You’ve probably heard from commercial property owners about how you should always make sure that your roofing contractor has proper insurance coverage. But what does that mean, exactly? In today’s post, commercial roofing contractor Sully Jones Roofing discusses the things you should look for in your roofer’s insurance policy.
General Liability Insurance
In its most basic form, general liability insurance means your roofing contractor’s insurance will cover the costs of repair in case your property is accidentally damaged by the roofer. General liability insurance typically covers the damage incurred during installation, though it may also extend to repairs or maintenance conducted by the same roofing company. In some insurance policies, general liability insurance is referred to as “property protection” or “general business liability”.
Limits and Minimums for Coverage
Whether you’re hiring a roofing contractor for residential roof replacement or for a project that involves multiple commercial facilities, your roofing contractor’s insurance should have a list of the limits and minimums of their coverage. Look for a list that clearly states these limits and compare them to your industry’s standard limits of liability.
Option to Add Your Clients as Additional Insured
Unless you’re having a roof installed over an as-yet-unoccupied building, you’ll want to look for a clause that allows clients or tenants to be added as an additional insured. Potential or even existing clients may request for this clause, which may be crucial in negotiating a contract with them.
List of Exclusions
Exclusions are conditions that are not covered by an insurance policy, the coverage of which can vary. The following are some common commercial roofing insurance policy exclusions:
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Roof age. The older the existing roof, the higher the risk of damage.
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Material. Some insurers deem wood, slate and expensive metals like copper as uninsurable
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Type of roofing. Single-ply roofs can be perceived as uninsurable because of the higher risk of damage, though some insurers offer commercial flat roofing insurance separately.
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Named and open perils. An insurance policy may list exclusions as named or open peril. Named-peril policies specifically list the perils covered by the policy, while open-peril policies list the perils that are not covered.
Sully Jones Roofing is your leading provider of roof repair and installation services. Give us a call at (619) 655-3424. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in San Diego, CA, and the surrounding communities.