Roofing Contractor Insurance in Washington State

Roofing contractors carry insurance rates that are among the highest in the entire construction industry, and the reasons are written into the fatality statistics. Falls from roofs remain the leading cause of death in construction, and roofing consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. OSHA data shows that roofers are involved in a disproportionate share of fatal falls, and even non-fatal falls from roof height routinely produce catastrophic injuries — spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, and multiple fractures that generate claims in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Beyond the height exposure, roofing contractors face enormous property damage liability. You are working directly on the building envelope — the single most critical barrier between the structure and Washington's relentless rain. A roofing installation that develops a leak can cause water damage that cascades through attic insulation, ceiling drywall, wall framing, and flooring. In Western Washington, where annual rainfall exceeds 37 inches in Seattle and significantly more in many areas, a failed roof is not a minor inconvenience — it is a structural emergency. Completed operations claims for roofing defects are among the most expensive in construction, with claims regularly exceeding $100,000 for residential work and reaching seven figures on commercial projects.

The risk extends to adjacent properties and structures as well. Debris falling from a roof during tear-off can damage vehicles, landscaping, windows, and siding on neighboring properties. Hot tar and torch-down applications create fire risk. High winds during installation can turn unsecured materials into projectiles. Each of these scenarios generates third-party liability claims that your insurance must cover.

Washington requires roofing contractors to register with L&I and carry a $15,000 specialty contractor surety bond. But the bond barely scratches the surface of potential exposure. Many carriers are selective about writing roofing contractors, and some refuse the class entirely. Working with an experienced agency that knows which carriers have appetite for roofing risk is the difference between getting covered and getting declined.