Frustrated with roofing liability insurance pushing my rates through the roof
D
DuctDoctor
·6mo·129 replies·108 participants
D
DuctDoctor⚒️ JourneymanOP6mo
189
I'm a roofer with 15 years under my belt, and these liability insurance premiums are killing me. Just got hit with a 25% increase even though I haven't had a claim in years, all because of some new regs on fall protection for steep pitches. We're in Texas so hail storms mean constant roof inspections and repairs, but the insurers don't care about that. I use CertainTeed shingles mostly and always follow OSHA guidelines, but still, it's like they think every job's gonna end in a lawsuit. Anyone else dealing with this crap? Saw a post in the Roofing Contractors Facebook group where a guy said he switched carriers and saved $2k a year, but I'm not sure if that's legit.
S
ShingleShuffler5⚒️ Journeyman6mo
49
man that sucks, same boat here with premiums doubling last year.
T
TarPaperTitan⚒️ Journeyman6mo
25
dude tell me about it, roofing's risky enough without the insurance BS.
N
NailBiter3⚒️ Journeyman6mo
26
yeah, feel your pain brother.
R
RollerRandy⭐ Expert6mo
28
it's everywhere, not just you.
T
TileTerror4⚒️ Journeyman6mo
40
insurance companies are vampires in this trade.
P
PanelPusher6⚒️ Journeyman6mo
25
screw em all.
R
RootRanger⚒️ Journeyman6mo
27
screw the insurers, they're the real thieves in roofing.
L
LawnLizard3🔧 Apprentice6mo
46
preach, they jack up rates after one windy season.
D
DirtBagDan3⚒️ Journeyman6mo
61
been there, premiums ate my whole winter profit.
S
SpringSpecialist11⚒️ Journeyman6mo
60
ugh, same here man.
F
FixItFred🔧 Apprentice6mo
43
goddamn it, switched to a new policy and still paying through the nose for basic liability.
N
NotAnElectrician19⚒️ Journeyman6mo
37
try a trade-specific broker, might shave off some.
R
RollerRandy⭐ Expert6mo
29
yeah but even they can't fix the hikes.
N
NailBiter3⚒️ Journeyman6mo
41
brokers helped me a bit, worth a shot.
A
AmpedUpApprentice⚒️ Journeyman6mo
26
i feel ya, just starting out and liability's already a nightmare.
T
TenYearVet4⚒️ Journeyman6mo
103
hang in there kid, it gets worse lol.
B
BoxHauler3⭐ Expert6mo
31
yep, solidarity from this old timer.
F
FrameFreak3⭐ Expert6mo
81
insurance is a joke, one slip on a wet shingle and you're done.
P
PickMaster2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
32
exactly, they don't get how we work up high.
K
KeyTwister2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
35
damn, that texas hail must make it worse.
P
PrunePro2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
26
yeah premiums suck, but skip em and you're screwed if OSHA audits.
G
GarageGuru2⭐ Expert6mo
21
OSHA's the devil too.
L
LadderLad3🔧 Apprentice6mo
38
sucks man, i just raised my quotes to cover it.
B
BrushStrokePro14⚒️ Journeyman5mo
29
hell yeah, insurers are ruining small roofing crews.
B
BloomBandit⚒️ Journeyman5mo
56
join the club, every roofer's pissed.
T
TarPaperTitan⚒️ Journeyman5mo
21
controversial take: go bare bones coverage and self-insure the rest.
T
TileTerror4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
34
get with a group policy through the NRCA, cuts costs by 30%.
P
PanelPusher6⚒️ Journeyman5mo
40
shop around every year, i use an independent agent who knows roofing.
L
LawnLizard3🔧 Apprentice5mo
40
frustrated as hell, had to lay off a helper because of the increase.
S
SpringSpecialist11⚒️ Journeyman5mo
25
i hear you, it's brutal out there.
N
NotAnElectrician19⚒️ Journeyman5mo
31
this crap is why i stick to flat roofs only.
R
RollerRandy⭐ Expert5mo
24
finally got my liability down to $8k/year by bundling with workers comp.
N
NailBiter3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
20
shady but some guys use offshore insurers, risky af.
T
TenYearVet4⚒️ Journeyman5mo
27
help: document every job photo to fight claims.
B
BoxHauler3⭐ Expert5mo
46
don't skimp on coverage, saw a roofer bankrupt from one fall.
P
PickMaster2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
28
document everything and get good legal advice upfront.
G
GarageGuru2⭐ Expert5mo
44
insurers and lawyers are the enemy.
B
BloomBandit⚒️ Journeyman5mo
28
i feel that, premiums up 40% here too.
V
VoltageVagabond2⭐ Expert5mo
24
love how we band together against this BS.
P
PalletPro⚒️ Journeyman5mo
43
controversial: liability's overrated, focus on safety training instead.
D
DustBunnyHunter6⭐ Expert5mo
29
watch out for those texas inspectors, they flag everything for liability.
W
WireWhisperer3⭐ Expert5mo
30
collective rage: screw the whole system, time for union power.
M
MiterMaster⚒️ Journeyman5mo
20
i'm with you, it's exhausting.
P
PaintSplatter2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
20
bold opinion: drop full coverage if you're solo, pocket the savings.
S
SprayMaster⚒️ Journeyman5mo
23
get certified with GAF, they offer discounted liability rates.
F
FramingFool3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
45
had a claim last year, premiums tripled, total BS.
H
HardwoodHero3⭐ Expert5mo
26
man, roofing life's tough enough without this.
B
BlowerDoorBob⚒️ Journeyman4mo
36
proud i negotiated mine down 15% by proving clean record.
S
SprayGunStan⭐ Expert4mo
41
fight me: general liability ain't worth it for small jobs.
R
RoofRat2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
30
use apps like RoofLink for job docs to lower risk ratings.
F
FuseFiend⚒️ Journeyman4mo
39
yeah, insurance is screwing us all.
D
DustBunnySlayer5⚒️ Journeyman4mo
42
scaled my roofing biz to 5 trucks, liability's still my biggest expense.
S
SparkPlugPro⚒️ Journeyman4mo
27
i get it, hang in there.
P
PackRatMover⚒️ Journeyman4mo
42
frustrated too, quoted a big tear-off and insurance killed the margin.
A
AmpedUpApprentice⚒️ Journeyman4mo
7
how do you guys handle subcontractors' liability?
D
DirtBagLandscaper⚒️ Journeyman4mo
45
this is why i hate thursday renewals.
S
ShingleShuffler⭐ Expert4mo
32
shady companies are driving up everyone's rates.
J
JoltJester2⭐ Expert4mo
44
help: try captives like AmTrust for roofers.
S
SafeCrackerSue🔧 Apprentice4mo
35
don't do umbrella policies, they're a ripoff.
S
SpringSpecialist3⭐ Expert4mo
37
insurers hate roofing, period.
S
SparkPlugMike⚒️ Journeyman4mo
20
built my company without claims, still pay premium.
F
FloorFumbler⚒️ Journeyman4mo
41
proud of my zero claims streak, but rates don't care.
P
PestPatrolPete⚒️ Journeyman4mo
45
warning: one bad review and watch premiums spike.
T
TenYearVet21⚒️ Journeyman4mo
59
haha, my agent's like a used car salesman.
D
DeadboltDave⭐ Expert4mo
36
got to $300k revenue, liability's 10% of overhead now.
F
FittingFiend2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
39
we've come far fighting these hikes together.
P
PestPatrol3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
61
lol, thought i was the only one cursing my policy.
D
DrainDiver3⚒️ Journeyman4mo
29
proud i switched to a mutual insurer, saved big.
F
FlooringFiasco2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
24
scaling up but liability's capping my growth.
V
VoltageVampire⭐ Expert4mo
52
customer slipped on tarps, claim denied, now i'm pissed.
P
PrimerPal⚒️ Journeyman3mo
42
got my certs renewed and still no break on rates.
D
DuctTapeDave4🔧 Apprentice3mo
78
haha insurance adjusters are the worst.
G
GateGuard⚒️ Journeyman3mo
31
insurers banding together to bleed us dry.
T
TenYearVet9⭐ Expert3mo
24
yeah, total commiseration.
W
WireWhisperer3⭐ Expert3mo
24
screw em, raise rates on clients.
L
LiftLord⚒️ Journeyman3mo
45
i feel your frustration daily.
B
BugBlasterBen⚒️ Journeyman3mo
20
man, this liability crap is endless.
D
DustBunnyBoss⭐ Expert3mo
62
same here, can't catch a break.
R
RodentRidder⭐ Expert3mo
9
how much are you paying yearly?
N
NotAnElectrician5⚒️ Journeyman3mo
23
frustrated af with renewals.
F
FixItFelix10⭐ Expert3mo
43
yeah, it's a racket.
G
GarageGuru9⚒️ Journeyman3mo
27
we're all in this mess.
V
VentMaster99⚒️ Journeyman3mo
2
how do you document for audits?
L
LatexLegend⭐ Expert3mo
25
proud i fought a claim and won.
R
RollerRogue2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
39
get with a roofing association for group rates.
V
VentilatorVic⚒️ Journeyman3mo
30
had to fire a sub over bad liability.
V
VoltageVagabond2⭐ Expert3mo
39
try bundling with property insurance.
S
ShingleShark6⚒️ Journeyman3mo
34
help: anyone use JobNimbus for risk tracking?
K
KeyMaster99⚒️ Journeyman3mo
37
insurers love roofing claims.
L
LockoutLulu⚒️ Journeyman3mo
46
i hear ya.
R
RootRanger⚒️ Journeyman3mo
4
what's your deductible at?
S
SpringSpecialist3⭐ Expert3mo
39
collective rage at the premiums.
M
MulchMan⚒️ Journeyman3mo
43
switched carriers and saved 20%.
O
OddJobOtto2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
42
don't ignore the exclusions clause.
S
SparkSafety⚒️ Journeyman3mo
21
yeah, roofing's high risk for them.
D
DrainDiver4⚒️ Journeyman2mo
25
built a safety program to lower rates.
R
RoofRat99⚒️ Journeyman2mo
31
proud of my low claims ratio.
T
TenYearVet19⚒️ Journeyman2mo
59
lol, my first claim was a bird strike.
L
LadderLad⭐ Expert2mo
45
got to 10 years claim-free, still high rates.
W
WattTheHeck14⚒️ Journeyman2mo
26
insurers are the villains here.
S
SpraySavant4⚒️ Journeyman2mo
36
collective screw the system.
M
MiterMaster⚒️ Journeyman2mo
26
man, i feel that.
B
BugBlaster6🔧 Apprentice2mo
65
same struggles every renewal.
C
ColorWheelCarl⚒️ Journeyman2mo
32
controversial: go uninsured for small gigs.
P
PipeDreamer9🔧 Apprentice2mo
20
i get the frustration.
N
NotAnElectrician⭐ Expert2mo
43
proud i negotiated better terms.
D
DoorOpenerPro⚒️ Journeyman2mo
24
use QuickBooks to track liability costs.
M
MulchMogul2⚒️ Journeyman2mo
28
yeah, it's tough.
F
FixItFelix10⭐ Expert2mo
6
how do you vet new carriers?
K
KeyMaster5⚒️ Journeyman2mo
39
warning: read the fine print on wind damage.
W
WireWizard⭐ Expert2mo
33
insurers jack rates after storms.
P
PipeLord4207⚒️ Journeyman2mo
90
haha, my policy's a joke.
C
ColorCraze⚒️ Journeyman2mo
33
got my business licensed fresh, rates are killer.
D
DustBusterDave⭐ Expert2mo
20
collective rage indeed.
V
VacuumVanguard⚒️ Journeyman2mo
28
i feel ya brother.
M
MopAndGloGuy⚒️ Journeyman2mo
8
how's the texas market for insurance?
L
LeakHunter2⚒️ Journeyman2mo
26
help: recommend a good broker.
P
PaintPusherPete⚒️ Journeyman2mo
39
screw the big insurers.
W
WrenchWarrior⭐ Expert1mo
20
try state farm for trades.
D
DrainDragon2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
21
warning: one lawsuit and you're toast.
B
BoxTosser2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
4
help: what's NRCA's group policy like?
F
FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
37
collective frustration with hikes.
S
StudStubborn⚒️ Journeyman1mo
40
yeah, roofing life's hard.
P
PackRatPaul⚒️ Journeyman1mo
70
lol, birds causing claims? gold.
F
FreonFanatic⚒️ Journeyman1mo
46
proud of dodging a big one last year.
W
WireWizardWalt⭐ Expert1mo
27
help: audit your policy yearly.
F
FixItFelix⚒️ Journeyman1mo
43
i feel that pain.
V
VentKing⚒️ Journeyman1mo
4
how do you handle sub liability?
B
BrushStrokePro13⚒️ Journeyman1mo
1
man, insurance companies are screwing us all with these rates, mine jumped 40% last year just cuz of one claim. sub liability is a nightmare, i tell my subs to carry their own or i walk away.