Completed operations coverage is a component of your commercial general liability policy that protects you against claims arising from work you have already finished. If you install a roof in January and a leak develops in March that damages the building interior, completed operations coverage responds to the property damage claim. Without it, your CGL policy would only cover incidents that happen during active operations on the jobsite.
For roofing contractors, completed operations is one of the most critical coverages because roof defects often do not manifest until months or years after installation. A poorly sealed penetration, an improperly fastened membrane, or inadequate flashing around a parapet wall may not leak until the first heavy rain or thermal cycle. The completed operations aggregate is typically separate from your general aggregate, giving you a dedicated pool of coverage for post-completion claims.
General contractors and property owners require you to maintain completed operations coverage for a specified period after project completion, often three to six years. AIA contracts frequently specify that your CGL must remain in force for the completed operations tail period. When a GC requests additional insured status for completed operations, they are asking to be protected under your policy if a claim arises from your finished work. The endorsement CG 20 37 is the standard form used to add additional insureds for completed operations.