Stone And Tile Installer Insurance Policy Information

Stone And Tile Installer Insurance. If you are a stone or tile contractor, one of the things that you're going to have to worry about is insurance. Any time that you are working on someone's home, or you are providing a service to someone where lots of things can go wrong, you need to have the right coverage.

Terrazzo, tile, marble and mosaic contractors specialize in installing various types of tile products in residential, government, commercial or industrial buildings. The installation may take place inside on floors, walls, or table tops, or outside on walls or patios. The work is extremely labor intensive and requires careful attention to detail.

Terrazzo is made by mixing marble, granite, quartz or glass chips into a cement binder and can be purchased as tiles or custom made on site. Tile is made of ceramic, stone, metal or glass. Marble is made of crystallized rock, such as limestone, cut into tiles and glazed or polished. Mosaic uses an assortment of small pieces of colored glass, stone, tile, or other materials set into patterns to form designs.

Tile, flooring and stone installation is not an easy task, and there are lots of things that can go wrong. Years down the line, you may find yourself defending your company against someone who says that you did a bad job on their installation.

Let's take a look at the types of stone and tile installer insurance that you might need to make sure that you and your company are protected.

Stone and tile installer insurance protects your business from lawsuits with rates as low as $47/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.

Below are some answers to commonly asked stone and tile installer insurance questions:

What Is Stone And Tile Installer Insurance?
How Much Does Stone And Tile Installer Insurance Cost?
Why Do Stone And Tile Installers Need Insurance?
What Type Of Insurance Do Stone And Tile Installers Need?
What Does Stone And Tile Installer Insurance Cover & Pay For?

What Is Stone And Tile Installer Insurance?

Stone and tile installer insurance is a type of insurance that protects stone and tile installers from financial losses due to a variety of potential risks. This coverage can include protection for property damage, liability for injury to others, and damage or loss of materials.

Stone and tile installers may be exposed to risks such as damage to customer property, accidents involving customers or employees, and theft of materials or equipment. Insurance can help cover the costs of repairs, legal fees, and lost income due to downtime.

How Much Does Stone And Tile Installer Insurance Cost?

The average price of a standard $1,000,000/$2,000,000 General Liability Insurance policy for small terrazzo, tile, marble and mosaic contractors ranges from $47 to $59 per month based on location, size, payroll, sales and experience.

Why Do Stone And Tile Installers Need Insurance?

As a stone and tile installer, there are several reasons why you need insurance coverage:

Liability Protection: Liability insurance protects you from legal and financial damages that may arise from third-party claims of property damage or injury during your work.

Property Damage Coverage: Stone and tile installation work involves drilling, cutting, and handling heavy materials that can result in damage to the property or equipment. Property damage coverage can help you pay for the cost of repairs.

Workers' Compensation: If one of your employees is injured on the job, workers' compensation insurance can help cover medical expenses and lost wages.

Tools and Equipment Coverage: Your tools and equipment are essential to your business, and insurance can help protect you from the cost of repairing or replacing damaged or stolen items.

Business Interruption Coverage: In the event of a natural disaster or other unexpected event, business interruption insurance can help cover lost income and expenses incurred as a result of temporary business closure.

Having insurance coverage for your stone and tile installation business can help provide peace of mind and financial protection in the event of unexpected incidents or accidents.

What Type Of Insurance Do Stone And Tile Installers Need?

When it comes to having the right stone and tile installer insurance, there are a few types that are most important for tile and stone contractors. Let's look at each of these types of insurance in detail and help you understand what they mean - and why you need them for your business.

First, following are some common claims scenarios:

Your customer trips and is injured while shopping in your showroom.
Your employee damages a customer's home during the installation.
Your customer sues you, claiming the tile you installed in the shower wasn't done correctly, and water leaked and damaged their home.

Following is a list of some of the 'must and should have' policies for terrazzo work contractors, mantel work contractors, marble installation and mosaic work contractors, ceramic tile installation contractors and more:

General Liability

General liability is an important type of insurance for any business. Liability insurance protects you from injuries that customers can sustain during the normal course of you doing business, as well as any property of others that you damage. It usually protects people that visit your place of business, but in the case of a mobile business like tile and stone installers, they may also protect you if they were injured visiting your jobsite. There are lots of dangerous tools and heavy equipment on job sites, and customers have the potential of getting hurt. You want to be protected in case this happens.

Owners & Contractors Professional Liability

Contractors and businesses that work with specific types of employees that are more independent than salaried or wage employees may want to protect themselves with owners and contractors professional liability insurance. This is purchased by contractors to protect owners against liability for ongoing operations that are performed by independent employees such as subcontractors or due to the negligent supervision of the overseeing contractor.

For tile and stone installers that often work with other independent workers that may not have as much invested in a job, this is an absolutely vital type of insurance.

Commercial Auto

If you are a tile or stone contractor, you are going to have to buy business auto insurance. Since you are going to be traveling to job sites and hauling equipment and materials in your car, you have to have stone and tile installer insurance in order to be protected.

Inland Marine

Inland marine insurance protects things like equipment and materials that are housed in your commercial vehicle. If your equipment is stolen or damaged, this policy can offer you money to replace it. There are certain businesses out there that require this type of insurance, and flooring contractors and installers are definitely one of those that should have it.

Workers Compensation Insurance

If you happen to have employees other than the independent subcontractors that you use, then you're going to need workers comp. Worker's compensation protects your employees who are injured on the job. Generally, it only protects employees that are salaried or are paid an hourly wage. If you have subcontractors working for you, then workers comp will usually not apply to them. However, for those that are covered under Worker's Compensation, medical bills and lost wages may be covered if they are injured on the job.

Stone And Tile Installer's Risks & Exposures

Premises liability exposures at the contractor's office are generally limited due to lack of public access. If there is a showroom, clients can slip or fall, or be injured by falling displays. Off-site exposures are moderate. Jobsite operations include the potential for bodily injury to the public, to other contractors' employees and damage to their property or completed work. Tools, building materials and scrap all pose trip hazards even when not in use.

In enclosed structures without proper ventilation, the use of adhesives can cause fumes that may be just a nuisance or result in serious illness or death. If work takes place during business hours, the exposure to the public must be controlled. This is a particular problem if the work is performed on the exterior of the structure or on an upper interior wall. Barriers must be placed appropriately in addition to warning signs indicating the potential for falling objects.

Completed operations liability exposure may be significant. Failure to properly prepare the surface on which the tile is to be installed or improper installation can result in mildew or mold problems and falling objects. Failure to use enough grout or adhesive can separate the tile from the surface, resulting in trips and falls.

Quality control and full compliance with all construction, material, and design specifications are necessary. Inadequate record keeping may necessitate payment of otherwise questionable claims. Inspection and written acceptance of the work by the owner or general contractor is critical.

Workers compensation exposures vary based on the size and nature of the job. Work with hand tools and sharp objects such as saws can result in cuts, piercings, and accidental amputation. Back injuries, hernias, sprains and strains can result from lifting. Workers can experience lung, eye or skin irritations and reactions from exposure to dust generated by tile cutting. Work at floor level for extended periods of time can result in injuries to knees.

When work is done on ladders and scaffolds, there is a potential for severe injury or death from falling, being struck by falling objects, or adverse weather conditions. The absence of good maintenance of scaffolds, proper use of basic safety equipment, such as properly installed guards, steel-toed shoes, and eye protection, and strict enforcement of safety practices may indicate a morale hazard. Removal of asbestos-lined old tile requires controls, but is generally not a serious hazard.

Property exposures are generally limited to an office and storage for supplies, tools and vehicles unless there is a showroom and stock held for sale. Grout or cement may be on hand but present a low fire load. Adhesives can be flammable so must be properly labeled and stored separately from other materials. Tiles should be stored on pallets with good aisle space. Any scrap storage should be palletized and kept separate from the new material.

Crime exposures are from employee dishonesty. Background checks, including criminal history, should be performed on all employees providing services to customers or handling money. All ordering, billing and disbursement should be handled as separate duties with reconciliations occurring regularly. Certain types of tile and marble are quite valuable and may be difficult to trace if stolen and resold.

Inland marine exposures include accounts receivable if the installer offers credit to customers, contractors' equipment and employees' tools, goods in transit, installation floater, and valuable papers and records for customers' and suppliers' information. Equipment and supplies left at job sites are subject to loss due to breakage, theft and vandalism.

Some types of tiles are extremely valuable and may be difficult to replace. Others are custom made so a partial loss may result in all tiles having to be replaced. Tiles are heavy and could shift during transport, resulting in breakage. Proper loading and tie-down is essential. The contract with the client should state who is responsible for the tile during transit and storage.

Environmental impairment liability exposure may be significant if the contractor removes and disposes of asbestos flooring. Transportation and disposal procedures must adhere to all EPA and other regulatory standards.

Business auto exposures are limited unless building materials are transported by the installer. MVRs must be run on a regular basis. Random drug and alcohol testing should be conducted. Vehicles must be well maintained with records kept in a central location. Hazards of transport include failure to properly secure the load and equipment failure, such as tie-downs and hitches. If oversized items are transported, vehicles should be clearly marked.

What Does Stone And Tile Installer Insurance Cover & Pay For?

Stone And Tile Installer Insurance Claim Form

Stone and tile installers may face various risks and potential lawsuits, including:

Property damage: If a stone or tile installer accidentally damages a client's property, they may be sued for the cost of repairs or replacement. This can occur if the installer drops a heavy tile, damages a wall during installation, or causes other types of damage.
Bodily injury: If a client or third party is injured due to the installer's negligence or mistakes during the installation process, the installer may be held liable for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Breach of contract: If the installer fails to meet the terms of the contract or produces work that is subpar, the client may sue for breach of contract.
Misrepresentation: If the installer misrepresents their qualifications or experience, they may be sued for fraud or misrepresentation.

Insurance can protect stone and tile installers from these types of lawsuits. Here are some examples of how insurance can help pay for these types of claims:

General Liability Insurance: This coverage can protect against property damage and bodily injury claims. If an installer accidentally damages a client's property or causes an injury, this insurance can help pay for the damages.

Professional Liability Insurance: This coverage can protect against claims of breach of contract and misrepresentation. If a client sues for poor workmanship or for misrepresentation of qualifications, this insurance can help pay for legal fees and damages.

Workers' Compensation Insurance: This coverage can protect against claims of bodily injury to employees. If an employee is injured on the job, this insurance can help pay for medical expenses and lost wages.

Overall, insurance can provide peace of mind for stone and tile installers, protecting them from the financial burden of lawsuits and helping them to focus on their work.

Commercial Insurance And Business Industry Classification

SIC CODE: 1743 Terrazzo, Tile, Marble and Mosaic Work
NAICS CODE: 238340 Tile and Terrazzo Contractors, 238330 Flooring Contractors
Suggested Workers Compensation Code(s): 5348 Ceramic Tile, Indoor Stone, Marble, or Mosaic Work

1743: Terrazzo, Tile, Marble and Mosaic Work

Division C: Construction | Major Group 17: Construction Special Trade Contractors | Industry Group 174: Masonry, Stonework, Tile Setting, And Plastering

1743 Terrazzo, Tile, Marble and Mosaic Work: Special trade contractors primarily engaged in setting and installing ceramic tile, marble, and mosaic, and in mixing marble particles and cement to make terrazzo at the site of construction. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing precast terrazzo steps, benches, and other terrazzo articles are classified in Manufacturing, Industry 3272.

Fresco work-contractors
Mantel work-contractors
Marble installation, interior: including finishing-contractors
Mosaic work-contractors
Terrazzo work-contractors
Tile installation, ceramic-contractors
Tile setting, ceramic-contractors

Stone & Tile Contractor Insurance - The Bottom Line

Some of the other insurance options that you have when you are a tile, flooring or stone installer include property insurance, which protects your place of business in case of a natural disaster or another mishap such as a fire, theft, tornado or if someone commits serious vandalism against your place of business. If you have an office that you do business out of, then you definitely need to protect yourself against these potential disasters.

Another type of stone and tile installer insurance that you may want to consider is employer liability coverage for practices. For example, if someone brings a lawsuit against you for discrimination, this type of insurance will offer you protection. Finally, you may want to consider umbrella coverage which offers even greater protection than the insurance plans that are described here.

Additional Resources For Contractors & Home Improvement Insurance

Learn about small business contractor's insurance, including what it covers, how much it costs - and how commercial insurance can help protect your contracting business from lawsuits.

Contractors And Home Improvement Insurance

The contracting industry is a field that involves a lot of risks, both for the contractor and for the clients they work for. This is why commercial insurance is so important for contractors. Insurance can protect contractors from a variety of potential losses, such as:

Liability: If a contractor causes damage to a client's property or if a client is injured while on a job site, the contractor could be held legally responsible. Liability insurance can cover legal fees and any settlements or judgments that may be awarded.

Property damage: Contractors often use a lot of expensive equipment and tools, and there is always a risk that this equipment could be damaged or stolen. Commercial property insurance can help cover the cost of replacing damaged or stolen equipment.

Business interruption: If a contractor is unable to work due to an unforeseen event, such as a natural disaster, insurance can help cover their lost income during this time.

Workers compensation: If a contractor or one of their employees is injured on the job, worker's comp can help cover medical expenses and lost wages.

Overall, commercial insurance is an important risk management tool for contractors. It can provide financial protection against a wide range of potential losses, helping contractors to stay in business and continue serving their clients.

Minimum recommended small business insurance coverage: Business Personal Property, Employee Dishonesty, Contractors' Equipment and Tools, General Liability, Employee Benefits Liability, Umbrella Liability, Automobile Liability and Physical Damage, Hired and Non-owned Auto & Workers Compensation.

Other commercial insurance policies to consider: Building, Business Income with Extra Expense, Earthquake, Flood, Leasehold Interest, Real Property Legal Liability, Accounts Receivable, Builders Risk, Computers, Goods in Transit, Installation Floater, Valuable Papers and Records, Cyber Liability, Employment-related Practicesand Stop Gap Liability.

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