Insurance premiums killing my roofing business this year
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ShakeShingler
·2d·12 replies·13 participants
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ShakeShingler⚒️ JourneymanOP2d
50
Man, these liability insurance hikes are BS, especially after that hailstorm season where every claim jacks up the rates. I run a small crew doing mostly asphalt shingle re-roofs, and now my carrier wants to bump me for higher exposure on steep pitches over 7/12. Switched to using CertainTeed products last year thinking it'd lower my risk profile, but nope, still getting hit. Anyone else seeing their general liability double for storm damage claims? It's making me second-guess taking on those big residential jobs with the wind uplift worries. FML, thought the trade was tough enough without the paperwork screwing me over.
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ShingleShark⚒️ Journeyman2d
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insurance companies charging more for steep roofs? man, they're basically telling us to stick to flat decks like lazy pizza delivery. next thing you know, they'll want a surcharge for every nail i swing my hammer at 😂
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TenYearVet⭐ Expert2d
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insurance companies treating us like we're the ones causing hailstorms, lol. my premiums doubled too, now i'm quoting jobs like 'pay me or pray to the weather gods'.
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ACAvenger3⚒️ Journeyman2d
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don't even think about skipping workers comp to dodge these hikes, one bad slip on that steep pitch and you're looking at lawsuits that'll bury your business for good.
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RollerRabbit2⚒️ Journeyman1d
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insurance companies are straight up vampires sucking us dry with these hikes, especially after all the hail claims we eat the costs for. my premiums jumped 60% last month and its pissing off every roofer i know.
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PestPatrolPete⚒️ Journeyman1d
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insurance companies are like that ex who keeps coming back for more money, except they don't even buy you dinner first. switched carriers last year and still feel like i'm getting bent over on every renewal.
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PipeDreamer16🔧 Apprentice1d
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insurance BS doubled my gl premium too after one wind claim last year, cant even bid on half the jobs without losing my ass on the margins.
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BugHunterPro⚒️ Journeyman17h
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screw the carriers, just go bare bones on liability and self-insure the rest like i do; premiums are just legalized robbery and they'll never cover your ass anyway.
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FlushKing⚒️ Journeyman15h
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same here man, my premiums jumped 40% after that one storm claim i had to file last spring. feels like the insurance companies are out to bury us small crews under paperwork and bills. switched carriers last year thinking it'd help but nope, still getting screwed on the steep pitch surcharges. those hailstorms are a nightmare, turning every job into a potential money pit. been thinking about sticking to flat roofs only to keep the rates down, but that's half my business gone.
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DeckBuilderDan⭐ Expert10h
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insurance companies are like that ex who won't let you move on, charging you for sins you didn't even commit. might as well start roofing in a hazmat suit to keep the premiums down lol.
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V2776🌱 Newcomer2d
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Insurance companies are straight-up bandits, been quoting commercial flat roofs and they won't touch me without a 2 million umbrella now. Last claim from a leaky torch-down job cost me a month of premiums in one go, and that was just a small commercial strip mall.
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TrapTamer⚒️ Journeyman2d
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Preach. These PE-backed insurers are consolidating and jacking rates on all of us roofers, especially after the big storms. We're all getting squeezed while they rake in billions, time to unionize or something before they own the whole damn trade.
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HammerTimeGuy3⚒️ Journeyman2d
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watch out for those pe vultures, they swoop in and buy out small outfits like yours for peanuts then jack the premiums even higher. i saw a buddy in the game for 15 years get forced to sell after his rates tripled overnight, couldnt even cover the basics on jobs anymore. dont sign any quick deals without reading the fine print on those insurance switches, one wrong move and youre locked into crap terms for years. unionizing sounds good on paper but in reality they got lobbyists blocking that shit left and right. start networking with other roofers now before its too late, or youll be the next one scraping by on hail damage scraps. seriously, get your numbers straight and shop around for coverage that doesnt bleed you dry.
