General Liability Insurance for Residential Roofing Contractors

Key Endorsements for Residential Roofing General Liability

General liability is the foundation of every residential roofer's insurance program, but the base ISO Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy — form CG 00 01 — leaves critical gaps that endorsements must fill.

CG 22 94 — Contractors Limited Completed Operations

This endorsement narrows or modifies completed operations coverage. Residential roofers should understand exactly how it limits protection after a job is finished — particularly for roof leaks discovered weeks or months post-installation. Some carriers attach this to reduce premiums, but it can leave roofers exposed to the most common claim type in the industry.

CG 24 04 — Waiver of Transfer of Rights of Recovery Against Others

General contractors and homebuilders routinely require residential roofing subs to waive subrogation rights. Without CG 24 04 attached, a roofer's carrier can pursue the GC's insurer after paying a claim — violating the subcontract and jeopardizing the business relationship. This endorsement is essentially mandatory for any roofer working as a subcontractor on new construction.

CG 20 10 / CG 20 37 — Additional Insured Endorsements

Nearly every GC contract requires the roofer to name the GC as an additional insured. CG 20 10 covers ongoing operations while CG 20 37 extends to completed operations. Residential roofers who cannot provide both endorsements will lose subcontract work. Carriers vary significantly in whether they include these automatically or charge per certificate.

CG 21 86 — Exclusion of Certain Contractors

Some carriers attach this exclusion to limit coverage for specific subcontractor tiers. Roofers who hire day laborers or uninsured subs should verify this endorsement is not on their policy, as it can void coverage for bodily injury claims involving those workers.

Acord / Employers Mutual (EMC)

EMC is one of the more accessible carriers for small residential roofing operations grossing under $1M. They offer occurrence-based GL with competitive rates in the Southeast and Midwest. However, EMC typically excludes roofing work over three stories and requires a minimum of three years in business. Their additional insured endorsements are included at no extra charge, which is a meaningful advantage for roofers doing subdivision work.

Builders Mutual

Builders Mutual specializes in construction trades and has a strong appetite for residential roofing in the Carolinas, Virginia, and Tennessee. Their GL product includes built-in completed operations coverage with a separate aggregate — a significant advantage. However, they impose strict safety program requirements, including mandatory fall protection documentation and OSHA 10 certification for all field supervisors.

Next Insurance

Next targets small residential roofers with fast online quoting and monthly payment options. Premiums tend to run 15-25% higher than traditional carriers, but approval is faster and underwriting is less invasive. The trade-off: Next's GL policies often carry restrictive endorsements that limit completed operations to 12 months post-completion and cap per-project limits at $500,000.

Hartford

Hartford writes residential roofing GL through their small commercial division and offers solid coverage breadth. They are one of few carriers that will write new roofing businesses with less than two years of experience, though premiums for new ventures run 30-40% above seasoned contractors. Hartford's limitation: they exclude exterior work above 25 feet unless the roofer carries a separate scaffold endorsement.

$187,000 — Third-Party Property Damage, Plano, TX

A three-man residential roofing crew was tearing off a 30-year composition roof on a two-story home when wind carried debris onto the neighbor's property, damaging a parked Mercedes GLE and shattering a sunroom enclosure. The neighbor's homeowners policy initially denied the claim, directing recovery against the roofer. The roofer's CGL policy covered the property damage after a $1,000 deductible. Total payout was $187,000, including $62,000 for the vehicle, $89,000 for the sunroom rebuild, and $36,000 in loss-of-use damages while the sunroom was reconstructed over 14 weeks.

$94,500 — Bodily Injury to Homeowner, Marietta, GA

A homeowner stepped onto her back patio during a residential re-roof and was struck by a bundle of shingles that slid off the roof. She sustained a fractured collarbone and concussion. The roofing contractor's GL policy responded under the bodily injury coverage. Medical bills totaled $41,000, and the claim settled for an additional $53,500 in pain and suffering. The carrier noted the roofer failed to barricade the work zone — a factor that increased the settlement but did not void coverage because no safety exclusion endorsement was attached.

$312,000 — Completed Operations Water Damage, Nashville, TN

Five months after a residential roofer completed a full tear-off and re-roof, a severe thunderstorm exposed improper flashing around a dormer. Water infiltrated the attic, traveled through interior walls, and caused extensive mold contamination in three bedrooms. The homeowner's insurer paid their claim and then subrogated against the roofer for $312,000, covering remediation, drywall replacement, personal property losses, and temporary housing. The roofer's completed operations coverage under the CGL policy funded the defense and settlement. Without completed operations, this roofer would have faced the full amount out of pocket.