Carpenter Insurance

Carpenter Insurance

Whether you are an independent contractor or run a large carpentry business, it’s critical to protect your company with carpenter insurance.

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Zensurance - Carpenter

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Carpenter

Insurance for carpenters

With nimble and proficient woodworking skills, carpenters help create the structural integrity of our homes and many other buildings. Carpenters also spend time within the buildings; their trade help to build, install cabinets countertops, and create built-in shelving.

Carpentry jobs big and small require a steady hand, trade knowledge, and a risk management strategy. When your skill is relied upon to build a safe structure, it’s essential to protect your business against the risks you could be held liable for should something go wrong.

Carpenter Insurance is a combination of insurance policies designed to protect carpenters financially against the specific risks and liabilities associated with working on a residential or commercial job site.

Generally speaking, a comprehensive carpenter insurance policy will typically include the following coverages:

  • Commercial general liability insurance (CGL): CGL coverage protects you from day-to-day liabilities you could be responsible for when working in places such as on a job site, in somebody’s home or a commercial environment. Common claims include a third-party slip-and-fall incident, bodily injury or property damage. Say a client trips over your misplaced toolbox that’s left in a dark corner of their unfinished home – you could be liable for their injuries. CGL coverage could provide financial coverage for their medical bills and related costs.
  • Tools and equipment insurance: This coverage provides essential coverage to protect your most important assets – your tools. With tools and equipment insurance, you could be covered to repair or replace lost, stolen, or damaged carpentry tools and equipment. For example, suppose multiple power tools are stolen overnight from your work vehicle. Your tools and equipment insurance could cover the cost to replace those tools.
    • This policy does not cover tools and equipment that stop working on their own (e.g. wear and tear).
  • Pollution liability insurance: This coverage protects against pollution risks while carrying out work tasks. Carpentry tasks can directly release pollution by accidentally damaging pipes and sewer lines, for example. Should exposure to pollution occur, pollution liability insurance may provide financial coverage for clean-up costs, assessments, and civil penalties.
  • Commercial auto insurance: This coverage provides financial protection should you be involved in a loss while operating your commercial vehicle. Basic commercial insurance can provide coverage for third-party bodily injury or property damage caused by operating your commercial vehicle. If you’re not responsible for an accident, it may also cover your injuries and damage to property. Say you’re driving to a client’s home and you’re involved in a car accident that’s deemed to be your fault. Commercial auto insurance could cover the legal fees and any third-party medical and property costs.

The cost of a carpenter policy package varies greatly depending on information about your business. For a rough estimate, the cost of insurance for a small carpentry business working on residential projects typically starts at around $450 per year for a general liability insurance policy with a $2M coverage limit.

There are several factors considered when determining a price for a carpenter insurance policy package. When you make a quote with Zensurance, you’ll be asked about the following to help us determine the coverage that’s right for you:

  • Number of employees (independent contractor/technician vs. full-time employee)
  • Project type (commercial vs. residential)
  • Years of experience
  • Location
  • Tools & equipment owned
  • Annual and projected revenue

Any contractor who provides carpentry work (residential or commercial) should have a reasonable amount of insurance coverage to protect them from the liabilities of third-party injuries and property damage.

  • Residential and commercial carpenter
  • Cabinet maker
  • Framer
  • Joister
  • Ship and boat carpenter
  • Trim carpenter

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Common claims scenarios

third party property damage - window

Problem: While placing a wooden panel as part of the structure on a new home build, the section accidentally collapses, smashing the window and damaging part of the siding of the home next door.

Outcome: Your general liability insurance policy would cover the $55,000 lawsuit to replace and repair the window and siding.

workshop fire

Problem: An abundance of wood dust collected in your workshop caused a fire that destroyed all your tools and equipment.

Outcome: Your tools and equipment insurance policy would cover the $15,000 value of damaged equipment.

kitchen cabinet - pollution risks

Problem: The chemicals in the wood finish you used for your client’s kitchen cabinets emitted pollutants, making them sick.

Outcome: Your pollution liability insurance policy covers the $100,000 lawsuit placed against you for bodily injuries.

Frequently asked questions

If I’m hired as a sub-contractor for another company, do I need my own insurance?

Yes, you’ll need your own insurance. Typically, insurance coverage only applies to a company’s full-time employees. If you work for yourself, or another company, you should ensure you have your own insurance coverage to protect your work.

If I supply the fixtures or materials, do I need to get specific coverage for this?

Product liability insurance may be included in your CGL policy – speak to a broker to understand how you’re covered. Product liability insurance can cover third-party property damage or bodily injury caused by a faulty product you use in your projects.

Does carpenter insurance cover poor craft quality?

Depending on the size of the claim, poor workmanship may be covered under faulty workmanship coverage within your carpenter’s general liability policy.

Other contractors and trades we can provide coverage for:

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