Insurance for painting contractors.

General liability, workers’ comp, commercial auto, and equipment coverage, for interior and exterior painters on homes, apartments, and commercial buildings, including spray work and pressure washing.

What painters usually carry

General liability, $1M / $2M
Workers’ comp
Commercial auto
Hired and non-owned auto
Sprayers, lifts, and equipment
Umbrella

Watch for these in a painting policy

Exterior work above three storiesExterior painting on taller buildings is usually a separate, higher-rated class. A policy written for houses may not fit a mid-rise repaint.
OversprayPaint that drifts onto cars and neighboring buildings is one of the most common painting claims. Some policies exclude overspray or limit spraying outdoors.
Lead paintMost contractor policies exclude lead. On homes built before 1978, federal rules require lead-safe work practices, and a lead claim may be yours alone to pay.
Furniture you moveDamage to a couch or piano you moved yourself can fall under the exclusion for property in your care, custody, or control. Let the owner move what they can.
Pressure washingSome painting policies leave out pressure washing unless it is listed, and water forced behind siding or into windows is a common claim.

What property managers and GCs ask painters for

Additional insured for the propertyProperty managers usually ask to name the owner, the management company, and sometimes the association.
Lead-safe certificationOn older housing, many contracts require proof your firm is certified for lead-safe renovation.
Waiver of subrogationCG 24 04 on general liability, plus workers’ comp.
UmbrellaApartment and commercial repaints often call for $1M to $2M more on top.

Questions painters ask

Straight answers.

The questions we hear most, answered plainly.

Does my policy cover overspray on a neighbor’s car?

Many policies do, as property damage. Some add an overspray exclusion or bar spraying outdoors, so read yours before you bring out the sprayer.

Do I need lead certification to get insured?

Not always to get insured. But federal rules require it for most paid work that disturbs paint in homes built before 1978, and a lead exclusion means that claim would be yours to pay.

Why does the carrier ask how tall the buildings are?

Because exterior painting above three stories is usually rated as a different, higher-hazard class. Tell us if you work on taller buildings, even once in a while.

Does general liability cover a paint job the customer doesn’t like?

No. Redoing work over color, coverage, or finish is a business cost, not an insurance claim. General liability answers for injury and for damage to other property.