Mason Insurance in Vermont
What is Mason Insurance?
Masonry work can be a personally and financially rewarding vocation, but it’s work that comes with certain risks. Masons commonly face both property and liability risks, and often their risk exposure extends beyond when a project is completed. Mason insurance policies help protect Vermont masons and their businesses from many of the perils that they’re exposed to.
Mason insurance is a specially crafted type of commercial insurance that’s uniquely suited to meet the needs of masonry professionals and businesses. In order to meet the diverse risk mitigation needs that come with this line of work, most mason policies are package policies that come with multiple individual coverages.
What Vermont Businesses Need Masonry Contractor Insurance?
Broadly speaking, most Vermont professionals and businesses that provide masonry services ought to carry this form of insurance. Going without masonry contractor insurance can lead to unnecessary and dangerous risk exposure, which could jeopardize a business if there’s a major lawsuit or incident.
While businesses that specialize in brickwork and stonework projects might be the most obvious businesses that probably should get this type of policy, they aren’t the only ones who might want masonry contractor insurance. Other construction businesses that do their own brickwork and stonework when necessary also may want to consider adding this coverage to their commercial package policy.
Should Self-Employed Masons Carry Masonry Contractor Insurance?
In most cases, masons who are self-employed should get a masonry contractor policy because they’re effectively running a one-person business. Even though they may have a small operation, being small doesn’t make a business immune to potential losses and lawsuits.
Additionally, self-employed masons usually can’t rely on their personal insurance policies to offer protection. Personal insurance policies frequently exclude even small business activities from their coverages.
What Protections Does Masonry Contractor Insurance Make Available?
Depending on a masonry contractor policy’s terms and conditions, there are several coverages that the policy might make available. Some of these include:
- Commercial General Liability Coverages, which might cover basic accidents and defamation lawsuits
- Commercial Auto Liability Coverage, which might cover accidents caused by employees as they drive for work
- Commercial Umbrella Liability Coverage, which might cover expensive lawsuits by providing a secondary protection
- Commercial Building Coverage, which might cover owned facilities and equipment kept on-site in these buildings
- Inland Marine Coverage, which might cover equipment as it’s moved between locations
- Builders Risk Coverage, which might cover equipment that’s kept at job sites
- Contractors Tools and Equipment Coverage, which might cover common and highly specialized tools
In addition to these, masons may also want employment practices liability coverage or other protections. An insurance agent who specializes in this type of commercial insurance can explain the available coverages in detail and help masons select whichever protections make sense for their situations.
Do Subcontractors Have Insurance Coverage Through General Contractors?
Masons who work as subcontractors might be able to get some insurance coverage by being named an “additional insured” on a general contractor’s insurance policy. Not all general contractors will do this, however, and those that are willing to add a mason to their policy may not carry all of the protections that the mason would like.
For these reasons, masons shouldn’t assume that a general contractor provides sufficient coverage for them. Instead, masons should evaluate their coverage needs with an informed agent and carefully check whether a particular general contractor’s insurance extends those coverages to subcontractors. If all of the coverages aren’t provided for subs, masons probably should purchase their own insurance.
How Expensive is a Masonry Contractor Policy?
Premiums for masonry contractor policies vary because they’re based on many different factors. A mason’s annual revenue, number of employees, location and specific type of work are just a few of the different criteria that insurers can look at when setting rates.
Even with variance, however, these policies tend to be affordable. The cost of a policy almost certainly is less than what a major claim could end up being.
How Can Masons in Vermont Get Mason Insurance?
For help securing mason insurance in Vermont, contact the independent insurance agents at T.S. Peck Insurance. Our agents have the expertise needed to help you determine what coverages are appropriate for your business, and we can show you several policies that meet those coverage requirements
