Roofing contractor insurance in California

Why roofing is a tough trade to insure

Insurance companies look at roofing closely because the losses are big and they show up late. A small mistake on a roof can turn into a ceiling collapse, a ruined kitchen, or a mold claim months after you got paid.

The risks underwriters ask about most:

• Water intrusion. A tear-off left open overnight, a missed flashing detail, or a valley done wrong. Rain gets in, and the homeowner files a claim for drywall, floors, furniture and sometimes mold.
• Hot work. Torch-down, hot tar and heat-welded membranes can start fires in the attic or the wood deck below. Fires from hot work are among the largest roofing claims.
• Height. Falls are the classic roofing risk. A fall injury to a member of the public, a neighbor or another trade on site is a GL claim. A fall by your own worker is a workers' comp claim.
• Falling debris. Shingles, tiles and tools that land on cars, patios, skylights or people walking below.
• Completed operations. Leaks that start a year or two after the job. This is where most roofing claims live, so you want completed operations coverage on the policy.

Residential reroof vs commercial roofing

Who you work for changes how a roofing policy is written and priced.

• Residential reroof and repair. Many programs prefer homeowners and small repairs. You will be asked about tear-off, the number of stories, and the roofing materials you install (shingle, tile, metal, foam, membrane).
• Commercial and new construction. Flat roofs, membranes, torch-down and multi-story buildings bring more questions. GCs on commercial jobs almost always want additional insured status and completed operations coverage that lasts after you leave.

Answer the quote questions the way you actually work. If your policy says residential only and you take a commercial job, you could be uninsured on that job.

What GCs and homeowners ask roofers for

Before you start, expect at least one of these requests:

• A certificate of insurance (COI) showing your general liability. It proves the policy exists.
• Limits of $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate. These are the limits most GCs write into their subcontracts.
• Additional insured status. Being a certificate holder is not the same as being an additional insured. GCs usually want to be named additional insured, often with primary and non-contributory wording and a waiver of subrogation.
• Proof of workers' comp. For roofers this is not optional. See the CSLB section below.

When your policy is in force, Aster sends the certificate to your GC for you. Read more on our certificate of insurance guide.

Exclusions roofers should read for

Two roofing policies can look the same on price and limits and be very different inside. Read for these:

• Hot work exclusions. Some policies exclude torch-down or hot tar entirely, or only cover it when you follow written fire-safety steps.
• Height or story limits. Some policies only cover work up to a set number of stories.
• Residential-only or new-construction limits. Check the policy matches the jobs you take.
• Subcontractor requirements. If you use subs, many policies require them to carry their own insurance and name you as additional insured.
• Water damage or mold limits. Some policies cap or exclude these, which matters a lot for roofers.

Also remember what GL never covers: injuries to your own workers (workers' comp), your own tools and equipment, your trucks (commercial auto), and the cost to redo your own faulty work. GL covers the damage your work causes to others. Every quote on our board lists what is included and excluded so you can compare.

CSLB rules for C-39 roofers

• Workers' comp even with no employees. CSLB requires C-39 roofing licensees to carry workers' compensation even if they have no employees. Every licensee must file a workers' comp certificate or an exemption with CSLB, but roofers cannot use the no-employee exemption. See our workers' comp guide.
• The $25,000 license bond. Every licensee carries the $25,000 contractor license bond. A bond and an insurance policy are different things. See bond vs insurance.
• LLC licences need liability insurance. If your roofing licence is held by an LLC, CSLB requires liability insurance with at least a $1,000,000 aggregate for up to 5 people on the licence, plus a $100,000 worker-wage bond. See the LLC requirement.
• Contract notice. Home improvement contracts must include a notice saying whether you carry commercial general liability insurance, and if so, the insurer and its phone number.

For non-LLC roofers, CSLB does not require general liability by law but strongly recommends it. In practice, GCs and most homeowners require it before you get on the roof.

How the online roofing quote works

1. Enter your C-39 license number. We find your business in the CSLB public record and show how many A-rated insurance companies write your classes.
2. Confirm you are the owner and review your licence details.
3. Answer about a minute of tap-to-answer questions: residential or commercial, new construction, sales, payroll, subs, crew size, years in business, claims and your current insurance.
4. Your quote board shops A-rated programs live. Prices arrive one by one with the deductible, limits, and what is included and excluded. We also text and email you the link.
5. Tap "Submit for approval" on the one you want. A licensed agent handles it. Approval usually takes 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the insurance company. The final quote is emailed to you to sign. Nothing is bound until you sign.

Want to know what moves the price? Read what drives GL cost, or compare other trades. Workers' comp is quoted by phone with a licensed agent at (877) 940-4313.