Trades & Construction

Business Insurance for Roofers

Roofing GL costs 3–5× more than other trades because falls and leak claims are catastrophic. One completed operations claim from a leak discovered 18 months later can exceed your entire annual revenue. Here's exactly what roofing contractors need.

$150–$1500/ monthSolo roofer (GL only): $150–$280/mo. 3-person crew with WC: $400–$700/mo. 5-10 person roofing company (full package): $700–$1,200/mo. Large commercial roofing firm: $1,500–$4,000+/mo. Roofing WC: $20–$35 per $100 payroll — highest of any trade.

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Coverage Types for Roofers

These are the key insurance policies most relevant to your business type — ranked by importance.

🛡️

General Liability

Required

Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage from your roofing operations. Critical: ensure your GL policy includes roofing as a covered classification — some standard BOP policies exclude roofing work over a certain pitch or height. Completed operations coverage for post-job leak claims is essential.

🦺

Workers' Compensation

Required

Roofing has one of the highest workers' comp rates of any trade — falls from height are the leading cause of construction fatalities. WC is mandatory in most states for any employees and is required by virtually every GC and property owner as a condition of letting roofers on-site. Solo operators: verify your state rules — some require WC even without employees.

🚐

Commercial Auto

Required

Covers work trucks and trailers used to haul roofing materials, equipment, and crews. Your personal auto policy won't respond to business use accidents. Physical damage, hired/non-owned auto, and trailer coverage are all important for roofing operations.

🔧

Inland Marine / Equipment

Highly Recommended

Covers roofing equipment: nail guns, compressors, lift equipment, slate cutters, heat welding tools, and materials on job sites. Theft from job sites is common — especially pneumatic tools. Inland marine covers equipment at any location, in transit, and at temporary job sites.

☂️

Umbrella / Excess Liability

Highly Recommended

A single roof collapse, major leak, or multi-person fall injury can quickly exhaust a $1M GL limit. An umbrella policy adds $1M–$5M in additional coverage at relatively low cost. Essential for commercial roofing contractors and any firm doing multi-story or large commercial work.

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What You Need to Know

→Roofing GL rates are 3–5× higher than typical contractor GL — falls, completed operations leak claims, and hail/storm damage disputes make roofing the most expensive trade to insure. Budget for it before bidding jobs.
→Your GL policy MUST classify roofing operations specifically — many standard policies exclude steep-slope (6:12+), commercial, or multi-story roofing. Verify your declarations page lists roofing as a covered classification before binding.
→Completed operations coverage is non-negotiable — a homeowner discovering a roof leak 18 months after installation can file a claim traced back to your work. Your GL must cover post-completion claims. Never waive completed operations.
→Storm restoration contractors face a specific risk: supplementing insurance claims on behalf of homeowners without a public adjuster license is illegal in most states and creates E&O and fraud exposure. Know your state's rules.
→WC rates for roofers run $20–$35 per $100 of payroll — the highest of any trade classification. Falls account for the majority of roofing fatalities and drive rates up significantly. Safety documentation helps at renewal.
→Using 1099 subcontractors without confirmed WC certificates is one of the highest-risk liability decisions a roofing contractor can make — if the state reclassifies them as employees, you are personally liable for all their injuries.

What Does It Cost?

$150–$1500per month

Solo roofer (GL only): $150–$280/mo. 3-person crew with WC: $400–$700/mo. 5-10 person roofing company (full package): $700–$1,200/mo. Large commercial roofing firm: $1,500–$4,000+/mo. Roofing WC: $20–$35 per $100 payroll — highest of any trade.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What insurance does a roofing contractor need in 2026?+

Roofing contractors need five core coverages: (1) General Liability — covers third-party injury and property damage from roofing operations. Must include roofing classification and completed operations. Required by every GC, property owner, and licensing board. (2) Workers Compensation — required in most states. Roofing has the highest WC rates of any trade ($20–$35 per $100 payroll) due to fall risk. (3) Commercial Auto — covers work trucks, trailers, and material transport. (4) Inland Marine — covers nail guns, compressors, lift equipment, and tools against theft from job sites and vehicles. (5) Umbrella — a $1M GL limit can be exhausted by a single serious fall or major leak claim. A $1M–$2M umbrella adds critical protection at $500–$1,500/year.

How much does roofing contractor insurance cost in 2026?+

Cost by company size: Solo roofer (GL + commercial auto only): $150–$280/month. 2–3 person crew with WC: $400–$700/month. 5–10 person roofing company (full package with umbrella): $700–$1,200/month. Large commercial roofing firm: $1,500–$4,000+/month. Roofing is consistently one of the most expensive trades to insure. Workers comp alone for a crew of 5 at average wages can run $1,000–$2,000/month given the $20–$35 per $100 payroll rate. Annual payment typically saves 8–12%.

Why is roofing insurance so expensive?+

Three factors drive roofing insurance costs significantly above other trades: (1) Fall risk — roofing consistently ranks #1 or #2 in construction fatality rates. Fatal falls from roofs drive WC rates to $20–$35 per $100 payroll, the highest of any trade classification. (2) Completed operations exposure — roof leaks cause catastrophic interior damage (mold, structural rot, ruined finishes) that can surface months or years post-installation. These delayed, large-dollar claims are priced into roofing GL rates. (3) Hail and storm complexity — storm restoration work involves insurance claim disputes and supplementing, creating complex liability patterns. Roofing GL is typically 3–5× the cost of framing or drywall GL for the same crew size.

What does roofing GL NOT cover?+

Common roofing GL exclusions to know: (1) Damage to the work itself — if the new roof you installed leaks because of workmanship (not a covered peril), GL pays for the interior damage caused by the leak but not the cost of replacing your faulty work. That is a warranty/rework cost you absorb. (2) Your own tools and equipment — GL does not cover your nail guns, compressors, or lift equipment. Inland marine covers those. (3) Employee injuries — WC covers those. (4) Professional design errors on complex roofing systems — needs Contractor's E&O. (5) Roofing operations outside your declared classification — steep-slope, commercial, or multi-story work may be excluded if your GL only covers residential up to a certain pitch. Read your declarations carefully.

Do I need workers' comp if I use 1099 subcontractors?+

This is one of the highest-risk assumptions in roofing. If the state workers' comp board reclassifies your 1099 subcontractors as employees — which frequently happens in construction when you control the work method, timing, and tools — you are personally liable for all their work-related injuries without WC. Additionally, virtually every GC and property owner requires WC certificates from all subs before allowing them on-site. The standard approach: require all subcontractors to provide a certificate of insurance showing their own WC coverage before they begin work. Keep copies on file for every project. If a sub cannot provide a WC certificate, assume you are exposed.

What insurance does a storm restoration roofing contractor need?+

Storm restoration roofers need everything a standard roofer needs plus: (1) Robust completed operations coverage — storm-funded work is heavily scrutinized and homeowners frequently dispute scope or quality of insurance-funded repairs. (2) Understanding of public adjuster laws — supplementing insurance claims on behalf of homeowners without a licensed public adjuster is illegal in most states and creates fraud and E&O exposure. Know your state's rules before providing any adjuster-like services. (3) Cyber liability — if you're digitally storing client insurance claim information, policy numbers, and personal data, a breach creates regulatory exposure. Work with a broker experienced in storm restoration contracting.

What GL limits do roofing contractors need?+

GL limit requirements by project type: Residential roofing GC contracts: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate — standard minimum. Commercial property owner contracts: $1M–$2M per occurrence / $2M–$4M aggregate. Multi-story commercial or industrial roofing: $2M per occurrence / $4M aggregate minimum. Large commercial campus or institutional work: $2M–$5M (use a commercial umbrella). Municipal and government roofing: $2M–$5M. A $1M–$2M commercial umbrella over your primary GL costs $500–$1,500/year and is the cost-effective way to meet higher limits without raising your primary GL premium significantly.

What certificates do roofers need to keep on file?+

Maintain these documents for every project and every subcontractor: (1) Your own GL, WC, and commercial auto certificates — update annually and immediately when policies renew. (2) Sub certificates — GL, WC, and commercial auto COIs for every subcontractor before they begin work. Request additional insured endorsements naming your company where required. (3) State roofing contractor license — current and posted on all vehicles as required by your state. (4) Homeowner/GC contracts — signed before any work begins, including scope of work, payment terms, and warranty language. Expired certificates from subs create gap-in-coverage liability for you if they have an uninsured incident on your job site.

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