Countertop Contractor Insurance in Washington State

Countertop contractors in Washington carry a risk profile shaped by the sheer weight and value of the materials they handle every day. A single granite or quartz slab weighs 400 to 800 pounds, costs $1,500 to $5,000 or more in fabricated form, and must be maneuvered through doorways, up staircases, and into kitchens filled with brand-new cabinetry and flooring. The margin for error is measured in fractions of an inch, and the consequences of a dropped slab are severe — cracked tile, destroyed cabinets, broken toes, and a countertop that needs complete re-fabrication. Property damage claims from installation mishaps are the most common liability event in the countertop trade, and they add up quickly when every surface in a remodeled kitchen costs thousands to replace.

Fabrication shop risks rival or exceed those on the installation side. Cutting, polishing, and edging stone requires diamond-blade wet saws, CNC routers, and polishing equipment that generate dangerous silica dust. Crystalline silica exposure from cutting granite, quartz, and engineered stone is a serious occupational health hazard that has drawn increased regulatory attention nationwide.A single silicosis claim can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses and disability payments.

The completed operations risk for countertop contractors extends beyond the obvious. Countertops installed without proper support can crack under their own weight weeks after installation. Seam failures allow water penetration that damages the cabinets below, and poorly sealed natural stone can stain permanently, leading to replacement demands. Under Washington's six-year construction defect statute (RCW 64.50), homeowners have ample time to discover and pursue these defects. A countertop that cracks along a seam line or separates from the wall three years after installation generates a claim against your completed operations coverage.

Transportation and handling create a third major risk zone. Slabs transported on A-frames in flatbed trucks or vans are vulnerable to breakage from road vibration, sudden stops, and improper securing. A slab that shifts during transit and cracks is a total loss — you cannot repair a broken piece of granite. Delivery crews lifting heavy slabs in and out of trucks face back injuries, crushed fingers, and herniated discs at rates well above the construction industry average.