Window & Door Contractor Insurance in Washington State

Window and door contractors in Washington face a risk landscape dominated by one critical concern: the building envelope. Every window and door you install is a penetration through the weather barrier of a structure, and in a state that receives 37 to 60 inches of rain annually across the western half, water intrusion from improperly installed windows is among the most expensive and frequently litigated construction defects. A single improperly flashed window can channel rainwater behind siding and into wall cavities, causing rot, mold growth, and structural damage that goes undetected for months or years. By the time a homeowner notices staining on interior drywall, the hidden damage behind the wall can cost $10,000 to $50,000 per window opening to remediate.

Washington's construction defect history underscores this risk. The state's six-year construction defect statute under RCW 64.50 was shaped in part by massive condominium water intrusion lawsuits in the 2000s where window and flashing defects were central issues. Builders, window installers, and siding contractors were named in claims totaling hundreds of millions of dollars statewide. That litigation history means insurance carriers scrutinize window contractors carefully, and your installation practices, flashing methods, and quality control procedures directly affect your ability to get coverage and what you pay for it.

Height exposure adds a bodily injury dimension to the property damage risk. Window installation on multi-story residential and commercial buildings requires ladders, scaffolding, and sometimes boom lifts. Falls from elevation are the leading cause of death in construction nationally, and window installers working on upper-story openings face this exposure daily. Even single-story window replacement involves lifting heavy units — a standard double-hung vinyl window weighs 40 to 60 pounds, and large picture windows or sliding glass doors can weigh 200 to 400 pounds. Handling these awkward, fragile, and heavy units on ladders creates both worker injury and property damage exposure.

Product liability risk is a growing concern for window and door contractors who sell and install specific brands. If a window fails due to a manufacturing defect — a broken seal causing fogging, a hardware failure, or a frame that warps — the homeowner may name both the manufacturer and the installer in their claim. While the manufacturer bears primary product liability, the installer's general liability policy often responds to the initial claim and defense costs. Choosing quality products from reputable manufacturers and maintaining documentation of proper installation per manufacturer specifications are essential risk management practices for any window and door contractor operating in Washington.