As a masonry contractor, you are exposed to many risks in the course of your work, from accidental property damage or injuries to auto accidents or fires. If your company is hit with an expensive lawsuit or accident, it could have a devastating effect on your company. This is why it’s important to consider purchasing business insurance coverage to financially protect your company from unpredictable incidents.

What insurance coverage do I need as a masonry contractor?

There are many types of insurance coverage to consider, but these policies are particularly relevant to masonry contractors:

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance covers accidental damage or injury to third parties and third-party property. When you perform masonry work at homes, offices, and businesses, there’s always a chance that a member of the public could be injured or property could be damaged as a result of your work. If your business is sued because of third-party injury or property damage, general liability insurance can cover legal fees and damages, in addition to medical payments in the case of an injury.

General liability insurance also includes coverage for products and completed operations. If your masonry work ends up causing injury or property damage after it has been completed, this aspect of general liability insurance will provide funds to cover legal fees, damages, and medical payments. However, it’s important to be aware that products and completed operations coverage does not cover damage to your product or completed work itself; it only applies if the completed work causes damage to a customer’s other property.

Examples: 

• Bodily injury: While you are building a wall during renovations at a shopping center, a passerby trips over a brick that one of your employees accidentally dropped on a walkway. The passerby falls and hits his head, sustaining a concussion. Your general liability insurance would pay for medical expenses and legal fees if the client sues.
• Property damage: One of your employees accidentally drops a ladder while walking through a client’s home. The client’s floor is damaged. Your general liability insurance would pay for repairs. 
• Products and completed operations: A few weeks after you build a retaining wall, it collapses, damaging nearby parked cars. General liability insurance would cover the damages.

Commercial Auto Insurance

Masonry contractors often depend on vehicles to transport heavy, bulky materials and equipment. If your company owns or leases vehicles, or if your employees use their own personal vehicles for work purposes, making sure you have sufficient commercial auto insurance coverage is a key concern as well as a legal requirement in almost every state. If your employees are involved in a car crash, commercial auto insurance can provide coverage for physical damage to vehicles, third-party bodily injury, and property damage. Commercial auto insurance can also provide coverage for damage to your vehicles caused by covered perils, including theft, falling objects, fire, and more.

Example: 

• One of your employees becomes distracted and rear-ends another car at a stoplight. Commercial auto insurance would provide funds to cover the damages to both vehicles. 

Inland Marine Insurance

Inland marine insurance provides financial protection for your property that is moved from location to location and is not covered by a standard commercial property insurance policy. Masonry contractors often move equipment, tools, and construction materials to various job sites and may store items onsite while a project is completed. 

Installation floaters are a common type of inland marine insurance for masonry contractors. These policies are specifically designed to cover your business while building or renovations are in progress. Installation floaters cover materials, supplies, and equipment while in transit, waiting to be installed, and during the installation process. Masonry contractors face the risk that walls or other works in progress may collapse due to wind or other issues; an installation floater would provide coverage in these situations, as well as covering losses caused by theft or vandalism at work sites. Coverage can be purchased for a specific project or to cover all projects for a specified period of time.

Example: 

• Your truck is involved in an accident that destroys its load of expensive decorative tile. Your inland marine insurance would cover the loss.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

In almost every state, workers’ compensation insurance is legally required for companies that employ others—and it’s a particularly crucial coverage for masonry workers, as this work has a high rate of injuries. Since they work with heavy materials, employees are at risk for strains or crush injuries, and injuries from falls or falling objects are another common concern when work is done above ground level. In addition to enforcing safety precautions, it’s important to make sure that you have sufficient workers’ compensation coverage for your workers. 

If employees are injured in the course of their work, workers’ compensation insurance will provide financial and medical benefits, covering medical costs, a portion of lost income, and in some cases, physical rehabilitation expenses. Workers’ comp also provides death benefits for dependents in the case of a work-related employee death. 

Since workers’ comp regulations vary depending on the state, it’s a good idea to check with your local workers’ comp laws to understand what is required of your business. Failure to secure adequate coverage can result in heavy fines and penalties for your business.

Example: 

• One of your employees is unloading a truck when a bag of mortar falls on her foot, breaking it. Workers’ comp would pay for her medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and a portion of lost income if she is unable while recovering.

Commercial Property Insurance 

Commercial property insurance protects the value of your company’s property, including buildings, equipment, supplies, computers, furniture, and other items. If a covered peril damages or destroys your business property, commercial property insurance will provide funds to repair or replace it. Some common perils covered by commercial property insurance include fires, storms, explosions, hail, vandalism, and water damage. 

Commercial property insurance covers the following:

• Buildings belonging to or leased by your company
• Contents of the building, including furniture, equipment, and tools
• Property of others while it is under your care, custody, or control

Example: 

• Faulty wiring in your heating system causes a fire to break out in your offices, damaging the building as well as equipment, supplies, and computers. Your commercial property insurance would cover the loss.

Additional Coverages

• Business income coverage will reimburse you for lost income and operating expenses if your business is forced to close due to a covered peril, such as fire, storm damage, or other property damage.
• For small masonry businesses, a business owner’s policy (BOP) could help provide a wide range of coverage in a convenient package. A business owner’s policy combines the major property and liability risks that small businesses face, including general liability, commercial property, business income, and extra expense coverage.
• Pollution liability insurance covers bodily injury, property damage, and cleanup costs caused by pollutants that are released in the course of your company’s work. Masonry work could generate silica dust or cause other types of contamination. 
• Employment practices liability insurance protects your business against lawsuits by prospective, current, or former employees accusing your business of wrongful treatment such as discrimination, harassment, or other employment-related issues.

Pricing and Quotes

Pricing for masonry contractors insurance will vary based on the type of insurance coverage and the risk profile of your business. Insurers consider factors such as:

• Business size
• Industry
• Location
• Number of employees
• Claims history

Businesses with higher risks will have higher premiums than those deemed lower risk. For example, a masonry contractor with a history of frequent claims will face higher premiums. Premiums also rise as you increase the limits of insurance. Different insurance companies have different models for rating risks, so it is worth comparing pricing across different insurers.

In order to get an accurate estimate on pricing, it’s best to get a quote from a reputable insurance company. Below we’ve highlighted a few of our trusted partners who offer coverage for masonry businesses:

Provider	General Liability	Professional Liability	Business Owner's Policy
Embroker	??	??	??
CoverageSmith	??	??	??
CoverWallet	??	??	??
Hiscox	??	??	??
Thimble	??	??	??

Final Word

No matter how careful you are in your work, masonry contractors face many significant risks. Incidents such as accidental damage to a client’s property, auto collisions, or unexpected disasters like storms or fires could have a major financial impact. Purchasing business insurance can give you the financial protection you need to continue operating even if a catastrophe occurs.