Flooring Contractor Insurance That Helps Protect Your Business.
From hardwood and tile to carpet and specialty flooring, every project comes with risk. Our agents compare options from 20+ top-rated carriers to help build insurance solutions tailored to your flooring business.
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The Firstmark Challenge
Our simple, guided process makes reviewing your insurance easy. We take the time to understand your needs, compare options across top carriers, and present clear results—so you can make a confident decision.
01
Have A Conversation
02
We Shop The Markets
03
Review The Results
04
You Decide!
A Strong Foundation for Protecting Your Business
With FirstMark Insurance’s dedicated commercial insurance team, you get experienced agents comparing coverage from over 20 insurance carriers to help protect your flooring business, employees, vehicles, tools, equipment, and operations—with strong coverage and competitive pricing.
Flooring contractors work inside homes, businesses, construction sites, and occupied properties where even a relatively small accident can result in costly damage. From hardwood and tile installation to carpet, laminate, and luxury vinyl flooring, contractors regularly work around customer property while using specialized tools, adhesives, equipment, and materials.
Flooring contractor insurance can help protect your business against certain risks involving property damage, bodily injury, employee accidents, vehicles, tools, equipment, and completed work. Whether you're an independent flooring installer or operate a company with multiple crews and subcontractors, an insurance program can be tailored around your specific operations.
The appropriate coverage may depend on the types of flooring installed, annual revenue, payroll, employees, subcontractor usage, vehicles, equipment, project size, and whether you primarily perform residential or commercial work.
What Insurance Does a Flooring Contractor Need?
Flooring contractor insurance generally isn't a single policy. Instead, an insurance program may combine several types of commercial coverage based on the risks associated with your business.
General Liability Insurance
Flooring contractor general liability insurance may help protect your business against certain claims involving bodily injury or property damage arising from your operations.
For example, installation equipment could accidentally damage cabinets or walls, materials could damage another finished surface, or a customer could be injured around an active work area. Depending on the circumstances and policy terms, general liability insurance may provide coverage for qualifying claims.
Homeowners, builders, general contractors, property managers, and commercial customers may also require proof of general liability insurance before flooring installation work begins.
Workers' Compensation Insurance
Flooring installation can be physically demanding. Employees may regularly lift heavy materials, use cutting and fastening equipment, move furniture, work on their knees, and perform repetitive tasks.
Workers' compensation insurance may provide benefits for qualifying employees who experience work-related injuries or illnesses. Requirements can vary depending on the structure of the business and where the contractor operates.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Flooring contractors may use vans, pickup trucks, box trucks, trailers, and other vehicles to transport employees, flooring materials, tools, and equipment between jobsites.
Commercial auto insurance may provide liability and physical damage coverage for qualifying business-owned vehicles. Additional coverage options might be appropriate depending on how vehicles are owned and used.
Flooring materials, tools, and equipment carried inside a vehicle may require separate coverage, so these exposures should be discussed with an insurance professional.
Flooring Tools and Equipment Insurance
Professional flooring contractors can have a substantial investment in specialized tools and portable equipment. Tools and equipment coverage, often provided through inland marine insurance, may help protect qualifying property while it is being transported, used at a jobsite, or temporarily stored away from the contractor's primary location.
Coverage may be available for items such as:
- Floor sanders and edgers
- Tile and flooring saws
- Carpet installation tools
- Nailers and staplers
- Compressors
- Floor grinders
- Moisture testing equipment
- Other portable flooring tools and equipment
Coverage limits, deductibles, eligible equipment, and covered causes of loss can vary by insurance policy.
Commercial Property Insurance
Flooring contractors who own or lease an office, showroom, warehouse, shop, or storage facility may want to consider commercial property insurance.
Depending on the policy, coverage may help protect buildings, office equipment, flooring inventory, supplies, machinery, and other qualifying business property against certain covered losses.
Commercial Umbrella or Excess Liability Insurance
Some flooring businesses may need liability limits beyond those provided by their primary insurance policies.
Commercial umbrella or excess liability insurance may provide additional limits above certain underlying policies. Higher limits might also be required when performing work for builders, general contractors, developers, commercial property owners, or property management companies.
Insurance for Different Types of Flooring Contractors
Flooring contractors may install many different products and perform a variety of related services. The specific work performed can influence insurance eligibility, coverage options, and pricing.
Insurance options may be available for contractors specializing in:
- Hardwood flooring installation
- Hardwood floor refinishing
- Carpet installation
- Tile flooring installation
- Luxury vinyl plank installation
- Laminate flooring
- Engineered hardwood flooring
- Commercial flooring
- Floor removal and replacement
- Floor preparation and leveling
Contractors should accurately describe all services they perform when applying for insurance. Floor refinishing, concrete grinding, demolition, specialty coatings, or other operations may create different exposures and could require additional coverage or insurance classifications.
Flooring Contractors and Customer Property
Flooring contractors frequently work inside finished and occupied properties. This means crews may be working around walls, cabinets, appliances, countertops, furniture, doors, trim, and other valuable property.
Moving materials or operating equipment could potentially damage portions of a customer's property that are not part of the flooring project. Dust, adhesives, stains, coatings, or water may also create potential property damage exposures depending on the work being performed.
General liability insurance may provide coverage for certain qualifying property damage claims, but coverage will depend on the circumstances and applicable policy terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions.
Completed Operations Coverage for Flooring Contractors
A flooring contractor's potential liability may continue after installation is complete. Problems involving installation, adhesives, fastening systems, preparation work, or other completed operations could potentially contribute to damage after a contractor has left the property.
General liability policies may include products-completed operations coverage for certain qualifying claims arising from completed work. However, coverage can vary significantly depending on the policy and circumstances surrounding a claim.
Flooring contractors should discuss completed operations exposures with an insurance professional, particularly when performing larger residential or commercial installations.
Flooring Contractors and Subcontractors
Some flooring companies use subcontractors to perform installation, refinishing, preparation, or other portions of a project. Insurance companies may have specific requirements regarding subcontracted work.
Contractors may need to obtain certificates of insurance from subcontractors and verify that appropriate coverage is maintained. Written subcontractor agreements and additional insured requirements might also be appropriate depending on the project.
The amount and type of subcontracted work should be accurately disclosed when obtaining flooring contractor insurance.
Protect Your Flooring Business
A flooring company can represent a significant investment in employees, vehicles, tools, equipment, inventory, and professional reputation. Appropriate insurance coverage can help provide financial protection when certain unexpected accidents or losses occur.
The insurance needs of an independent residential flooring installer may differ considerably from those of a larger company handling commercial flooring projects. Annual revenue, payroll, services performed, project size, flooring materials, vehicles, equipment values, subcontractor usage, and claims history can all influence coverage needs and pricing.
Working with an independent insurance agent can provide access to multiple insurance companies and coverage options, helping you find an insurance program appropriate for your flooring contracting business.
FAQs
What insurance does a flooring contractor need?
A flooring contractor's insurance program may include general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto, tools and equipment, and commercial property insurance. Umbrella or excess liability and other specialized coverage may also be appropriate depending on the services performed.
Does flooring contractor insurance cover damage to a customer's property?
General liability insurance may provide coverage for certain qualifying property damage claims arising from flooring operations. Whether a particular loss is covered can depend on what was damaged, how the damage occurred, and the terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions of the policy.
Can flooring contractor insurance cover tools and equipment?
Coverage for qualifying flooring tools and portable equipment may be available through inland marine or contractors tools and equipment insurance. Depending on the policy, equipment might be protected while being transported, used at a jobsite, or temporarily stored away from the contractor's primary location.
How much does flooring contractor insurance cost?
Flooring contractor insurance costs can vary based on annual revenue, payroll, services performed, residential versus commercial work, project size, vehicles, equipment values, subcontractor usage, claims history, and selected coverage limits. Comparing options from multiple insurance companies can help identify an insurance program appropriate for the business.