TradeGuardRoofing subcontractor insurance requirements
What a general contractor should require from a roofing subcontractor before they set foot on site, and the coverage gap that most often turns a roofing job into the GC's claim.
Why roofing insurance matters
Roofing is one of the highest fall-fatality trades in construction, and a defective roof is a completed-operations claim waiting to happen.
What to require from a roofing sub
General liability, workers' comp at the correct (high) roofing class, umbrella/excess given the severity of fall claims, and completed operations for leak/defect claims.
Many states license roofing specifically; some require a specialty roofing license. Confirm it and the workers' comp class code (roofing WC rates are among the highest, and a low rate can signal misclassification).
Completed-operations additional insured AND umbrella that follows form; a serious fall claim can blow through primary limits fast.
A roofing/height exclusion buried in the GL policy, or workers' comp rated at a cheaper trade's class code.
Most of these gaps come down to one thing: additional insured status and the right endorsement.
General information, not legal or insurance advice; confirm requirements with your broker and the terms of your subcontract.
Never miss a roofing sub's expired COI
TradeGuard tracks every subcontractor's certificate, flags missing endorsements, and warns you before coverage lapses, so a roofing gap never becomes your claim.
No credit card · See how COI tracking works
Roofing insurance FAQ
What insurance should a roofing subcontractor carry?+
At minimum, General liability, workers' comp at the correct (high) roofing class, umbrella/excess given the severity of fall claims, and completed operations for leak/defect claims.
Do roofing subcontractors need a license?+
Many states license roofing specifically; some require a specialty roofing license. Confirm it and the workers' comp class code (roofing WC rates are among the highest, and a low rate can signal misclassification).
What's the most common COI gap on roofing work?+
A roofing/height exclusion buried in the GL policy, or workers' comp rated at a cheaper trade's class code.
Other trades
Requirements also vary by state; see insurance requirements by state.