Insurance for remodeling contractors.

General liability, builder’s risk, workers’ comp, auto, and crime coverage, for kitchen, bath, and whole-home remodelers working in occupied homes and commercial spaces.

What remodelers usually carry

General liability, $1M / $2M
Builder’s risk
Workers’ comp
Commercial auto
Tools and equipment
Third-party crime bond
Umbrella

Watch for these in a remodeling policy

Damage to your subs’ workSome policies add an exclusion, CG 22 94, that removes coverage for damage to finished work your subs performed. Remodelers who sub out most of a job need that coverage intact.
Rain through an open roofWhen you open a roof for an addition and rain gets in, damage to the part you are working on may be excluded. Damage to the rest of the house is usually covered.
The existing houseStandard builder’s risk covers the new work, not the existing structure. Coverage for the existing house during a remodel is often a separate option, or left to the owner’s policy.
Theft by a workerIf a homeowner says a worker took jewelry, general liability won’t pay. That needs a crime bond or third-party theft coverage.
Design and drawingsIf you draw plans or design the layout, a professional liability exclusion can remove coverage for design mistakes. Design-build remodelers may need contractor’s professional coverage.

What homeowners, owners, and lenders ask remodelers for

Proof before demo dayHomeowners, and their lenders on renovation loans, ask for general liability and workers’ comp certificates before work starts.
Builder’s riskLenders often require it on larger remodels and additions, naming them as loss payee.
Additional insuredCommercial landlords and tenants ask for ongoing and completed operations, often on CG 20 10 and CG 20 37.
Waiver of subrogationCommercial leases and build-out contracts usually require it on general liability and workers’ comp.

Questions remodelers ask

Straight answers.

The questions we hear most, answered plainly.

Is the existing house covered while we remodel it?

Usually by the owner’s homeowners policy, which should be told about the remodel. On large projects, builder’s risk can cover the existing structure too, if that option is added.

Do I need builder’s risk for a kitchen remodel?

Often not for a kitchen inside an occupied home, where materials are the main exposure. Additions, gut renovations, and financed projects usually do need it.

What if a sub’s mistake damages the finished kitchen?

Most general liability policies cover damage to your work caused by a sub’s work, unless an endorsement has removed that exception. It is one of the first things to check on a remodeling policy.