Roofers Insurance
Compare roofing company insurance quotes from construction insurance specialists.
- Cover written for work at height, hot-works and sub-contracted teams
- Public liability, employers' liability, contract works and tools cover
- One short form, then a specialist tradesman insurance partner contacts you with quotes
Roofers Insurance in short
Roofers insurance is business insurance built around the risks of roofing: working at height, hot-works such as torch-on felt, falling debris and sub-contracted labour. Public liability is the minimum most roofers hold, and employers' liability is a legal requirement if you employ anyone, including apprentices and labour-only subcontractors. Complete one short form and a specialist tradesman insurance partner will contact you with quotes.
Key facts
- Employers' liability insurance is required by law for anyone who employs staff, apprentices or labour-only subcontractors.
- Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement, but it is often a condition of commercial contracts and site access.
- A sole trader might pay £7 to £12 per week, and public liability alone can cost around £100 to £150 per year.
- Insurers may exclude work above a fixed height limit, commonly 10 m to 15 m, and the use of heat.
- Van break-ins are one of the most common claim types for roofers in the UK, so tools cover matters.
Michael's take
Roofing is the trade where I most often see a cheap policy turn out to be no policy at all, because a height limit or a hot-works exclusion was buried in the wording. Before you look at the price, check the height cap, the heat exclusion and the flat-roof percentage against the jobs you actually take on. Then put your safety paperwork and subcontractor arrangements in front of the insurer properly, because a well-presented risk is a cheaper one.
What is roofers insurance?
Roofers insurance is a type of business insurance designed to protect roofing professionals against the risks they face on the job. Whether you are self-employed or run a roofing business, a policy can protect you financially if something goes wrong.
Roofing carries more risks than most trades. Working from height means the likelihood of injury is high, and no two jobs are the same: one week you are replacing tiles on a bungalow, the next fitting leadwork on a church spire. A standard trades policy often excludes some or all of these hazards. A specialist roofers policy is written with them in mind, so that if something does go wrong your insurer is not looking for an exclusion clause. It sits within the wider range of cover described on our tradesmen insurance page.
Who needs roofers insurance?
Any roofer whose work could injure someone or damage property needs it, which in practice means every roofer, from sole traders to firms employing multiple teams.
- Self-employed roofers should hold public liability insurance as a minimum, and may also need tools and equipment cover, business van insurance and personal accident cover to protect income if injury stops them working.
- Anyone who employs staff, apprentices or labour-only subcontractors must have employers' liability insurance by law.
- Roofers on commercial projects may need higher public liability limits, often £5 million or more, and clients may ask for evidence of employers' liability and specific health and safety certifications.
If you store materials on site, rely on sub-contractors or provide design input, public liability alone will not cover every risk and you will need additional protection.
Ready to get roofers insurance quotes?
One short form, then a specialist tradesman insurance partner contacts you with quotes.
What does roofers insurance cover?
A roofers policy is usually built from several core covers, each dealing with a different risk on the job.
- Public liability insurance: covers injury or property damage claims from clients or members of the public, for example falling debris or tools damaging property.
- Employers' liability insurance: legally required if you employ staff, apprentices or labour-only subcontractors. It pays compensation and legal costs if an employee is injured at work.
- Contract works insurance: protects work in progress if storms, fire or vandalism damage materials before completion. Essential for re-roofing and extension projects.
- Tools and equipment cover: pays to replace stolen or damaged tools. Van break-ins are one of the most common claim types for roofers in the UK.
- Vehicle and goods-in-transit: if you rely on vans for staff or materials, make sure your commercial vehicle policy covers business use and materials stored overnight.
What is not covered by roofers insurance?
Exactly what is excluded depends on your policy, but cheap premiums often hide restrictive conditions that matter to roofers in particular.
Insurers may exclude:
- Work above a fixed height limit, commonly 10 m to 15 m
- Use of heat, such as torch-on felt or lead welding
- Flat-roof work beyond a percentage of turnover
Standard exclusions across most policies also include:
- Deliberate or intentional damage
- Work carried out illegally or with incorrect permissions
- Claims involving unlicensed subcontractors
- Injuries that occur outside of work
Always check the exclusions in your policy documents and consider additional cover for any risk specific to your business that is not included.
How much does roofers insurance cost?
Premiums vary by trade activity, turnover and claims history, so there is no single price, but the source figures below give a sense of scale.
| Cover | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Sole trader, full roofers policy | £7 to £12 per week |
| Public liability alone | Around £100 to £150 per year |
| Larger firms employing multiple roofers | More, depending on size and add-ons |
When pricing a roofing risk, insurers look at the height and pitch of your work, the percentage of flat-roof projects, your use of heat, and your experience and safety record. The size of your business, the number of employees and the level of cover you choose all affect the final figure.
What do insurers look for when quoting roofers insurance?
Underwriters consider much more than turnover when they quote a roofing business.
- Experience: years trading and qualifications, such as NFRC or CITB registration
- Safety controls: method statements, risk assessments and hot-works permits
- Claims record: both how often you have claimed and the type of claim
- Sub-contractor management: whether your subcontractors are bona fide with their own insurance
Presenting this information clearly can reduce premiums by up to 15% compared with incomplete submissions. Other ways to lower the cost include only paying for the cover you need, reducing your liability risks, increasing your policy excess, and comparing quotes rather than auto-renewing.
Is roofers insurance a legal requirement?
Roofers insurance as a package is not legally required, but employers' liability insurance is mandatory by law if you employ anyone, including apprentices and labour-only subcontractors.
Public liability insurance is not required by law, but it is essential for protecting against injury and property damage claims, and it is often a requirement for commercial contracts or site access. Without insurance you are financially exposed: an accident that injures a third party or damages their property could result in legal fees and compensation claims your business would have to pay itself.
How do I compare roofers insurance quotes?
Complete one short form with details of your business and the cover you need, and a specialist tradesman insurance partner will contact you with quotes tailored to the work you actually do.
Do not settle for the first quote you receive. Make sure each quote reflects your height limits, use of heat, proportion of flat-roof work and use of subcontractors, and check that any commercial contracts you work on do not require higher public liability limits than the policy offers. Quote Goat does not sell or arrange insurance; it gives you access to a comparison service that puts you in touch with specialists in trade cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a legal requirement to have roofing insurance?
Roofing insurance is not legally required as a whole, but if you employ anyone you must have employers' liability insurance by law. Public liability insurance is not required by law, but it protects against injury and property damage claims and is often a condition of commercial contracts or site access.
What insurance do self-employed roofers need?
Self-employed roofers should have public liability insurance as a minimum to cover claims for injury or property damage. Depending on the work, they may also need tools and equipment cover, business van insurance and personal accident cover to protect income if an injury stops them working.
What cover do I need for commercial roofing projects?
Commercial roofing work may need higher levels of public liability insurance, often £5 million or more. Some clients also require evidence of employers' liability insurance and specific health and safety certifications, so check contract requirements and make sure your policy reflects the scale of the work.
How do I get roofers insurance quotes?
Complete one short form with details of your roofing business and the cover you need. A specialist tradesman insurance partner will then contact you with quotes, and you purchase your chosen policy through that broker.
How much does roofers insurance cost?
It depends on the size of your business, the type of work, how many employees you have, your claims history and the level of cover. A sole trader might pay £7 to £12 per week, and public liability alone can cost around £100 to £150 per year, with fuller packages costing more depending on the add-ons.
How can I lower my roofers insurance premiums?
Only pay for the cover you need, reduce your liability risks, and consider increasing your policy excess. Presenting your experience, safety controls, claims record and subcontractor arrangements clearly can reduce premiums by up to 15% compared with incomplete submissions, and comparing quotes rather than auto-renewing helps too.
What happens if I do not have roofers insurance?
Without insurance you are financially exposed if something goes wrong on a job. An accident that injures a third party or damages their property could lead to legal fees and compensation claims that your business would have to pay itself, and if you employ anyone without employers' liability insurance you are breaking the law.
What is not covered by roofing insurance?
Standard exclusions include deliberate or intentional damage, work carried out illegally or without the correct permissions, claims involving unlicensed subcontractors, and injuries that occur outside of work. Roofing policies may also exclude work above a fixed height limit, commonly 10 m to 15 m, the use of heat, and flat-roof work beyond a percentage of turnover.
Tradesman Insurance for your business
Other pages that may fit your business, and guides on this topic.
Written by Michael Foote, Insurance & Finance Expert
Founder of Quote Goat, with over 20 years' experience in finance and insurance. He has appeared on TV and in Forbes, The Telegraph and The Metro.
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Quote Goat passes your details to a specialist tradesman insurance partner, who will contact you with quotes. This page is general information, not advice. Always check the policy documents to make sure the cover meets your needs.