Who this page is for
This page is for Virginia roofing contractors working on residential and commercial buildings. Ford Agency works with smaller owner-operated roofing businesses, established contractors and difficult-to-place accounts that need a specialized market review.
Typical roofing operations
- Roof replacement, repair and maintenance
- Asphalt shingle and residential roofing
- Metal, membrane and low-slope roofing systems
- Commercial roofing and roof coatings
- Sheet-metal, solar-related or specialty work when disclosed
Important differences within this trade
Two roofing contractors can present very different exposures. Helpful distinctions include:
- Residential versus commercial roofing percentages
- Maximum building height and number of stories
- New work, tear-off, repair and maintenance percentages
- Hot-applied systems, torch work and other hot work
- Occupied buildings and protection from weather intrusion
- Subcontractor use and written risk-transfer practices
- Storm-chasing work, service radius and maximum project value
Roofing often requires specialized underwriting because of height, employee injury and completed-work severity. A complete submission helps standard and surplus-lines markets evaluate the account on its actual merits.
Coverage conversations to have
General liability and completed operations
General liability may respond to certain third-party bodily-injury or property-damage claims, subject to the policy. Roofing losses can involve water intrusion, fire, falling materials or damage to an occupied building. General liability should not be treated as a warranty for faulty workmanship, and completed-operations coverage depends on the issued policy and applicable exclusions.
Open-roof and weather-related exposures
Removing or opening a roof can expose the building and its contents to rain, wind and other weather. Underwriters may ask about daily weather monitoring, temporary covering procedures, limits on how much roof is opened at once, emergency response plans and overnight protection.
Hot work and fire prevention
Torch-applied roofing, welding, soldering, cutting and other hot work should be fully disclosed. Written hot-work procedures, fire watches, extinguishers, employee training and compliance with contract requirements may be important to underwriting. Do not assume every roofing policy permits torch work.
Vehicles, trailers, tools and equipment
Work trucks, vans and trailers generally call for a commercial-auto discussion. Ladders, lifts, compressors, generators, safety equipment and mobile tools may need inland marine or contractors-equipment coverage. Leaving property in a vehicle does not mean the auto policy covers it.
Employees and workers’ compensation
Roofing creates significant fall, lifting, heat and equipment exposures. Employee duties, payroll, roof types, maximum height, fall-protection procedures and driving affect the workers’ compensation review. Virginia requirements depend on the facts, and subcontractor employees can affect the statutory count. Use the official Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission guidance for current rules.
Subcontracted roofing work
Subcontractor use should be accurately disclosed. Underwriters may ask for written subcontractor agreements, certificates of insurance, additional-insured requirements, minimum limits and confirmation that subcontractors maintain workers’ compensation where required. Your insurer’s requirements may be more specific.
Pollution and hazardous-material concerns
Roof coatings, adhesives, solvents, fumes, silica, mold, lead, asbestos and removal of contaminated roofing materials can create pollution exposures that may not be fully addressed by an ordinary general liability policy. Contractors pollution liability may deserve review based on the operation.
Commercial umbrella
Roofing losses can be severe, and general contractors or project owners may require limits above the primary policies. An umbrella may add limits over scheduled underlying coverage, but it does not automatically cover every exclusion.
Certificates and written requirements
When a general contractor, property owner or customer asks for additional insured, waiver of subrogation, primary-and-noncontributory wording or special limits, send the written requirement. A certificate is generally evidence of insurance and does not ordinarily amend a policy.
What to send Ford Agency
- A detailed description and percentage of each roofing operation
- Residential and commercial work percentages
- Roof systems installed, repaired or maintained
- Maximum height and maximum number of stories
- Details about tear-off, hot work, torch work and roof coatings
- Annual sales, payroll and employee count
- Fall-protection, weather-monitoring and fire-prevention procedures
- Subcontracted cost and written risk-transfer practices
- Vehicle, driver, trailer, tool and equipment information
- Maximum project value and geographic service area
- Current policies, recent loss runs and requested effective date
- Contracts, bid specifications or certificate requirements when available