General Liability Insurance for Residential Roofing Contractors
General liability insurance is the foundational policy every residential roofing contractor needs. It covers third-party bodily injury and property damage claims that arise from your roofing operations. Without it, a single lawsuit from a homeowner or passerby could bankrupt your company.
What It Covers
General liability covers bodily injury to third parties, such as a homeowner struck by falling shingle debris, or a neighbor whose car is damaged by materials dropped from a roof. It also covers property damage you cause during operations, like a ladder falling into a client's window or gutter damage to adjacent structures. Defense costs and legal fees are included even if the claim is groundless.
What It Does Not Cover
General liability does not cover injuries to your own employees (that requires workers compensation). It excludes damage to your own tools and equipment, professional errors in design or specification, and auto accidents involving company vehicles. Intentional acts and pollution-related claims are also excluded.
Real Claim Examples
A crew member drops a bundle of shingles off a two-story roof, crushing a homeowner's patio furniture and injuring their dog. A tear-off crew sends old roofing nails into the driveway, puncturing a visitor's tires. Wind catches a tarp during a re-roof and it smashes through a neighbor's second-story window.
How Much It Costs
Residential roofing contractors typically pay between $4,500 and $12,000 per year for a $1M/$2M general liability policy. Premiums vary based on annual revenue, number of employees, claims history, and the types of roofing materials you install. Steep-slope shingle contractors generally pay less than those working with tile or metal.
Why Work With Us for This Coverage
Roofing-specialist agencies understand the nuances of CGL endorsements that general agents miss, like ensuring your policy includes ongoing and completed operations coverage without residential exclusions. We place policies with carriers that actually pay roofing claims rather than fight them.
Talk to a roofing insurance expert.
Tell us about your operation. We will get back to you within one business day.
Looking for the commercial version?
View commercial coverage page