Built to weather the storms
Protect against accidents, claims and unexpected costs
Find cover that fits your business
Compare different levels of protection for roofing work
More than just business insurance
Enjoy discounted movie tickets, meals out, drinks and more*
If you’re a roofer, there are a number of different insurance policies you should have in place. But what are they? Here’s what you need to know.
Being a roofer is one of the most dangerous jobs you can do.
With this in mind, there are several insurance policies you could consider. These include public liability insurance and employers’ liability cover, plus tools insurance and contract works insurance.
You might also be interested in:
Van insurance to cover your commercial vehicle.
Commercial property insurance if you have a business premises, and business contents insurance to protect your work equipment.
If you run your business from home, home office insurance might be worth considering.
Business interruption insurance can help compensate you for loss of profits if an unexpected event stops your business from running. But please note, it’s unlikely that you’ll be covered for any business interruptions that are caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
How much you pay for your roofers insurance will depend on all sorts of things, including:
The level of cover you opt for | How much excess you pay | The type of buildings you’re working on |
When you start a roofers insurance quote, it’ll help to have the following to hand:
the value of your tools and other work gear
what level of cover you’re looking for
details of your last insurance claim
Get cover against claims if someone is injured or property damaged as a result or your work. | Employers’ liability insurance You are legally required to have this insurance even if you employ just one person. | Business interruption insurance Insurance to help compensate you for loss of profits if your business is unable to operate for a period for some unexpected reason. | Insurance designed to help your business carry on if something happens to you or the key people in your business. |
Van insurance A guide to LGV insurance for business. | Protect your business premises. | Protect your business equipment. | The insurance you need when you run your business from your home. |
Find practical guidance on insurance, liability cover and running a small business
Public liability insurance can protect you if a member of the public gets injured because of your work. For example, if someone trips over your equipment, or a tile comes loose and hits a client or damages their property, you’ll be covered for the cost of legal fees, as well as any compensation that might be due. Hopefully you’ll never have to claim on your insurance, but having it in place can give you peace of mind.
Employers’ liability insurance could cover you if one of your employees becomes ill or is injured as a result of working for you.
If you employ one or more people or are a limited company with multiple directors, it’s a legal requirement to have cover. If you’re not a limited company, it’s not a legal requirement to have employers’ liability insurance if the employees are immediate family members, though if a policy is in place it would still cover immediate family members working for you.
If you employ someone and don’t have employers’ liability insurance in place, the Government could fine you £2,500 for every day that you’re not properly insured. And if you don’t show your employers’ liability insurance certificate to an inspector when they ask, you could be fined an additional £1,000.
Your employers’ liability insurance ought to cover you for at least £5 million and needs to come from an authorised insurance provider.
If you're a self-employed roofer, there are a range of options worth considering that are designed to protect your income or business:
As a roofer, tools insurance could be particularly useful as you’re likely to work offsite. Tools insurance can cover you if your equipment is lost, damaged or stolen. It’s easy to forget just how much your tools are worth. But if you had to replace them all at once, you could end up seriously out of pocket. Without your tools you can’t work. Having insurance in place so you can replace them quickly could be vital.
Contract works insurance covers works in progress against fire, flood, storms, malicious damage and theft. It’s useful if you take on big projects.
For example, you might be working on a major extension and a storm damages the roof. You could be expected to do all the work again, for no extra pay. Contract works insurance can cover your time, as well as any materials and fittings.
As a business owner, you've got better ways to spend your time than sorting out insurance. But organising cover needn’t be complicated and time consuming. We’re here to take the hard work out of comparing roofer insurance.
We’ll ask you some simple questions about your business, such as what tools you own and how many people you employ, so we can get you tailor-made quotes.
Whether you’re a one-man band or a big firm, we have insurance providers that can provide your cover.
Exactly what your roofers insurance pays out for depends on your level of cover. However, you can expect to see a few exclusions, such as:
deliberate acts leading to damage or injury
injuries occurring while you’re out and about
employees working off-shore
But always read your policy documents carefully to see what is and isn’t included.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
1 Based on the % of respondents reporting Compare the Market is their preferred brand in the last 12 months vs. other leading PCWs. Source: Savanta BrandVue Financial Services, National Representative Survey of 12,257 respondents (June 2026)
What our expert says...
“Working at a height, often in changeable weather conditions, is inherently dangerous. Make sure you have the right cover and protection in place so you’re fully covered, should an accident happen.”