Frustrated with roofing liability insurance pushing my rates through the roof
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DuctDoctor
·5mo·128 replies·107 participants
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DuctDoctor⭐ ExpertOP5mo
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.
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ShingleShuffler5🏆 Master5mo
49
man that sucks, same boat here with premiums doubling last year.
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TarPaperTitan⭐ Expert5mo
25
dude tell me about it, roofing's risky enough without the insurance BS.
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NailBiter3⭐ Expert5mo
26
yeah, feel your pain brother.
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RollerRandy👑 Legend5mo
28
it's everywhere, not just you.
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TileTerror4⭐ Expert5mo
40
insurance companies are vampires in this trade.
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PanelPusher6⭐ Expert5mo
25
screw em all.
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RootRanger🏆 Master5mo
27
screw the insurers, they're the real thieves in roofing.
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LawnLizard3⭐ Expert5mo
46
preach, they jack up rates after one windy season.
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DirtBagDan3🏆 Master4mo
61
been there, premiums ate my whole winter profit.
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SpringSpecialist11⭐ Expert4mo
60
ugh, same here man.
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FixItFred⭐ Expert4mo
43
goddamn it, switched to a new policy and still paying through the nose for basic liability.
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NotAnElectrician19⭐ Expert4mo
37
try a trade-specific broker, might shave off some.
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RollerRandy👑 Legend4mo
29
yeah but even they can't fix the hikes.
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NailBiter3⭐ Expert4mo
41
brokers helped me a bit, worth a shot.
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AmpedUpApprentice⭐ Expert4mo
26
i feel ya, just starting out and liability's already a nightmare.
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TenYearVet4⭐ Expert4mo
103
hang in there kid, it gets worse lol.
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BoxHauler3🏆 Master4mo
31
yep, solidarity from this old timer.
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FrameFreak3🏆 Master4mo
81
insurance is a joke, one slip on a wet shingle and you're done.
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PickMaster2⭐ Expert4mo
32
exactly, they don't get how we work up high.
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KeyTwister2⭐ Expert4mo
35
damn, that texas hail must make it worse.
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PrunePro2⭐ Expert4mo
26
yeah premiums suck, but skip em and you're screwed if OSHA audits.
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GarageGuru2🏆 Master4mo
21
OSHA's the devil too.
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LadderLad3⭐ Expert4mo
38
sucks man, i just raised my quotes to cover it.
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BrushStrokePro14🏆 Master4mo
29
hell yeah, insurers are ruining small roofing crews.
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BloomBandit⭐ Expert4mo
56
join the club, every roofer's pissed.
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TarPaperTitan⭐ Expert4mo
21
controversial take: go bare bones coverage and self-insure the rest.
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TileTerror4⭐ Expert4mo
34
get with a group policy through the NRCA, cuts costs by 30%.
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PanelPusher6⭐ Expert4mo
40
shop around every year, i use an independent agent who knows roofing.
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LawnLizard3⭐ Expert4mo
40
frustrated as hell, had to lay off a helper because of the increase.
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SpringSpecialist11⭐ Expert4mo
25
i hear you, it's brutal out there.
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NotAnElectrician19⭐ Expert4mo
31
this crap is why i stick to flat roofs only.
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RollerRandy👑 Legend4mo
24
finally got my liability down to $8k/year by bundling with workers comp.
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NailBiter3⭐ Expert4mo
20
shady but some guys use offshore insurers, risky af.
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TenYearVet4⭐ Expert3mo
27
help: document every job photo to fight claims.
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BoxHauler3🏆 Master3mo
46
don't skimp on coverage, saw a roofer bankrupt from one fall.
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PickMaster2⭐ Expert3mo
28
document everything and get good legal advice upfront.
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GarageGuru2🏆 Master3mo
44
insurers and lawyers are the enemy.
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BloomBandit⭐ Expert3mo
28
i feel that, premiums up 40% here too.
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VoltageVagabond2🏆 Master3mo
24
love how we band together against this BS.
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PalletPro🏆 Master3mo
43
controversial: liability's overrated, focus on safety training instead.
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DustBunnyHunter6👑 Legend3mo
29
watch out for those texas inspectors, they flag everything for liability.
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WireWhisperer3🏆 Master3mo
30
collective rage: screw the whole system, time for union power.
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MiterMaster🏆 Master3mo
20
i'm with you, it's exhausting.
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PaintSplatter2🏆 Master3mo
20
bold opinion: drop full coverage if you're solo, pocket the savings.
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SprayMaster⭐ Expert3mo
23
get certified with GAF, they offer discounted liability rates.
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FramingFool3🏆 Master3mo
45
had a claim last year, premiums tripled, total BS.
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HardwoodHero3👑 Legend3mo
26
man, roofing life's tough enough without this.
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BlowerDoorBob⭐ Expert3mo
36
proud i negotiated mine down 15% by proving clean record.
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SprayGunStan👑 Legend3mo
41
fight me: general liability ain't worth it for small jobs.
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RoofRat2⭐ Expert3mo
30
use apps like RoofLink for job docs to lower risk ratings.
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FuseFiend⭐ Expert3mo
39
yeah, insurance is screwing us all.
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DustBunnySlayer5⭐ Expert3mo
42
scaled my roofing biz to 5 trucks, liability's still my biggest expense.
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SparkPlugPro⭐ Expert3mo
27
i get it, hang in there.
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PackRatMover⭐ Expert3mo
42
frustrated too, quoted a big tear-off and insurance killed the margin.
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AmpedUpApprentice⭐ Expert3mo
7
how do you guys handle subcontractors' liability?
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DirtBagLandscaper⭐ Expert3mo
45
this is why i hate thursday renewals.
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ShingleShuffler👑 Legend3mo
32
shady companies are driving up everyone's rates.
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JoltJester2👑 Legend2mo
44
help: try captives like AmTrust for roofers.
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SafeCrackerSue⭐ Expert2mo
35
don't do umbrella policies, they're a ripoff.
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SpringSpecialist3👑 Legend2mo
37
insurers hate roofing, period.
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SparkPlugMike🏆 Master2mo
20
built my company without claims, still pay premium.
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FloorFumbler🏆 Master2mo
41
proud of my zero claims streak, but rates don't care.
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PestPatrolPete🏆 Master2mo
45
warning: one bad review and watch premiums spike.
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TenYearVet21⭐ Expert2mo
59
haha, my agent's like a used car salesman.
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DeadboltDave🏆 Master2mo
36
got to $300k revenue, liability's 10% of overhead now.
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FittingFiend2⭐ Expert2mo
39
we've come far fighting these hikes together.
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PestPatrol3⭐ Expert2mo
61
lol, thought i was the only one cursing my policy.
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DrainDiver3⭐ Expert2mo
29
proud i switched to a mutual insurer, saved big.
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FlooringFiasco2🏆 Master2mo
24
scaling up but liability's capping my growth.
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VoltageVampire🏆 Master2mo
52
customer slipped on tarps, claim denied, now i'm pissed.