Roofing contractor insurance in Spokane
The hardest trade in construction to insure, and the one where carrier appetite narrows fastest. Working with an agency that knows which markets still write roofing matters more here than anywhere.
Why roofing is priced the way it is
Roofing carries among the highest workers’ compensation rates of any class in Washington, and it is not arbitrary — falls from height produce both the most frequent and the most severe claims in construction. Many national carriers decline roofing outright, and several that do write it will not touch steep-pitch, torch-down or anything above two storeys.
That narrow appetite is exactly why an independent agency is worth more to a roofer than to most trades. When a carrier exits the class — which happens regularly — a captive agent can only pass on the non-renewal. We can move the account.
What actually lowers your rate
Three things, in order: a clean claims history, documented fall-protection training with the records to prove it, and correct L&I classification. Roofers running a mix of work frequently have everything classified at the roofing rate when some of it legitimately is not. We check that first, because it is free money if it is wrong.
An active return-to-work plan matters too. A roofer who gets an injured worker onto light duty quickly keeps the claim cost down, and claim cost is what drives your experience factor.
Hot work and interior water
Torch-down and other hot-work applications need their own attention — some policies exclude it, others require a written hot-work permit procedure and a fire watch afterwards. And the claim roofers underestimate is water: an open roof when a Spokane storm arrives can do more damage to the interior in two hours than the entire contract was worth. Tarping discipline is an underwriting question, not just a site-management one.
Biggest exposures for roofers
- Falls from height — the severest and most frequent claim in the trade
- Water damage to the building interior from an open roof
- Torch-down and hot work igniting a fire
- Dropped material damaging vehicles, landscaping and people below
Pre-filled for your trade. Two minutes.
Coverage
What roofers usually carry
Workers' Compensation
Required in Washington for nearly every employer.
Read moreGeneral Liability
The baseline policy.
Read moreCommercial Auto
Coverage for the vehicles your business owns, leases, rents or asks employees to drive.
Read moreCommercial Umbrella
Extra liability limits that sit above your general liability, auto and employer liability policies.
Read moreQuestions
Roofers insurance FAQs
Fall claims are both frequent and severe, which drives workers’ compensation rates up, and the liability exposure from water damage and dropped material is significant. Fewer carriers compete for the class than for other trades, so there is less downward pressure on price.
Yes, but the market narrows. Some carriers exclude torch-down entirely or require documented hot-work procedures; others cap the height or pitch they will write. Tell us up front what you actually do — a policy placed on an inaccurate description is a claim waiting to be denied.
Roofing is a specialty trade, so registration requires a $15,000 surety bond with L&I plus general liability at the state minimums. Larger contracts may additionally require performance and payment bonds, which are separate.
Other trades
We write these too
General Contractors
Registration, a bond, liability and workers’ comp — general contractors carry more moving parts than any trade we write, and the most contract-driven requirements.
Read moreElectricians
Low claim frequency, high claim severity.
Read morePlumbers
Every job you touch carries water, and water finds its way into places that cost far more to repair than the work you were paid for.
Read moreHVAC Contractors
Gas, refrigerant, electrical and roof access in one trade — and a service calendar where the busiest weeks are also the ones with the least margin for error.
Read moreStart with your trade. We will take it from there.
Tell us what the business does and we will pre-select the coverage it normally needs, then compare carriers for you. About two minutes, no obligation.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (509) 944-0847.