What’s Covered (And Not Covered) By Roofers Insurance

At the core of a roofing firm’s protection is Commercial General Liability (CGL)—the backbone of most Roofers Insurance programs. CGL helps pay legal defense, settlements, and medical costs when third parties allege bodily injury, property damage, or personal/advertising injury from your operations or completed work. Typical CGLs divide protection into Coverage A (bodily injury & property damage), Coverage B (personal & advertising injury), and Coverage C (medical payments). 

Why this matters for roofers: Working at heights, tearing off assemblies, and using torches/hot asphalt carry an oversized risk. OSHA requires fall protection at 6 feet and above on low-slope and steep roofs; strong controls improve safety and reduce liability. 

What Is Roofers Insurance?

“Roofers Insurance” isn’t a single policy. It’s a package built around CGL and commonly paired with workers’ compensation, commercial auto, inland marine (tools/equipment), umbrella/excess, and often Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL) or Contractors Professional Liability (E&O) for design/oversight exposures. CGL addresses third‑party injuries, property damage, and certain personal/advertising offenses; other policies fill the gaps described below. 

What Is Covered by CGL (Roofing Examples)

Bodily Injury

If falling debris injures a passerby or a client trips near a staging area, CGL can fund defense and damages (subject to terms/limits). 

Property Damage

A ladder falls onto a customer’s car, a dropped tool cracks a skylight, or overspray damages a neighboring façade—these are classic CGL Coverage A scenarios. Completed ops can respond to covered damage that appears after the job, such as interior damage caused by a post‑completion leak due to an occurrence, depending on state law and policy wording. 

Personal & Advertising Injury (Coverage B)

Defamation, libel/slander, or certain copyright/trademark claims tied to your marketing may be covered, subject to exclusions and evolving endorsements. 

Medical Payments (Coverage C)

No‑fault, small medical expenses for minor injuries on your premises (often $5,000–$10,000 limits, though policies vary). 

What’s Not Covered (Or Limited) For Roofers — And Why

1. Employee Injuries

CGL excludes injuries to your own employees; workers’ compensation (and employers’ liability) is needed. 

2. Auto Accidents

CGL’s auto exclusion pushes vehicle‑related BI/PD to the Business Auto Coverage Form (ISO CA 00 01). If your truck rear‑ends someone en route to a job, that’s commercial auto—not GL. 

3. Damage to “Your Work” & “That Particular Part”

CGL is not a warranty. The policy’s business‑risk exclusions (e.g., j(5)–j(6), l., m.) limit damage to the piece you’re actively working on or to your own faulty work; results vary by jurisdiction and endorsements (e.g., subcontractor exceptions). 

4. Property in Your Care, Custody or Control (CCC)

Damage to personal property you control (e.g., a client’s stored items you moved into a protected area) can be excluded. Outcomes for GCs vs. subs and AIs vary, so read how CCC applies to multi‑party jobs. 

5. Open‑Roof & Hot‑Work Restrictions (Nonstandard Endorsements)

Many roofer CGLs add “open roof” limitations or exclusions for torch/hot‑work unless you follow specific safeguards (tarping, fire watch, etc.). These endorsements can significantly narrow coverage during tear-offs or torch-down applications. NRCA’s CERTA training is a common control that owners and underwriters require.

6. Pollution (Fumes, Overspray, Runoff, Mold)

Standard CGLs carry an absolute pollution exclusion; coatings/adhesives fumes, overspray, or runoff often need Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL). 

7. Cyber/Data Breach & Electronic Data

CGL typically excludes electronic data losses; however, courts continue to uphold denials under the electronic data exclusion—consideration should be given to cyber/media coverage. 

8. Professional Services/Design Advice

If you provide design-assist, specify assemblies, or render professional oversight, those errors/omissions are usually covered under E&O (Contractors Professional Liability), not CGL. (CGL may be further endorsed to exclude professional services.) 

9. Product Recall / “Sistership” & Impaired Property

Costs to recall, withdraw, or repair your product/work—without third‑party damage—are generally excluded. 

10. Intentional or Criminal Acts; Certain Contractual Promises

CGL won’t cover intentional harm and often limits contractual liability, except for an “insured contract” (e.g., specific indemnities) as per the policy definition. Watch for endorsements that narrow the insured‑contract carve‑back. 

Common Roofing Gaps — And Smart Add‑Ons

• Workers’ Compensation – Required in most states once you hire employees; covers job‑related injuries/illnesses. 
• Commercial Auto (ISO CA 00 01) – Liability/physical damage for owned, hired, and non‑owned vehicles. 
• Tools & Equipment (Contractors Equipment / Equipment Floater) – Inland marine coverage for mobile tools, generators, brake/shear, etc., on site, in transit, or in storage.
• Builders Risk / Installation Floater – Property coverage for buildings under construction/renovation and for materials awaiting installation—critical during tear‑offs and open‑roof exposure (this is not GL). 
• Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL) – Fills the pollution gap for fumes, overspray, and runoff. 
• Contractors Professional Liability (E&O) – For design/consulting/oversight errors; usually claims‑made. 
• Umbrella/Excess Liability – Adds limits above GL/auto/employers liability; terms vary by carrier/form. 

2025 Context: Why Clarity On Exclusions Matters

Insurance conditions are moderating overall, but casualty—where GL lives—still faces pressure from large jury awards. Q2 2025 data show US casualty up even as other lines flatten or fall; expect continued scrutiny on open‑roof, hot‑work, and contract terms. 

Quick Roofing Scenarios (Covered vs. Not)

• Covered (typical): A passerby is injured by falling shingle debris during tear‑off (BI, Coverage A).
• Covered (often): After completion, a flashing failure causes water damage to a tenant’s interior (products‑completed operations, subject to “occurrence” and state law).
• Not covered/limited: Rain enters during an open‑roof period and damages interiors; your CGL may restrict this unless endorsement conditions are met—verify wording and procedures.
• Not CGL: Your driver rear‑ends another vehicle en route to a job—commercial auto risk, not GL.
• Not CGL: Solvent fumes from a coating trigger a pollution claim—needs CPL.
• Not CGL: Pure design/spec errors (no BI/PD) that cause financial loss—Contractors E&O.

Build A Complete Roofing Insurance Strategy

• Audit your exclusions: Look for open‑roof, hot‑work, breach of contract, professional services, CCC, and pollution restrictions; negotiate where possible.
• Match coverage to methods: Torch crews? Adopt CERTA and document fire‑watch; coatings crews? Add CPL.
• Coordinate property vs. liability: Use Builders Risk/Installation Floater for property under construction; expect CGL to address third‑party BI/PD only.
• Lock down contracts: Ensure insured contract language and certificate/endorsement requirements (AI, Primary & Non‑Contributory, Waiver) are correctly placed.
• Mind claims‑made vs. occurrence: CGL is commonly occurrence‑based; E&O and CPL are often claims‑made—set retro dates and plan for tails/ERPs before switching carriers. 

The Bottom Line: Roofers Insurance Coverage

CGL is a critical first line of defense for roofers—but it doesn’t cover everything. Know how your work, CCC, open‑roof/hot‑work, pollution, auto, cyber, and professional services are treated, then add WC, Auto, CPL, E&O, Builders Risk/Installation Floater, Equipment, and Umbrella to close gaps. With 2025’s casualty landscape still cautious, airtight risk controls and clean endorsements can make the difference between a paid claim and an uninsured loss. 

Ready to tailor coverage to your roofing operation? Visit Roofers Insurance US for Insurance quotes built around your crews, roof types, and contract requirements.