Build up the framework of protection for your business.
Carpenter insurance secured with McArdle Insurance Agency.
Many different types of carpentry contractors exist in the field, but the risks are similar across the board. From carpenters who focus on building support structures and frameworks for homes, to those who primarily remodel, refinish, and repair, securing a solid carpenter insurance policy is an investment that can safeguard your business.
Why do carpenters need insurance? What are the risks?
The nature of the work carpenters perform poses certain threats to your business as a whole. Through your use of industry-specific tools and materials and because the work happens on the properties of your clients, significant risks exist. For example, what if a claim arises from a client who trips over your materials or a tool that damages their personal property? Without insurance, your business would be held liable for paying medical expenses or property replacements in full. Similarly, one of your employees could be injured while on the job. Without the right coverage, your company would be responsible for medical bills or lawsuits that might come up. Also, the materials, tools, and equipment you transport could be damaged or stolen anywhere from your business, while in transit, or at the job site. Would you be able to pay for replacements without insurance?
What coverages are most important for carpenters to have?
As part of any carpenter insurance policy, general liability insurance should top of your list. This provides coverage in the event of personal injuries to clients or damage to their property while working on a project. Also, you must obtain workers’ compensation insurance. Your employees face exposure to multiple risks because of the materials and tools they use, as well as the physical work involved in the carpentry trade. If a worker is injured while on the job, their medical bills would be covered. Also, completed operations insurance offers coverage if personal injury or property damage occurs as a result of your work after the job has been completed, such as a house collapsing or a step in a staircase breaking.
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Commercial General Liability Coverage
Risk Factor
As a contractor, your business may be susceptible to many risks, such as claims due to bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, and more. And, if you hire other contractors to perform work on your behalf, you can be held responsible for any damage they cause on the job.
Solution
Commercial general liability insurance is an absolute necessity for every contractor. This type of protection provides broad coverage for premises, operations, products, and claims to third parties or property when you are deemed responsible and liable. It will also pay to defend any covered lawsuit or action regardless of its merit.
Commercial Property Coverage
Risk Factor
When a fire, theft, or another type of disaster strikes, your commercial property and everything within it can suffer a significant loss. This can have a detrimental effect on your business.
Solution
Commercial property insurance can help protect the property your business owns and leases, including things like equipment, inventory, furniture, and fixtures. Whether you own your building or lease your workspace, commercial property insurance can be purchased separately or can be combined with other necessary coverage to protect your business’ physical assets.
Contractors' Equipment Coverage
Risk Factor
You’re constantly moving your tools from one job site to another, exposing your contractor business to potential loss due to damage or theft. And without your specialized tools and equipment, your job site may come to a screeching halt.
Solution
As a contractor, you need contractors' equipment insurance - a policy specially designed to protect your tools and equipment on the move. The policy will cover equipment for a variety of losses, including fire, explosion, vandalism, theft, collision with other equipment or objects and overturning. Unlike standard commercial property insurance policies, contractors' equipment insurance often covers losses caused by floods and earthquakes.
Builders Risk and Installation Insurance
Risk Factor
A building under construction is not covered under a standard building insurance policy or a home insurance policy since it is not a complete structure. As a contractor, you may be responsible for unique loss exposures related to buildings under construction such as the theft of building materials and high valued equipment such as generators and compressors.
Solution
Builders risk and installation insurance provides coverage for homes or buildings while undergoing construction, until they are completed. The policy covers the contractors’ interest in materials at the job site before they are installed, construction materials in transit designated for the contractors' equipment insurance–a policy specially and the value of the property being constructed until it is completed.
Workers’ Compensation
Risk Factor
If one of your employees receives an injury or becomes ill due to a work-related occurrence, you are required by law to have the proper coverage in place.
Solution
Workers' compensation protects your employees should a job-related injury or sickness occur during the course of employment. This coverage is required by law and may vary by area, so be sure that you understand your obligations for all physical locations where your business operates in and all physical locations where you hire your employees.
Business Auto Insurance
Risk Factor
As a contractor, you have many exposures associated with your business vehicles–owned or leased. With a fleet of cars, trucks, vans, or other types of vehicles used in the course of business, a single accident can potentially put your contractor business in financial jeopardy.
Solution
Business auto insurance provides coverage for vehicles owned or leased by a contractor and provides coverage for bodily injury, property damage, and other exposures, and could include comprehensive and collision coverage as well.
Hold Harmless / Additional Insureds
Risk Factor
If you are performing as a contractor on a construction project where other contractors and vendors are involved, you could be held liable for any damages or injuries caused by the other contractors or vendors, leaving you with costly legal fees and settlement costs. Your business needs to be protected against the risk of some other company, vendor or subcontractor causing damage to people or property of your mutual customer.
Solution
Consider having a contract in place with each entity that includes a hold harmless agreement in your favor. A hold harmless agreement provides that the entity will hold you harmless for any injuries or damage caused by their negligence. In addition, the contract should require that the entity list you as an additional insured on their policy. This may provide you with coverage under their policy for injuries or damage they cause if you are named in a lawsuit.
Commercial Umbrella / Excess Insurance
Risk Factor
Losses and lawsuits are quite common in the construction business, and settlements can be substantial. If your business is found to be responsible for damage or injury on the job site, you could be facing a large liability loss that exceeds the basic limits of your standard policy.
Solution
You should consider purchasing a commercial umbrella insurance policy which provides higher limits, typically between $2,000,000 and $10,000,000, and often broadened coverages. Coverage is extended over various policies, including general liability insurance, business auto, and directors and officers liability insurance.
Your coverage needs depend on the type of carpentry work you perform.
In order to get a well-rounded carpenter insurance policy, it’s important for your agent to understand the specific types of services you provide in the carpentry industry. For instance, the coverage needs of a carpenter who focuses solely on remodeling and refinishing for residential properties differs vastly from the needs of a carpentry contractor who installs structural supports and framework for buildings. Take the services you provide into account when considering your specialized insurance policy so that it fits your business.
Carpenters still need general business insurance.
As a carpenter, whether you have an entire team or you are a one-person shop, you are still operating a business and need insurance coverage to protect it just the same. Business auto insurance protects you if you or an employee is involved in an accident with a company vehicle while in transit to or from a job. Inland marine insurance provides coverage for materials, tools, and equipment in the event that they are damaged or stolen while in transit. Crime insurance offers another layer of protection to cover your business if an employee is found stealing from a client. Also, cyber liability insurance benefits your business if you store client information on your computers.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you find the right carpenter insurance for your business.
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