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Insurance For Roofing Business

Compare business insurance quotes with Savvy to find the best policy for your roofing business 

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, updated on August 1st, 2023       

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Business Insurance for Roofing Business
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We’ve partnered with BizCover to bring you a range of business insurance policies to help you compare them side by side.

Anyone who works at heights and on roofs knows there’s many risks that come with the job, which is why having good insurance as a roofer is vital. Business insurance can protect you not only from the financial impact of having an accident, but also from claims that your activity caused damage to another person’s property or injured someone.    

You can compare quotes for all types of business insurance here with Savvy. Just answer a few simple questions about your business and the insurance you need, and within minutes you’ll have multiple quotes from a range of respected insurers to compare. Use our quick and easy comparison service to make sure you get the best-value insurance for your roofing business today.

What types of insurance should I buy for my roofing business?

There are several different types of business insurance you should consider if you’re a roofer, a roofing contractor, or run a roofing business. These include: 

Public liability insurance 

Public liability insurance is essential for anyone running a roofing business who has contact with the public or their property. This is particularly important if you’re a roofer working directly on customers’ roofs, as there’s plenty that could go wrong or get accidentally damaged.  

Public liability will cover you against claims that your activity caused injury to a third party or damaged their property. This insurance can offer between $5 million and $20 million worth of coverage. It is a compulsory requirement on many building sites and to tender for many contracts. 

What it covers:  

  • Third-party personal injury claims 
  • Damage to a third party’s property 
  • Legal fees to defend yourself 

Portable equipment cover 

This form of insurance is available as an add-on for general business insurance and can cover all your tradie tools and portable equipment, including expensive pieces like generators. There are two options available depending on what level of cover you are looking for: 

  • Insured events cover: only covers named events such as fire, theft, storms etc 
  • Comprehensive cover: includes the insured events listed above plus accidental damage to your equipment and tools 

What it covers: 

  • Fire, storm, water damage, explosion impact 
  • Accidental damage, malicious damage 
  • Collision or overturning of the conveying vehicle 
  • Theft following forcible entry to a vehicle or building 
  • Theft of equipment attached to a vehicle using locks or padlocks 

Personal accident and illness insurance  

Since you rely on your physical fitness to be able to do your job, taking care of your health should be a high priority for all people who earn a living working with their hands. Accident and sickness insurance can provide cover for you if you become sick and are unable to work, with a weekly replacement income available if you can’t work as a result of an accident or injury. 

What it covers: 

  • Loss of income as a result of sickness, injury or accident 

 Optional extras can include: 

  • Death benefits 
  • Disablement benefits 
  • Payment of business expenses during your recovery period 

What isn’t covered under business insurance for a roofer or roofing contractor?  

The most common general exclusions include: 

  • Injury to yourself or your employees 
  • Flood damage 
  • Glass breakage 
  • Unlawful activity or criminal negligence 
  • Reckless behaviour or intentional damage 
  • Anything to do with asbestos 
  • The effects of pollution caused by your business activity

How much will business insurance cost for a roofing business?

There is no set cost for an insurance policy, as each applicant is different and faces unique risks. There are many factors that influence the cost of business insurance, including the following factors:   

  • The state you’re in  
  • Whether you live in a rural or urban area 
  • Whether you’re a sole trader, are in a partnership, or run a business 
  • Your business size and turnover  
  • If you have any employees 
  • Your credit history  
  • Your insurance history 
  • Whether you’ve made an insurance claim in the past five years 

The main factor which will affect the cost of your insurance is the industry you’re in. All businesses in Australia are classified according to the risk their industry poses, and are allocated a risk ratio. These ratios are used by insurers to calculate the comparative risk of any one business compared to another. Therefore, the cost of insurance for one roofing business based in South Australia may be similar to one based in Western Australia. 

You can find out how much insurance will cost for your business by comparing quotes right here with Savvy. Whether you need insurance as a tradie working for a roofing business, or as a builder or carpenter, you’ll be able to find a policy which is perfect for your business needs right here. 

Why do I need insurance as a roofer or roofing contractor?

The risks associated with working at heights are ever-present, and unfortunately, one simple accident or slip can potentially result in very serious injury or even death if you happen to fall from a height. Therefore, it’s vital for all roofers to have good insurance in place to protect not only their income, but also their family in case something does go wrong.  

Having accident and sickness insurance in place can offer the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved ones are protected in case you do have an accident. Most tradies or small businesses have some contingency funds to fall back on, but rarely have sufficient to cover the cost of a major catastrophe. For example, if you suffer a serious spinal injury due to a fall from a great height, the personal injury claim could potentially amount to millions of dollars. If this happens and you have adequate insurance to protect you and your family, you’ll have a far higher chance of recovering financially and being able to provide for your family in the long term. 

Types of business insurance

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More questions about business insurance for roofers

Will business insurance cover the work trailer I use to carry roofing sheets in?

No – business insurance doesn’t cover commercial vehicles, and a tradie’s work trailer is considered to be a commercial vehicle. The tools in your trailer will be covered if you take out portable equipment cover, but the trailer itself will need to be insured under a separate commercial vehicle insurance policy. 

Can I take out additional insurance for my most valuable tools?

Yes – some general insurance policies have a maximum cover limit for an individual tool or piece of equipment, ranging from $500 to $1,500. If you have tools that would be particularly expensive to replace, such as a generator worth $5,000, there are insurers that offer additional cover for individual named items to help protect your most valuable tools and equipment. 

How often will I have to pay insurance premiums for my roofing business? 

You will be able to choose how often you pay your insurance premiums. You can either pay upfront all in one go for the year, or in monthly instalments. Paying your insurance premium annually is usually between 5% – 10% cheaper than paying monthly, so if you’re in the position to pay your insurance annually, it may be worth doing so to get the cheapest price.  

What information will I need to make a claim?

The information you should have to hand when you contact your insurance company to make a claim will include: 

  • The name of the policyholder 
  • Your policy number and start date (which can be found on your Certificate of Currency) 
  • A detailed description of the incident (what happened to cause the damage or loss) 
  • Specific dates and times when the incident happened 
  • Contact details of any other parties involved (or witnesses to the event) 
  • Details of your police report number (if a crime took place) 
  • Details of the property lost or damaged (including its age and value) 
  • Your bank details for settling the claim 

 

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Savvy is partnered with BizCover Pty Ltd (ABN 68 127 707 975, AFSL 501769) to provide readers with a variety of business insurance policies to compare. Savvy earns a commission from BizCover each time a customer buys a business insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via BizCover.

Savvy does not compare all business insurance policies or providers currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.

For any further information on the variety of insurers compared by BizCover or how their business works, you can read their Financial Services Guide.

Business Insurance for Roofing Business

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