Roofers Insurance — What You Actually Need
Roofing is one of the highest-risk trades to insure — carriers know it, and rates reflect it. Working at height, managing subcontractors, and handling large residential and commercial jobs means your insurance needs to be built correctly from the start. A generic contractor policy often won't cut it for a roofing company.
We specialize in roofing contractor insurance across Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan. We know which carriers write roofing at competitive rates, what underwriting questions they'll ask, and how to structure your policy so you don't get caught with gaps when a claim happens.
Coverage for Roofing Contractors
- General Liability (GL) — Required by most general contractors and job sites. Covers bodily injury and property damage caused during your roofing operations. Carriers rate GL on gross receipts, residential vs. commercial split, new construction vs. reroof, and subcontractor usage.
- Workers Compensation — Required by Illinois law for any roofing company with employees. Roofing is a high-rate class — we shop multiple WC carriers to keep your cost down. Covers medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation for injured roofers.
- Commercial Auto — Covers your trucks, vans, and trailers used for business. If your crew drives to job sites in company vehicles, you need a commercial auto policy — personal auto won't cover business use claims.
- Surety Bond — Many municipalities and GCs require roofing contractors to be bonded. We write contractor license bonds and contract bonds for roofing companies in all five states we serve.
- Tools & Equipment — Covers your nail guns, compressors, ladders, and other equipment if stolen from a job site or vehicle, or damaged on the job.
- Commercial Umbrella — Adds liability protection above your GL policy. Required for many commercial roofing contracts — $2M, $5M, or higher limits available.
- Installation Floater — Covers roofing materials in transit or staged at a job site before installation. Important for large commercial jobs with significant material value on site.
What Carriers Ask When Quoting Roofers GL
Every GL carrier for roofing asks the same core underwriting questions. Having your answers ready gets you a faster, more accurate quote:
- Annual gross receipts — your total job revenue for the year
- Residential vs. commercial split — what % of your work is on homes vs. commercial buildings
- New construction vs. reroof split — new construction carries higher risk than replacement
- Maximum building height / stories — most carriers have limits on how many stories they'll cover
- Subcontractor usage — do you use subs, how much do you pay them annually, and do they carry their own GL insurance
- Number of employees and payroll — used to rate workers comp
- Prior loss history — 3 to 5 years of claims history
- States of operation — where you physically perform work
Subcontractors — The #1 GL Rating Issue for Roofers
If you use subcontractors, carriers will ask two critical questions: how much do you pay them annually, and do they carry their own general liability insurance? If your subs are uninsured, your GL carrier may treat their work as your payroll — which can significantly increase your premium or cause a policy cancellation at audit.
The solution is simple — require certificates of insurance from every sub before work begins, and keep them on file. We help our roofing clients set up a simple COI tracking system so this never becomes a problem at audit time.
Same-Day Certificates of Insurance
When a GC calls you at 7am needing a COI to get you on a job that starts at noon — we pick up the phone. Active policyholders with Insurance Contractors LLC can get certificates of insurance issued same day, usually within the hour. We can add additional insureds, include waivers of subrogation, and match the exact language your contract requires.
How Much Does Roofers Insurance Cost in Illinois?
Roofers GL in Illinois typically runs $3,000–$12,000/year for a small to mid-size operation, depending on receipts, crew size, and what type of work you do. Commercial roofing costs more than residential. New construction costs more than reroof. Companies with claims history or uninsured subcontractors pay more.
Workers comp for roofers is one of the highest-rated classes in the state — typically $15–$25 per $100 of payroll. The best way to manage WC cost is experience modification rate (EMR) improvement through safety programs and claims management. We work with carriers who reward safe roofing companies.
The only way to know your actual cost is to get a quote. Fill out our quick form and we'll shop 30+ carriers to find your best option.