The Role of Roofers Insurance in Contractor & Construction Work

Roofing is high-hazard work: crews operate at heights, remove weather protection during tear-offs, and often use torches or hot asphalt. One misstep can mean a serious fall, wind‑driven rain entering an open roof, or a fire that starts during torch‑down. Roofers Insurance—built around Commercial General Liability (CGL) and paired with other policies—helps protect your company’s finances and reputation when things go wrong. OSHA requires fall protection at 6 ft on both low‑slope and steep roofs, underscoring the exposure and the need for strong controls and insurance. 

This guide explains how Roofers Insurance works on real jobs, where CGL applies (and doesn’t), and which endorsements and companion policies most roofing businesses carry.

Why Do Roofing Contractors Need Roofers Insurance?

Commercial General Liability (CGL) responds to third‑party bodily injury, property damage, and personal/advertising injury tied to your operations or completed work. In construction settings, even small incidents—such as debris striking a passerby or overspray drifting onto a neighboring building—can generate costly defense and settlement costs. CGL is the industry’s basic liability policy and a frequent contract and permit requirement. 

Roofing‑specific reasons: fall hazards, open‑roof water losses during tear‑off, and torch/hot‑work exposures that many underwriters scrutinize. 

What It Covers — And What It Doesn’t

Typical CGL Coverage (roofing examples)

• Bodily Injury: Pays defense and damages if, for example, falling debris injures a passerby near your staging area. 
• Property Damage: A dropped tool cracks a skylight, or a ladder dents a client’s vehicle—classic Coverage A claims.
• Personal & Advertising Injury (Coverage B): Defamation or certain IP/advertising offenses connected to your marketing.
• Medical Payments (Coverage C): No‑fault, small limits (commonly $5k–$10k) for minor injuries, which can defuse disputes.
• Products–Completed Operations: Covered injury or damage that appears after you finish the job (subject to policy wording and state law).
• Contractual Liability (insured‑contract carve‑back): Many indemnities required by construction contracts are contemplated in the CGL’s “insured contract” definition.

Common Roofing Exclusions & Restrictions

• Employee injuries: Not CGL—use workers’ compensation (state‑specific rules; most states require coverage once you have employees).
• Auto accidents: CGL excludes auto—use Business Auto (ISO CA 00 01) for trucks and service vehicles.
• “Your work” / “that particular part” & business‑risk exclusions: CGL isn’t a warranty. Exclusions like j(5)/j(6) and l. (your work) limit damage to the piece being worked on or your own faulty work (details vary by endorsement and jurisdiction).
• Care, Custody or Control (CCC): Personal property in your control (e.g., clients’ contents you moved) may be excluded.
• Open‑roof limitations: Many roofer CGLs add open‑roof endorsements that restrict interior water damage during tear‑off unless conditions (tarping, weather plans) are met.
• Hot‑work/torch conditions: Carriers may require specific procedures and training (e.g., NRCA CERTA) for torch‑applied systems.
• Pollution: Standard CGL has an absolute pollution exclusion; overspray, fumes, or runoff typically require Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL).
• Professional services/design advice: If you provide design-assist or specify assemblies, claims for purely financial loss are excluded under E&O (Contractors Professional Liability), not CGL.
• Cyber & electronic data: CGL generally excludes electronic data/cyber incidents.

Why It’s Crucial For Roofers

Financial protection. Defense bills and settlements add up quickly; CGL is the first line of defense when third‑party injuries or property damage are alleged. 

Worksite credibility. Owners and GCs often require CGL with specific wordings—Additional Insured, Primary & Non‑Contributory, Waiver of Subrogation—before you mobilize.

Contractual compliance. Construction contracts routinely demand AI status (often via CG 20 10 for ongoing ops and CG 20 37 for completed ops) and sometimes limit AI coverage to the contract‑required limits. 

Protection beyond project end. Completed operations continue to respond to covered BI/PD after you demobilize (subject to your policy).

Choosing The Right Policy

• Coverage limits. A typical baseline is $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate on CGL; larger owners may require higher limits and an umbrella. 
• Policy type. CGL is commonly occurrence‑based; contractors’ professional liability (E&O) is claims‑made (mind retro dates and tails). 
• Roofing‑specific endorsements. Ask your broker to identify and negotiate terms around open‑roof, hot‑work, CCC, and “your work/that particular part” limitations so you’re not surprised at claim time.

Endorsements & Add‑Ons Roofers Commonly Use

• Additional Insured (AI) + Primary & Non‑Contributory + Waiver of Subrogation: Aligns with contract language; understand differences among ISO forms and manuscript wordings.
• Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL): Covers overspray, fumes, and runoff excluded by CGL. 
• Contractors Professional Liability (E&O): For design/consulting/oversight errors (usually claims‑made). 
• Inland Marine / Contractors’ Equipment: Tools, generators, benders/brakes—on site, in transit, or in storage.
• Commercial Auto: ISO CA 00 01 for owned/hired/non‑owned vehicles.
• Umbrella/Excess: Adds higher limits over GL/auto/employers liability; check how it follows underlying forms.

Wrap‑Ups (OCIP/CCIP) & Builder’s Risk

Large projects may bundle liability and other coverages for all enrolled parties through wrap-ups—OCIP (owner-controlled) or CCIP (contractor-controlled). These programs can include GL, excess, workers’ compensation, pollution, and professional liability, among others. Confirm completion/expiration dates, as well as enrollment. 

Remember: Builder’s Risk is property insurance for structures under construction/renovation (not liability). It covers the work in place and often materials in transit or on site; coverage ends at project completion. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Roofers Insurance legally required?

There’s no federal mandate for CGL, but many states/municipalities and licensing boards require proof of liability and workers’ compensation to license or register contractors and to obtain permits. For example, Florida’s licensing board requires specified public liability/property damage limits, as well as workers’ compensation (or exemption). 

How much coverage should a roofer carry?

A common starting point is $1M/$2M on CGL, plus umbrella per contract. Complex or public projects may demand more and specific AI/PNC/waiver wording. 

Does Roofers Insurance protect against marketing/social media claims?

Yes—CGL Coverage B addresses personal and advertising injury (subject to exclusions). 

Can subcontractors be covered under my CGL?

You can add upstream parties (owners/GCs) as Additional Insureds. For subs’ work, owners/GCs often require you to provide AI coverage for ongoing ops (CG 20 10) and completed ops (CG 20 37)—make sure the right endorsements are issued. 

Occurrence vs. claims‑made—which should I pick?

For roofers’ CGL, occurrence is common and suits long‑tail completed ops risk. E&O and CPL are typically claims-made policies—set retroactive dates carefully and consider tail coverage when switching carriers. 

Securing Peace Of Mind On Roofing Projects

Roofers Insurance isn’t a box to check—it’s a safety net tailored to high‑hazard work. Use CGL for third‑party injuries and property damage, then close gaps with workers’ comp, auto, inland marine, CPL, E&O, and umbrella. Review open‑roof, hot‑work, CCC, and your‑work exclusions up front, and align your endorsements with contract requirements. With the right mix, you can defend claims, meet bid specs, and keep projects moving—long after the last shingle is set. 

Ready to tailor a program for your crews and scopes? Visit Roofers Insurance US to explore your options and get a customized quote.