Framing sets the structure for success—your insurance should do the same. With access to 60+ top-rated carriers, Pepper, Johnstone & Company builds custom insurance plans that help frame contractors protect their people, property, and profits from foundation to finish.
Insurance for Framing Contractors
from Pepper, Johnstone & Company
From first cuts to final nails, framing contractors face high-risk, high-liability conditions. One misstep with a saw, a fall from scaffolding, or a mistake in layout can put your business in jeopardy.
Your insurance coverage should be as sturdy as the frames you build.
At Pepper, Johnstone & Company, we design framing contractor insurance programs that reflect the realities of working in the field. Whether you handle residential, commercial, or multi-family framing, we’ll help you build an insurance strategy that protects your crews, your equipment, and every construction project you take on.
Why Insurance Matters for Frame Contractors
Framing crews work under intense conditions: elevated structures, power tools, tight schedules, and unpredictable weather. These job sites carry serious risks, and even experienced crews aren’t immune to accidents or third-party claims.
Without the right insurance coverage, one incident could lead to:
- Expensive legal fees
- Damage to property or structures under contract
- Injuries to employees or subcontractors
- Theft or damage to tools and equipment
- Project delays and lost income
- Contract disputes with a general contractor
Whether you're running a large firm or are one of many small businesses operating lean, protecting your team and assets is critical. That’s why framing insurance is an absolute business essential.
Core Coverage Options for Framing Contractors
A well-structured policy package typically includes the following:
General Liability Insurance
Protects you from third-party claims for bodily injury or property damage, such as a falling beam or an accident involving bystanders near a site.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Covers wage replacement and medical care if your employees are injured on the job. Essential in a physically demanding trade like framing.
Commercial Property Insurance
Covers your office, storage space, and business-owned materials or equipment, including compressors, saws, and framing hardware.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
Provides additional liability protection when a claim exceeds the limits of your general liability, auto, or workers’ comp policies.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Covers vehicles used to transport framing crews, trailers, and materials. Includes liability and physical damage coverage—but not tools inside the vehicle.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
Covers legal costs from claims of harassment, discrimination, or wrongful termination.
Fiduciary Liability Insurance
Protects against mistakes in managing employee benefits or retirement plans.
Crime Insurance
Covers losses from employee theft, forgery, or other dishonest acts.
Specialized Insurance Coverage for Frame Construction Projects
Some risks are specific to framing work and require additional protection:
Builders’ Risk Insurance
Also called course of construction insurance, this covers framing work, materials, and structures in progress. It’s essential during the active build phase.
Inland Marine Insurance
Covers tools and materials while in transit or stored in vehicles. This includes nail guns, compressors, power saws, and other mobile jobsite equipment.
Surety Bonds
Provide a financial guarantee that your business will fulfill contract obligations—often required when bidding or working with a general contractor.
Protect More Than Just the Building Frame
At Pepper, Johnstone & Company, we understand how business owners in construction need protection that extends beyond the job site. Our advisors help framing professionals address:
- Gaps between policy types
- Confusion around the cost of house framing insurance
- Contractual obligations for additional insured language
- Cyber risks tied to scheduling and payment tools
- Claims related to equipment damage, material theft, or subcontractor liability
Whether you're a solo operator or managing multiple crews, we’ll help build a policy that works just as hard as you do.
Why Choose Pepper, Johnstone & Company
We’re not just another insurance company—we’re an independent agency that compares policies from over 60 top-rated carriers to find the most strategic fit for your business.
Whether you're researching the type of insurance you’re required to carry, looking for ways to save, or filing a claim, we’re here to support you through every stage of the process. And we speak your language—we know how the framing trade works, and we tailor every policy accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Framing Insurance
What frame contractors need to know
At minimum, you’ll need general liability, workers’ compensation, and commercial auto insurance. Depending on your projects and client requirements, you may also need builders’ risk, inland marine, EPLI, and umbrella coverage.
Framing insurance is a package of multiple policies that protects your business from financial losses related to third-party claims, employee injuries, property damage, and more. We customize each plan to match your operation’s scope and jobsite exposures.
It depends on the size of your business, crew, and annual revenue. A small residential framing outfit may pay under $200/month for basic coverage, while larger teams handling commercial work will need broader protection. We’ll help you get the best value.
Yes. Builders’ risk insurance (also known as course of construction insurance) is critical for covering framing materials and installed work before project completion. Most commercial and residential GCs require it.
Only if you carry inland marine insurance. Most standard commercial property or auto policies do not cover mobile tools and equipment once they leave a fixed location or are stored in a vehicle. Inland marine insurance is designed specifically to protect tools and materials that move between job sites or are temporarily stored in trucks, trailers, or unsecured locations.
For frame contractors, this might include nail guns, compressors, saws, and other high-value gear that’s essential to your daily work. Without this coverage, a single theft or accidental loss could cost you thousands and delay your project. We’ll help you evaluate your risks and include the proper inland marine coverage to keep your operation moving.
Yes. Most framing insurance policies allow you to add a general contractor or other third party as an additional insured. This endorsement extends a portion of your liability protection to them in case they are named in a lawsuit related to your work, such as an injury or property damage caused by your crew on a shared job site.
Many commercial contracts require this before work begins. At Pepper, Johnstone & Company, we make it easy to add additional insureds to your policy and issue the proper documentation and certificates when requested.
What do people think about us?
Hear from some actual clients.
on Google
I started a company in January 2019 & the team at Pepper Johnstone helped me from the beginning. We serve mid-cap to large public companies in Alabama, Colorado and Texas. And, Bryan has been critical in helping us meet and maintain the required commercial insurance policies and coverage levels. Key reasons that I've been so pleased primarily include their high level of technical competence and timely responsiveness on new or changing insurance coverage requests. They do a great job & I can highly recommend them.
— Russ L.
on Google
We are very pleased with our services that Pepper, Johnstone and Company provide for us! Both with business and personal needs, we feel like we are receiving excellent resources. We truly would not trust anyone else for our insurance needs!
— Lauren M.
on Google
Thankful for the opportunity to work with Pepper, Johnston’s and Co. They helped us add basic insurance needs for our newly formed LLC. The responsiveness, willingness to answer numerous questions, and guide us through multiple options was greatly appreciated. I’d like to especially thank Meredith Baswell of their staff who helped us through the process. I’d recommend you seek their advice and input on commercial and personal insurance options.
— Kevin G.
on Google
This is the best insurance agency hands down. We have our home, car, and business insurance through them. Julie has always gone above and beyond to help us. We wouldn’t use anyone else.
— Laura D.
on Google
Pepper Johnstone has handled my personal and business insurance needs for years. They do good work and their staff is amazing! They are independent agents so they have access to several different lines of insurance to meet the needs of their clients. I highly recommend them.
— Jeremiah H.
on Google
Pepper, Johnstone is a very professional and responsive insurance company. They were able to assist me with a full suite insurance solution very promptly and at a great value. Most importantly, I felt completely comfortable that I was being handled by true professionals. Bryan Johnstone is great at his job and I would recommend him highly to anyone who needs insurance advice for themselves or their business.
— Troy R.
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Let’s Build Your Frame Construction Insurance Plan
Your framing business needs coverage that’s just as solid as your work. Call Pepper, Johnstone & Company at 866-865-3499 or request a quote online to get started.