchased by your GC or supplier (since they are on the hook for the cost of those materials once they order) that should suffice. I'm not sure why any of the labor is included up front, unless that is the portion allocated for misc. supplies they need to start.

For my custom cabs, it was 1/3 at contract signing (based on estimate), then when we had a final figure based on final drawings, 1/2 of what was still due before cab construction started, remaining due after install. I think the granite was 1/3 up front , 1/3 at template, 1/3 after install. So I paid about 2/3 before install and 1/3 after, but there was the extra step (final drawings, template) where we were sure of what was going to be done.

We paid 50% when the cabinets were ordered, 50% on delivery. For installation, we paid when the job was completed. I would NEVER pay for installation up front. NEVER. EVER.

Where are you located? Aren't there laws in place that prevent contractors from getting paid up front for work that has not been completed??

I paid my cabinet maker 25% when I signed the contract (bid price was for cabinets, quartz counters, and installation); 40% when they started cabinet construction, and I'll pay the balance when everything is completed to my satisfaction.

For those of us who bought cabinets from Big Box, we paid 100% at time of order. This is cabs only as we did our own install. Even if Big Box arranges your installation, the entire price of the cabs is due when you order.

Tile was also 100% at time of order from Arizona Tile. Tile (it's all special order) only takes a few days to come in, but your installation for tile is way down the road, so your arrangement makes sense to me.

I believe our granite was 50% at order and 50% after installation. Our granite place did their own fabrication, so the cost of materials and labor were combined.

I wouldn't be comfortable paying so much for cabinet installation up front. If you are just now ordering cabinets, the labor part isn't going to happen for another 6 weeks or so. Why do they want so much so soon?

I would not want to pay for installation up front. There's no need for that other than to float them a "loan" right now. They haven't earned it yet. I'd be afraid they might be having financial difficulty. If they went under, you'd lose it all.

Many places, such as the box stores, will require it all up front. Everything. Some places will start with only 50% down. "Reasonable" is everything in between and entirely depends on your comfort level with the supplier, contractor, and any possible recourse that you could have if it went wrong. Most people have a higher comfort level with a larger company or chain than they would a smaller more independent business. Therefore, they are more willing to acquiesce to those policies that require more money up front if they are purchasing from such a concern.