Roofing subcontractor insurance requirements
Review roof replacement, repairs, waterproofing and any hot work separately. Height, building occupancy and the use of subcontracted crews can change the insurance questions substantially.
Start with your agreement, the work scope and the applicable state workers’ comp rules. Collect current policy evidence and the endorsements your agreement requires. A certificate summarizes information; it does not resolve every exclusion or condition.
Scope details that change the review
Water entry
An open roof can expose finished interiors and tenant property before the work is complete.
Hot work
Torches, kettles and other heat sources require explicit questions about permitted operations and policy restrictions.
Crew structure
A contractor using a separate installation crew needs a documented lower-tier insurance process.
Questions for the contractor and agent
- Does the policy scope include the actual roofing method, building type and maximum work height?
- Does the required additional insured evidence address both ongoing work and completed operations?
- Who carries workers comp for every crew, and how are any owner-only exclusions documented?
Documents to collect
- Current GL and workers comp evidence for the named roofing business
- Required ongoing and completed operations endorsements
- Broker response addressing roofing, height, residential work and hot-work restrictions
Compare policy dates and limits against the signed requirements. Check the actual endorsement wording when the requirement depends on insured status, a waiver or the scope of operations. Keep unknown items pending and record the reviewer responsible for resolving them.
A hypothetical review
A roofer submits a current GL certificate for a commercial reroof. The scope includes torch-applied membrane, but the document does not address that operation. Leave the method-specific question open and ask the agent for the relevant policy terms before authorizing the work.
Renewals and scope changes
Review each policy renewal during a long project and retain the evidence applicable to the installation dates. Revisit the file if a different crew or roofing method is introduced.
Choosing limits
These review questions do not establish a universal legal minimum for this trade. Owner contracts, project size, operations and applicable licensing rules can change what is required. Use the requirements generator for an illustrative starting schedule, then have the authorized risk owner and broker approve the actual requirements.
Prepare the request
- Copy the certificate request email
- Download the COI review checklist
- Check workers’ comp requirements by state
Related trades
Scope and safety references
These official resources help identify operational hazards. They do not prescribe the insurance limits or policy terms for your contract.