If you are in the flooring business, you know all too well that while it can be a rewarding trade, it is equally challenging. On every project, you have a chance of leaving your customers feeling jubilant over their newly fitted flooring. And so, your work calls for skilled professionalism, detailed planning, and execution to the tee.
But even with the aforementioned, mistakes do inevitably happen, especially when your flooring business is new and inexperienced. All it takes is one accident, and you could literally be on your knees financially. So just like masonry contractors, fence contractors, and other contractors, it’s important to get insured.
Flooring contractor insurance is a requirement for working with confidence and peace of mind. It can also help with income generation. As you do the groundwork, level the surface, work on the underlay, or embark on the primary prep before commencing the project, this flooring installers insurance covers your business, thus ensuring you can give your all to the project.
Note that flooring installer insurance is not one policy. It is, in fact, a package of insurance policies. Let's take a closer look at each of the different policies you will need as part of your flooring contractors' insurance package.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $300,000/$1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | $5,000 | $100,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Included | Can be included |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | Excluded | Can be included |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes | Can be included |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Working with tools and equipment in people's homes or commercial property means a high risk of liability.
A must-have on your flooring installers liability insurance package is a general liability policy. This provides protection from third-party claims, including those of property damage or bodily injury.
Consider this. Suppose you are contracted to install new carpeting throughout a home. At the end of the project, there's a tack strip that's exposed, but unfortunately, it goes unnoticed. What if, days later, the client's toddler trips over the exposed tack strip, gets a cut, and needs to be rushed to the emergency room?
Here’s another example. Let’s say you’re installing a flooring. You asked an employee to bring the tiles over. As the employee returns with the tiles, he stumbles over something. As a result, the tiles fell and some got damaged.
In these scenarios, you can be held liable. Clients can approach a lawyer who’ll then file a costly legal action against you.
Fortunately, with general liability coverage, you can continue with your normal operations as the policy covers the cost of:
Settling and defending claims
Compensation for medical treatment, pain, and suffering
Reimbursement for property damage
Court judgments
Use the table above to compare the general liability insurance of companies we recommend.
Just like window installation contractors, cabinet contractors, and paving contractors, it’s possible for your general liability insurance to have these coverages as optional or automatic add-ons:
Products and completed operations coverage
Rented premises liability coverage
Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage
Tools and equipment coverage
| CoverWallet | NEXT | Thimble (Best) | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Yes | Can be included |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $500 | $50/$10,000 |
Other than a general liability policy that also found in drywall installation insurance programs, you are going to need professional liability insurance.
Here's the thing. Floor installation is an intricate task just like drywall installation and siding installation. Even the most organized flooring companies are still susceptible to human error. That said, it’s highly likely for your small business to commit issues to the client’s detriment.
Rather than leave yourself exposed to potential claims, you want to arm yourself with professional liability insurance. Here are some cases where professional liability insurance becomes useful:
Your business unintentionally installed the wrong flooring. For example, using red oak instead of white oak
There were measurement errors. As a result, the flooring is crooked, not place neatly, or has ugly gaps
Also sold as an errors and omissions (E&O) policy or professional indemnity coverage, this covers the following:
Alleged negligence
Breach of duty arising from an act, error, or omission in the performance of contractual duties
Inaccurate advice
Violation of good faith
Violation of fair dealing
Breach of confidentiality
So what costs does professional liability insurance for flooring contractors take care of? It pays for:
Court judgments and awards
Defense costs
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
| NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate limit | $5,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | $5,000/$25,000 |
| Covers hired and borrowed equipment? | $5,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | No |
| Miscellaneous equipment also covered? | $5,000/$10,000 | No | No |
| Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $0 |
It would be difficult to cut, shape, and install wood planks, tile, or other flooring materials without your tools. You want to protect your tools and equipment as without these, it would be near impossible to dispense your services. Besides, these tools and equipment don't come cheap. They’re quite the investment.
That's why you ought to get tools and equipment coverage. The latter covers the cost of repair or replacement, ensuring that you have minimal downtime. For example, if you left your tools and equipment at a particular job site and these get stolen, tools and equipment insurance can cover the cost of replacing the items lost.
Consider adding on inland marine insurance, to your tools and equipment coverage. This policy covers your tools and equipment while you are on the move. For example, if someone breaks into your tool trailer while it’s left in a fast food parking lot, inland marine insurance can take care of the resulting losses.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | Thimble | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $100,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $16,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | Included | $5,000/$10,000 |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | Included | $1,000 |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Excluded |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Excluded |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded | $10,000 |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | Included | $2,500 |
Suppose an electrical spark starts a fire that damages not only your warehouse or office but also your inventory, having a commercial property insurance policy would cover the loss.
Particularly, this covers the value of your business's property from covered perils, including extreme weather, vandalism, and fires, among others.
Note that while the primary job of this business insurance for flooring contractors is to cover the building, it can also help you if valuable papers and records, accounts receivable, furniture, computer, tools and equipment, and other valuables get damaged or lost while in the business premises.
Use the table above to compare the commercial property insurance of companies we recommend for flooring contractors.
| CoverWallet | Thimble | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $500,000 | $100,000 | $25,000 |
| Optional policies can be added? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds for free? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BOP discount? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Flooring insurance programs for contractors might offer a business owner’s policy. If you have one, then don’t hesitate to get it. A business owner’s policy is a combination of general liability and commercial property insurance. It grants coverage for the unexpected costs if your business is sued and when your business property gets damaged.
Since a business owner’s policy is a two-in-one insurance product, it allows you to save money on premiums. You’ll also find it easier to manage.
Use the table above to compare the business owner’s policy of companies we recommend.
A flooring project, no matter how big or small, is a construction project that you can insure with builders risk insurance.
Why get builders risk insurance anyway? Before completion, your flooring project and its materials can get damaged. In such an event, builders' risk insurance will cover the resulting losses and reimburse the value of damaged materials.
You must understand that builders risk insurance only covers these perils:
Explosions
Weather
Impact
Human errors
Theft
Vandalism
Employees working with hand tools and sharp objects, including nails and saws, are susceptible to cuts, piercings, and, in worst-case scenarios, accidental amputations. On the other hand, lifting heavy equipment and flooring material could cause back injuries, hernias, strains, and sprains. Besides, working at the floor level for hours on end could result in significant damage to the knees.
Evidently, as a flooring contractor with people in your employment, you stand the risk of being held liable for small to serious injuries. Other than the latter, you are expected to cater to the costs arising from occupational diseases arising from exposure to noise, dust, and flooring chemicals.
That's where your workers' compensation policy comes in. This covers the following when employees gets injured or sick because of work:
Medical treatments, including the cost of doctor's appointments, hospital and emergency room visits, medication, therapy, and rehabilitation, and recovery equipment
Disability benefits
Death benefits and funeral services
Consider having your worker's compensation policy include an employer's liability coverage. The latter caters to all arising costs in the event that an employee sues your flooring business following a work-related injury.
As a flooring contractor, chances are you use box trucks or vans to transport materials, equipment, and employees to worksites. This exposes your business to various auto exposures.
Consider this. Suppose you fail to secure your load properly, or there's an accident. The commercial auto policy steps in paying the costs arising from any damages caused by your commercial vehicle.
Overall, a commercial auto policy covers the following:
Property damage from an accident
Medical costs from an accident
Vehicle vandalism and theft
Umbrella or excess liability coverage increases your protection in the event that a claim exceeds what's stipulated within your general liability, commercial auto insurance, and professional liability insurance. Having excess liability insurance ensures that your business can cover the cost of claims, no matter how costly, without a lot of losses.
As a carpet installer, your primary job is to make your clients happy. You are expected to install the new carpeting as desired, in the least amount of time and with the minimum of mess and disturbance.
But, the nature of this business puts you at risk of having a claim brought against you. For starters, you could end up with a disgruntled customer or cause property damage as you move about the property. Besides, the job is rather strenuous, requiring heavy lifting, which could take a toll on your health.
As such, among the most important considerations, you ought to get carpet installers insurance. The latter is specialty insurance that helps cushion your business from the unique risks you face in the carpet installer landscape. The consequence is that you are better able to concentrate on doing the best for your clients.
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance | $58 | $696 | $0-$500 |
| Professional liability insurance | $65 | $780 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial property insurance | $69 | $828 | $1,000-$2,500 |
| Business owner’s policy | $127 | $1,524 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial auto insurance | $95 | $1,140 | $1,000-$1,500 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $105 | $1,260 | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Tools and equipment insurance | Cost usually added to general liability insurance | Cost usually added to general liability insurance | $500 |
| Surety bonds | 1%-15% of the bond amount | 1%-15% of the bond amount | $10,000 |
| Builder’s risk insurance | 1%-5% of the project’s cost | 1%-5% of the project’s cost | $1,500 |
The average flooring installers insurance cost is $60 per month or $720 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance. Note that different factors affect the flooring contractor insurance cost such as:
Value of business property and equipment
Business income
Type and amount of coverage purchased
Policy limits
Deductibles
Flooring services offered
Location of the business
Take a look at this table that shows how much the best flooring contractor insurance companies charge for their $1 million general liability policy:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT | $41.67 | $500.04 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for flooring contractors |
| CoverWallet | $43 | $516 | Flooring contractor insurance quotes comparison online |
| Tivly | $45 | $540 | Comparing floor contractor insurance quotes over the phone |
| Thimble | $47 | $564 | On-demand flooring insurance coverage |
| Hiscox | $49 | $588 | Flooring contractor insurance with automatic policy renewal |
| State Farm | $53 | $636 | Small-time flooring contractors |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
To get the best coverage, you ought to work with the best flooring installers insurance companies. We’ve gathered info and made some reviews of the best choices, as discussed below. Read to know their pros, cons, and cost of a $1 million general liability policy:
Best overall
Get an online proof of insurance and send as a text message, email, or social media post
Fastest general liability insurance for flooring contractors
Great customer service and reputation
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Outstanding value for money
Bundle two or more insurance policies and get a 10% discount
Couldn’t find any
NEXT could be considered a new player in the flooring contractor insurance niche. With this company, you can easily get covered, send certificates of insurance to clients, and manage your coverage.
Coverage starts at $41.67 per month or $500 annually for a basic package. However, we suggest you invest more in premiums and go for a deluxe coverage that offers the following:
Commercial auto with a combined single limit of $85,000
General liability coverage with a per-occurrence limit of $300,000-$1 million
Tolls and equipment coverage with a per-occurrence limit of $5,000
Commercial property coverage with a per-occurrence limit of $25,000
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for flooring contractors
Average cost: $41.67 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Compare flooring contractor insurance quotes online
Easy online policy management
Name landlord or clients as additional insureds
Cancel a coverage anytime with no charges
Not an insurance company but an insurance broker
CoverWallet is an insurance broker. It works with many insurance companies to give you the right coverage. That said, the quotes you get from this company can have different features. Here are some policies you can get from CoverWallet:
$1 million-$2 million general liability insurance
$50,000 commercial property insurance
Business owner’s policy with a $1 million general liability coverage and $50,000 commercial property coverage
Best for: Flooring contractor insurance quotes comparison online
Average cost: $43 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Call and compare flooring contractor insurance quotes over the phone
Responsive customer service
A partner of many reputable insurance companies
You need to call to get a quote
Tivly (formerly CommercialInsurance.NET) is an insurance company that works with The Hartford, Gallagher, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, and other companies to cover flooring contractors. Policies you can get are general liability, professional liability, builders risk, commercial property insurance, and more. Call Tivly now and compare flooring contractor insurance quotes over the phone.
Best for: Comparing floor contractor insurance quotes over the phone
Average cost: $45 per month
Our rating: 10/10
On-demand coverage
Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage available as an optional add-on to business owner’s policy
Sells short-term general liability insurance
You can’t reach customer service by calling
Thimble calls its coverage for flooring contractors “flooring insurance”. Policies you can get are general liability insurance, workers compensation insurance, and a business owner’s policy. Here are their features:
$1 million-$2 million general liability insurance with an optional $1 million-$2 million professional liability insurance, cyber liability insurance, and business equipment coverage
Business owner’s policy having a $1 million-$2 million general liability coverage, $25,000-$500,000 commercial property coverage. Optional policies can be also added such as hired/non-owned auto liability coverage and cyber liability insurance
Best for: On-demand flooring insurance coverage
Average cost: $47 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Sells the short-term general liability policy of Thimble
Worldwide coverage
Automatic policy renewal
14-day money-back guarantee
Has a lot of customer complaints
Hiscox covers you through its “floor covering” business insurance. This only offers a general liability policy online. Commercial auto, workers compensation, commercial property, and other business insurance policies are available if you call an agent.
Your online general liability insurance quote from this company has a $300,000-$2 million per occurrence and aggregate limit. Policies, such as business equipment coverage, hired/non-owned auto coverage, and others, can be added as upgrades.
Best for: Flooring contractor insurance with automatic policy renewal
Average cost: $49 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Local agents that help you get a solid footing on coverage customization
A wide array of coverage options available
Professional liability insurance can be added to a business owner's policy
Retirement savings and benefits provision made available
You cannot purchase a policy or even get a quote without talking to an agent
Limited online capabilities
Since 1935, State Farm has been offering small flooring contractor insurance that includes an array of coverage options. If you prefer getting covered with assistance, then State Farm is the insurer for you. However, this can be quite detrimental as the carrier has very limited online capabilities.
State Farm's flooring contractor offering includes:
Business property coverage
Business liability coverage
Mobile equipment coverage
Installation floaters
Optional add-ons include:
Commercial auto insurance
Commercial liability umbrella policy
Workers' compensation policy
Business services bond
To get a quote, you are advised to get in contact with an agent who'll walk you through the quote process.
Best for: Small flooring contracting businesses
Average cost: $53 per month
Our rating: 9/10
This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!
It really can't get any better than this... wow
Not all those who wander are lost.
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