Inland Marine Insurance for Commercial Roofing Contractors

Contractors Equipment Floater (CM 00 01)

The core inland marine form for roofing contractors. It covers owned tools, equipment, and machinery on a scheduled or blanket basis — whether stored at your shop, in transit, or on the jobsite. For roofers, this means coverage for roofing kettles, tear-off machines, material hoists, compressors, nail guns, and safety harness systems. Replacement cost valuation is essential; actual cash value leaves you underfunded to replace worn but functional equipment critical to daily operations.

Installation Floater Endorsement

Covers roofing materials from the time you take possession through installation and until the customer accepts the completed work. This fills the gap between the supplier's coverage (which ends at delivery) and the building owner's property insurance (which may not cover materials in transit or during installation). For commercial roofers handling $200,000+ in membrane, insulation, and metal panels per project, this endorsement is non-negotiable.

Riggers Liability Coverage

When roofing contractors use cranes, hoists, or mechanical lifts to move materials to rooftops, riggers liability covers damage to property in your care during the lifting operation. Standard GL excludes property in your care, custody, or control. A single dropped pallet of materials can damage the building facade, parked vehicles, or landscaping below — exposures that only riggers liability addresses.

Leased or Rented Equipment Coverage

Many roofing contractors rent specialized equipment like rooftop cranes, hot-air welders, or scissor lifts rather than purchasing them. This endorsement covers damage to rented equipment that would otherwise be excluded under both the rental agreement's insurance and your standard inland marine policy. Rental companies typically charge $15-$30 per day for their own damage waivers — this endorsement replaces that cost at a fraction of the price.

Hartford

Hartford's inland marine program for contractors is among the broadest in the market. They offer blanket coverage up to $500,000 for unscheduled tools and equipment without requiring an itemized list, which is ideal for roofing contractors who frequently add and replace hand tools. Their replacement cost coverage applies automatically for equipment under five years old. Hartford also covers equipment in transit without mileage restrictions, a limitation some competitors impose.

Kinsale

Kinsale writes inland marine on an E&S basis for roofing contractors who cannot access standard markets — those with prior theft claims, high equipment values, or operations in catastrophe-prone areas. Their rates run 25-40% above Hartford or Acuity, but they provide capacity for scheduled equipment values up to $5M per item. Kinsale requires detailed equipment schedules with serial numbers and photos for items valued over $25,000.

Acuity

Acuity's inland marine program integrates seamlessly with their GL and auto packages for roofing contractors. They offer competitive blanket tool coverage up to $250,000 and scheduled equipment coverage with agreed value — meaning no depreciation disputes at claim time. Acuity's installation floater coverage is included automatically on their contractor package policies, saving roofers the cost of a standalone endorsement. Their theft coverage requires evidence of forced entry, which can be problematic for jobsite losses.

CNA

CNA targets larger roofing operations with equipment schedules exceeding $1M in total value. Their inland marine policies offer worldwide coverage territory and include debris removal coverage for equipment damaged on rooftops — a significant benefit since crane removal of damaged equipment from a commercial roof can cost $20,000-$50,000 alone. CNA's deductibles start at $2,500 per occurrence, higher than competitors, but their coverage breadth justifies the trade-off for larger contractors.

$185,000 — Equipment Theft from Jobsite, San Antonio, TX

Over a holiday weekend, thieves cut the lock on a fenced commercial roofing jobsite and stole two hot-air welding machines, a roofing kettle, three compressors, a generator, and a full set of fall protection equipment. The total replacement value reached $185,000. The contractor's inland marine policy paid the claim at replacement cost after a $1,000 deductible, allowing the crew to re-equip and resume work within ten days. Without the inland marine policy, the contractor would have faced weeks of downtime and out-of-pocket replacement costs that could have threatened the business.

$92,000 — Crane-Dropped Materials, Chicago, IL

During a crane lift of bundled EPDM membrane rolls to a six-story commercial roof, a rigging strap failed and dropped $92,000 worth of materials onto the building's loading dock, destroying the materials and damaging the dock structure. The contractor's inland marine installation floater covered the destroyed roofing materials at purchase price, and the riggers liability portion covered the $18,000 in dock damage. The total claim payout was $110,000. The contractor subsequently required third-party rigging inspections before all crane lifts.

$43,000 — Transit Damage to Metal Panels, Raleigh, NC

A flatbed truck carrying custom-fabricated standing seam metal roof panels was involved in a minor highway accident that shifted the load, bending and scratching 60% of the panels beyond usability. The panels were custom-colored and had a six-week lead time for replacement. The inland marine transit coverage paid $43,000 for the damaged panels and covered $8,500 in expedited fabrication charges to minimize project delays. The total claim reached $51,500, and the contractor added load securement training to their driver protocols.