Roofing comes with serious risk. Our job is to minimize it. With over 50 years of experience and access to 60+ top-rated insurance carriers, Pepper, Johnstone & Company builds custom roofing contractor insurance policies that help protect your business from every angle—whether you’re doing tear-offs, repairs, or full replacements.
Insurance for Roofing Contractors
from Pepper, Johnstone & Company
Roofing contractors face some of the highest job site risks in the construction industry. Between working at heights, handling power tools, and navigating unpredictable weather, even routine projects come with serious exposure.
You need an insurance policy that protects you from every element of doing business.
At Pepper, Johnstone & Company, we work with more than 60 trusted insurance companies to craft tailored insurance plans for roofing businesses. Whether you’re residential, commercial, or both, we’ll help you protect your crew, your equipment, and your reputation.
Why Insurance for Roofing Companies Matters
Roofing jobs involve steep slopes, heavy materials, and high liability. A dropped tool, a loose shingle, or an unsecured harness can lead to serious injuries or expensive property damage.
Insurance isn't just about meeting licensing requirements or satisfying client contracts—it’s about protecting your business from costly setbacks. The right coverage helps roofing contractors recover quickly from incidents, defend against legal claims, and keep projects moving.
Essential Coverage Options for Roofing Contractors
Roofers typically need a multi-layered insurance strategy that includes:
General Liability Insurance
Roofing liability insurance protects your business from third-party bodily injury and property damage claims, such as falling debris, shingle damage, or leaks after an install.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Covers medical bill costs and lost wages for employees injured on the job, including ladder falls, heat-related illness, or tool-related accidents.
Commercial Property Insurance
Designed to protect your office, warehouse, and materials in stored covered structures—like roofing shingles, underlayment, tools, and safety gear.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
Adds additional liability protection when a claim exceeds the limits of your underlying general liability or workers’ comp policy.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Covers your work trucks and trailers used to transport materials and crew to job sites. Can also include liability and physical damage protection.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
Covers claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, or wage disputes brought by current or former employees.
Fiduciary Liability Insurance
Protects your business from claims related to errors in managing employee benefits, such as retirement plans or group health policies.
Crime Insurance
Covers losses related to employee theft, forgery, or other dishonest acts.
Specialized Insurance Coverage for Roofing Projects
Roofers use mobile equipment, expensive tools, and work in active construction environments. These coverages help address those unique risks:
Builders’ Risk Insurance
Builders’ risk insurance protects materials and roofing systems during active construction or renovation. It covers damage to roofing supplies, underlayment, and partially completed work caused by weather, theft, or vandalism.
Inland Marine Insurance
Inland marine insurance protects roofing tools, ladders, safety gear, and other mobile equipment while in transit or stored in work vehicles. It helps prevent financial loss when equipment is stolen, damaged, or lost between job sites.
Surety Bonds
Surety bonds offer a financial guarantee that you’ll fulfill your contractual obligations. Many commercial and municipal roofing projects require them before you can submit a bid or pull a permit.
Protect More Than Just the Roof
Your crew doesn’t just install roofs—they represent your company. That’s why we help roofing contractors plan for business risks beyond the job site, such as:
- Employee injuries or legal disputes
- Stolen tools or vandalized vehicles
- Weather delays that halt work-in-progress
- Accusations of poor workmanship or material defects
- Cyberattacks targeting contracts or client payment info
We’ll make sure your policies are current, comprehensive, and built to match the scale of your operation.
Why Choose Pepper, Johnstone & Company
Pepper, Johnstone & Company is an independent insurance agency with deep experience in construction risk. We compare policies across 60+ insurance companies to help roofing contractors secure cost-effective, job-ready protection.
Our team brings a consultative approach to every account. That means we’ll review your operations, contracts, and crew size—and build a layered insurance program that’s ready for whatever the job throws your way.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roofing Company Insurance
What roofing business owners need to know
Most contractors need roofing general liability insurance, workers’ comp, commercial auto, and inland marine coverage. Depending on your projects and whether you use subcontractors, you may also need builders’ risk, umbrella, and surety bonds. These policies help you meet project requirements and cover legal, medical, and equipment-related risks.
Typically, general liability coverage addresses property damage or injury caused by a covered accident—not workmanship defects. However, Pepper, Johnstone & Company can explore endorsements or specialty options that address this concern. We’ll walk you through the limitations and available add-ons.
Premiums depend on your business size, payroll, claims history, and scope of work. High-risk trades like roofing often pay more than other contractors. A solo roofer may pay $300–$500/month, while a larger operation will need a more customized quote. We shop multiple insurance carriers to find the right balance of price and protection.
No. Subcontractors must carry their own insurance and list your company as an additional insured. Always request a certificate of insurance before work begins. We can help you set up systems to confirm subcontractor compliance and reduce exposure.
Standard commercial property insurance usually excludes mobile equipment unless you’ve added inland marine coverage (sometimes referred to as tool and equipment insurance). Inland marine insurance helps cover the cost of stolen or damaged tools, ladders, and gear in transit or on-site.
Often, yes. Many government, school, and commercial contracts require proof of bonding capacity. Surety bonds show that you can fulfill your obligations, and they can help you win higher-value jobs. We can help you get bonded quickly and stay compliant with project requirements.
What do people think about us?
We’re trusted by contractors who build—and rebuild—communities.
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.
Insurance Articles
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Let’s Build Your Roofer Protection Plan
Your business faces big risks with every job. Call Pepper, Johnstone & Company at 866-865-3499 or request an insurance quote online. We’ll help you create a roofer insurance policy that supports your growth and protects you from the top down.