Roofing Contractor Insurance in Connecticut
Roofing contractor insurance in Connecticut, including the hard-to-place risks
Roofing is one of the hardest trades to insure. Many carriers will not write roofers at all, others limit the height or type of work, and workers’ comp for roofing carries one of the highest rates in the state. The Beam Agency is an independent agency in Farmington, and we place roofers with standard carriers when they qualify and with excess and surplus lines markets when they do not.
We quote residential and commercial roofers, siding and gutter contractors, and crews that do some roofing alongside other work. Most can be quoted with last year’s payroll, revenue and a clear description of the work you do.
What a roofing contractor typically needs
General liability, and what it excludes
General liability for roofers covers injury and property damage, including the storm that blows through while a roof is open. The exclusions matter as much as the limit: some policies cap the number of stories, exclude commercial or flat-roof work, or exclude hot work like torch-down. Those exclusions are where roofers get hurt at claim time, so we go through them line by line. More on our general liability page.
Workers’ compensation
Roofing is rated under class code 5551, one of the highest workers’ comp rates in Connecticut, and the state requires coverage once you have an employee. Accurate payroll, a written safety program and your experience mod all move the price, and many GCs will not let a crew on site without it. See workers’ compensation.
Subcontractors and audits
Roofing relies heavily on subs, and uninsured subs are the most common audit surprise. Collect certificates from every sub before they start. At audit, payments to subs who cannot show their own workers’ comp and liability are usually added to your payroll at the roofing rate.
Tools, trucks and equipment
Ladders, lifts, hoists, nail guns and dump trailers need tools and equipment coverage, and your trucks and trailers need commercial auto. An umbrella on top is how most roofers meet the higher limits commercial jobs demand.
Standard carriers versus excess and surplus lines
When a standard carrier will not write a roofer, the excess and surplus lines market usually will. Those policies can be a good fit, but they vary more than standard policies: some exclude height, residential or commercial work, or work done by subcontractors. Because we are independent, we compare both and explain the trade-offs before you choose.
Residential roofers in Connecticut also register with the Department of Consumer Protection as home improvement contractors. Our contractor insurance page covers the registration requirements, and general contractors, property managers and commercial customers will ask to be named as additional insured on your policy, often with waiver of subrogation and primary and non-contributory wording. We issue certificates the same day and make sure the policy actually carries the endorsements the certificate promises. Our post on additional insured and waiver of subrogation in Connecticut explains what those terms mean for roofers.
What changes your roofing insurance price
- Residential versus commercial work.
- Steep-slope versus flat and low-slope roofing.
- Hot work like torch-down or hot tar.
- How many stories you work on, and repair versus full replacement.
- Payroll, revenue, use of subcontractors, claims history and years in business.
Tell us everything you do, including gutters, siding or snow removal from roofs. Leaving work off the application is the fastest way to a denied claim.
HVAC, electricians and other trades
We write the trades you work alongside too. See HVAC insurance, electrician insurance and our main contractor insurance page. If you are newer to the business, our guide to home improvement contractor insurance in Connecticut covers the basics.
Who this page is for
The roofer whose carrier just non-renewed or excluded part of the work. The crew leader going out on their own who needs a policy and a certificate before the first job. The roofing company tired of paying for uninsured subs at audit. Anywhere in Connecticut, Brandon is a phone call away.
Get a roofing insurance quote
Tell us about your business: the work you do, your payroll and vehicles, and when you need coverage. You will hear from Brandon directly, usually within one business day, and nothing you send here obligates you to buy anything.
Roofing insurance questions
Why is roofing insurance so expensive?
Falls and roof fires make roofing one of the highest-claim trades, so workers’ comp rates and general liability pricing are both high, and fewer carriers compete for it. Comparing standard and excess and surplus lines markets is how you find the best fit.
Does my policy cover flat or commercial roofs?
Not always. Some roofing policies exclude commercial, low-slope or hot work, or limit the number of stories. Check the exclusions, or send us your policy and we will read it with you.
Do my subcontractors need their own insurance?
They should. Collect their certificates before they start. If they cannot show their own coverage, what you paid them is usually added to your payroll at audit, at the roofing rate.
How fast can I get a certificate of insurance?
Usually the same day once the policy is in force. Send us the certificate holder’s name and any additional insured or waiver of subrogation wording from the contract.
Independent agent, direct line
Talk to Brandon directly
One agent, multiple carriers, and a policy read line by line before you sign it.