Deck Contractor Insurance in Washington State

Deck contractors in Washington carry a liability burden that many underestimate because decks appear simple compared to full home construction. In reality, a deck is a freestanding or attached structural system that must support live loads of 40 pounds per square foot or more, resist lateral forces, and withstand decades of Pacific Northwest rain, freeze-thaw cycles, and UV exposure. When a deck fails, people fall — and the injuries from a deck collapse at a crowded barbecue or party can be catastrophic. Deck collapses are relatively rare but generate some of the highest-dollar bodily injury claims in residential construction because multiple people are typically injured in a single event. A single deck collapse claim can reach six or seven figures in bodily injury settlements.

The structural liability is compounded by Washington's wet climate. Western Washington receives 37 to 60 inches of rain annually, and the constant moisture cycling creates accelerated deterioration of improperly built or improperly waterproofed deck structures. Ledger board connections — where a deck attaches to the house — are the most common failure point and the most litigated detail in deck construction. A ledger board that is not properly flashed and bolted according to code traps moisture against the house framing, causing rot that weakens the connection until the deck separates from the building. Washington's six-year construction defect statute under RCW 64.50 means a homeowner whose deck begins to sag or separate years after construction can bring a claim against the builder.

Height exposure is inherent in deck construction. Even single-story decks typically sit 3 to 8 feet above grade, and multi-story decks on hillside homes — common throughout the Puget Sound region — can be 15 to 30 feet off the ground. Workers building and repairing elevated decks face fall risks throughout the project, from framing the substructure to installing railings. DOSH requires fall protection for work above 10 feet, and deck contractors working on hillside properties need harnesses, guardrails, or netting systems that many small operators skip at their own risk.

Permitting and code compliance create additional exposure. Washington jurisdictions require building permits for most deck construction, and the International Residential Code provisions for decks (IRC Section R507) have been significantly updated in recent years with more stringent requirements for footings, ledger connections, guards, and stair geometry. A deck built without a permit or in violation of current code creates both regulatory liability and construction defect exposure. If an injury occurs on a non-permitted deck, the lack of inspection and code compliance strengthens the plaintiff's case dramatically. Carrying adequate insurance and building to code are not separate considerations for Washington deck contractors — they work together as the foundation of a sustainable business.