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Renovation Contractor Insurance in Ontario, Canada

Construction & Trade Insurance | Boardwalk Insurance — A Division of Oracle RMS

Renovation contractor insurance is a commercial insurance program built for the specific exposures of working inside occupied homes and existing structures — where every cut, drill, and connection is made adjacent to finished surfaces, active plumbing, occupied living spaces, and personal belongings that belong to clients who are present and watching. One leaking connection, one scratched hardwood floor, one homeowner who trips over a tool left in a hallway at night — any of these can generate a claim that costs more than the renovation itself. Boardwalk Insurance helps renovation contractors across Ontario access fast quotes from 30+ A-rated carriers and same-day certificate issuance. Serving all provinces except Quebec.

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What Is Renovation Contractor Insurance?

Renovation contractor insurance is a coordinated package of commercial insurance coverages designed for contractors who remodel, renovate, and improve existing residential and commercial spaces — as opposed to new construction contractors who build on empty lots or bare slabs. The fundamental difference between renovation work and new construction, from an insurance standpoint, is the context: renovation happens inside structures that are already finished, furnished, occupied, and inhabited by clients whose belongings, daily routines, and personal lives are present throughout the project.

This context changes the risk profile in three important ways. First, the existing structure exposure — every wall you open, every floor you walk across, every pipe you access, every ceiling you cut into is an existing finished surface that can be damaged by your operations or by the occupants' normal use of adjacent spaces while your work is underway. Second, the occupancy exposure — homeowners, families, children, and pets who live in the space during renovation create third-party bodily injury risk that does not exist on an unoccupied new-construction site. Third, the high-value contents exposure — a renovation project in a higher-end home or condominium involves working in close proximity to furniture, appliances, artwork, and personal property that can be damaged by dust, debris, water, and physical contact with materials and equipment.

A CGL policy written for a renovation contractor must specifically address all three of these exposures — and must include completed operations coverage that extends protection past the day the job is finished. Renovation defects — tile waterproofing failures, cabinet installation errors, structural issues from modified load-bearing elements — often do not become apparent until months after the contractor has been paid and moved on to other projects.

How Renovation Insurance Differs from New Construction Insurance

New construction and renovation work are both covered under commercial general liability, but the specific risks they create are different enough that insurers distinguish between them in underwriting. New construction typically happens on unoccupied sites with controlled access. Renovation happens inside occupied, finished homes where:

Renovation contractors who quote their work accurately on an insurance application — disclosing the percentage of revenue from occupied-space renovation versus unoccupied or commercial work — will receive appropriate pricing and appropriate coverage. A contractor who describes their work as "general construction" without disclosing that the majority of their revenue comes from occupied residential renovation may find that a claim is disputed on the grounds that the actual operations were materially different from what was disclosed.

Who Needs Renovation Contractor Insurance in Ontario?

Any contractor who performs remodelling, renovation, or improvement work inside existing residential or commercial structures in Ontario needs renovation contractor insurance. The following types are the most common:

Kitchen Renovation Contractors

Kitchen renovations are among the highest-risk scope categories for renovation contractors. A full kitchen renovation involves removing and replacing plumbing supply and drain connections, modifying or installing electrical circuits, removing and replacing finished flooring, working adjacent to the existing flooring in adjacent rooms, and installing high-value cabinetry, countertops, and appliances. The water damage exposure from a plumbing connection failure in a kitchen — particularly if the renovation spans a main floor above a finished basement — is one of the most common and most expensive renovation claims in Ontario.

Bathroom Remodellers

Bathroom renovations involve concentrated plumbing, waterproofing, tile, and moisture management work in a space where a single waterproofing failure can allow water to penetrate through the floor assembly to the ceiling below. Shower waterproofing failures — improperly applied membrane, inadequate sealing at the curb, or tile grout failure — are a leading source of completed operations claims for bathroom renovation contractors, because the failure typically does not manifest until after several months of normal shower use have tested the installation. A bathroom reno that passes the client's visual inspection at completion can still generate a $25,000 to $60,000 claim when water damage appears in the ceiling below the following year.

Basement Finishing Contractors

Basement finishing involves transforming an unfinished or partially-finished space into liveable area — framing, insulation, drywall, flooring, electrical rough-in, and sometimes plumbing for a bathroom or wet bar. Basement work creates specific exposures: moisture management failures that allow water infiltration into a newly-finished space, framing decisions that interact with the existing structure, and electrical rough-in that must pass inspection. Completed operations claims for basement finishing often arise from moisture issues — a drainage tile or sump system that was not properly accounted for during the renovation, or vapour barrier and insulation choices that create condensation problems in a finished space.

General Renovation Contractors

Full-service renovation contractors who manage complete home renovations — coordinating multiple trades, managing the project schedule, holding the prime contract — carry the broadest and most complex insurance exposure in the renovation category. As the prime contractor, the general reno contractor is responsible for the work of every subcontractor on the project. A claim arising from a plumbing subcontractor's water damage, an electrical subcontractor's fire, or a tile subcontractor's waterproofing failure can flow back to the general renovation contractor as the responsible party. General renovation contractors need CGL with strong aggregate limits, active subcontractor management practices, and completion operations coverage that spans the full scope of their managed projects.

Condo Renovation Specialists

Condo and apartment renovation work creates a specific neighbour liability profile that does not exist in detached residential renovation. Water damage to the unit below — from a plumbing connection failure, a shower waterproofing breach, or an improperly positioned drain — can affect a unit owner who had no contractual relationship with the renovation contractor. Dust and debris penetrating HVAC systems can contaminate adjacent units. Strata corporations that manage condo buildings typically require renovation contractors to carry higher CGL limits (often $2 million to $5 million), name the strata corporation as Additional Insured, obtain renovation permits from the corporation before starting work, and carry specific endorsements that address multi-unit property exposure. Condo renovation contractors who do not understand and satisfy these strata requirements before starting work risk losing access to one of the most lucrative renovation market segments in the GTA.

Addition and Extension Contractors

Contractors who build home additions — second storeys, rear extensions, bump-outs, and garage conversions — work at the interface of new construction and existing structure. Opening the existing building envelope to connect the addition creates water infiltration risk during construction. Structural connections between the addition and the existing building require engineering judgment. The addition must be tied into the existing mechanical systems — HVAC, plumbing, and electrical — in ways that require coordination with multiple trades. Addition contractors typically need both CGL and Builder's Risk insurance: CGL for liability to third parties and the existing structure, and Builder's Risk to cover the addition itself during construction.

Commercial Tenant Improvement (TI) Contractors

Contractors who perform commercial tenant improvement work — fitting out leased commercial spaces for office, retail, restaurant, or healthcare tenants — carry a commercial environment exposure profile. Work inside an operating commercial building requires coordination with building management, may need to be performed outside of business hours, and creates liability to building systems (sprinkler lines, HVAC, structural elements) that are shared across multiple tenants. TI contractors working inside commercial buildings often face higher CGL limit requirements from building owners and general contractors, and need to confirm their policy covers commercial-environment renovation operations.

What Does Renovation Contractor Insurance Cover?

1. Commercial General Liability (CGL)

CGL is the foundation of every renovation contractor's insurance program. It protects against third-party claims for bodily injury and property damage arising from your renovation operations, your subcontractors' work, and your completed renovations. For renovation contractors, the three most critical CGL coverage elements are:

Damage to existing property: CGL must cover property damage you cause to the client's home — existing floors, walls, ceilings, cabinetry, fixtures, and personal belongings — during your renovation work. This is not an obvious inclusion in all contractor CGL policies. Some policies contain exclusions or sublimits for "property in your care, custody, or control" or "damage to the work itself" that can limit coverage on exactly the type of damage renovation contractors most commonly cause. Review your policy's care, custody, and control language carefully with your broker.

Third-party bodily injury in occupied spaces: CGL covers personal injury claims arising from your construction operations — an occupied-home renovation context where clients and their families are present creates daily injury exposure that a standard unoccupied-site policy may not fully anticipate.

Completed operations: Renovation defects that surface after project completion — tile waterproofing failures, cabinet structural failures, water damage from improperly installed fixtures — are covered under the completed operations extension of your CGL, provided the policy was active when the work was performed and remains in force when the claim is made.

What CGL covers for renovation contractors:

Standard CGL limits for renovation contractors in Ontario:

2. Tools and Equipment Coverage

Renovation job sites — even occupied homes — experience tool theft. A locked vehicle or van parked in a residential driveway overnight, a job-site storage unit in a backyard, or a garage used for material staging can all be targeted. A fully equipped renovation contractor's toolkit — circular saws, tile saws, oscillating multi-tools, laser levels, drills, sanders, finish nailers, and specialty installation equipment — can represent $20,000 to $80,000 in replacement value.

What tools and equipment coverage covers:

3. Commercial Auto Insurance

Renovation contractors drive loaded trucks and vans daily — between suppliers, to client properties, and between active projects. Personal auto policies exclude commercial use. An at-fault accident while driving to a renovation job, with a van full of tools and materials, is a commercial use event that a personal insurer can and will deny. Commercial auto covers the vehicle, its contents, and third-party liability at limits appropriate for the work being performed.

4. Installation Floater

An Installation Floater covers materials and fixtures that you have purchased, staged, or partially installed — from the moment they leave the supplier until they are permanently installed and the project is accepted by the client. For renovation contractors who manage the supply of high-value materials — custom cabinetry, stone countertops, imported tile, specialty fixtures, and built-in appliances — an Installation Floater provides coverage during the period of highest vulnerability: materials stored at the job site before installation, materials staged in a garage or temporary storage, and materials being transported to the project.

What an Installation Floater covers:

5. Builder's Risk Insurance for Larger Renovations

For major renovation projects — full gut renovations, second-storey additions, significant structural modifications — a Builder's Risk policy may be warranted in addition to CGL. A homeowner's existing insurance policy typically contains exclusions or coverage gaps for property that is in the course of major renovation or structural alteration. If a fire or major weather event damages a home during a gut renovation, the homeowner's policy may not respond adequately to cover the loss of both the existing structure and the renovation work in progress. A Builder's Risk policy specifically designed for renovation projects fills this gap.

When renovation contractors should recommend Builder's Risk:

6. Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions)

Professional Liability is relevant for renovation contractors who provide design services, project management, or specification advice as part of their scope — design-build renovation firms, contractors who produce drawings or specifications for client approval, and contractors who advise on structural modifications, load-bearing changes, or system upgrades.

CGL explicitly excludes losses arising from professional services. A renovation contractor who recommends a specific waterproofing product that fails, specifies a structural modification that creates a safety issue, or provides project management advice that results in cost overruns faces a professional negligence claim that no CGL will cover. Renovation contractors who provide any formal design, specification, or consulting service should discuss Professional Liability with their broker.

7. Umbrella / Excess Liability

For high-value renovation projects, luxury home renovations, and commercial tenant improvement work, the standard $2 million CGL limit may be insufficient to cover the full value of potential property damage. A renovation project in a $3 million home where a fire during construction destroys a substantial portion of the structure creates a property damage claim that can exhaust a $2 million limit before covering all losses. A Commercial Umbrella providing an additional $3 million above the primary CGL reaches $5 million combined — adequate for most high-value residential and commercial renovation exposures.

The Occupied-Space Coverage Gap: What Homeowner's Insurance Does Not Cover During Renovation

This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of renovation insurance — and one of the most important for renovation contractors to understand and communicate to their clients.

A standard homeowner's insurance policy is written for an occupied, normally-functioning residential property. When a major renovation is underway — particularly a gut renovation, a structural modification, or a project that opens the building envelope — the homeowner's insurer may treat the property as being in a materially different condition than what was underwritten. Most standard homeowner's policies contain one or more of the following clauses that affect coverage during major renovation:

Vacancy clauses: If the homeowner temporarily vacates the property during renovation, some homeowner's policies restrict coverage after 30 to 60 days of vacancy. A family who moves out during a major renovation that runs longer than expected may find their property coverage has been suspended.

Construction exclusions: Some homeowner's policies explicitly exclude or limit coverage for damage that occurs while major construction or renovation work is underway on the property.

Contractor liability: Homeowner's insurance covers the homeowner's liability — not the contractor's. Any damage caused by the contractor's operations is the contractor's liability, not the homeowner's, and must be covered by the contractor's CGL.

High-value materials: Materials purchased by the contractor for installation — custom cabinetry, stone countertops, appliances — are typically not covered by the homeowner's policy until they are permanently installed and the project is accepted. Before permanent installation, these materials are the contractor's responsibility, covered by the Installation Floater.

Renovation contractors who understand these gaps are in a position to explain to clients why the contractor's CGL, Installation Floater, and — for major projects — a Builder's Risk policy are all serving functions that the homeowner's policy cannot.

Condo Renovation Requirements in Ontario

Condominium renovation work in Ontario carries a specific regulatory and insurance context that renovation contractors must understand to operate effectively in this market. The Condominium Act, 1998, and the rules of individual condominium corporations impose requirements on unit owners who perform renovation work — and by extension, on the contractors they hire.

Strata / Condo Corporation Requirements

Most condominium corporations in Ontario require unit owners to obtain board approval before performing any renovation beyond routine cosmetic work. As part of the approval process, the corporation typically requires:

Renovation contractors who regularly work in condominiums should understand these requirements and have a Certificate of Insurance ready to submit to strata corporations on short notice. Boardwalk Insurance can issue same-day certificates that name specific condominium corporations as Additional Insured, satisfying these requirements immediately.

Neighbour Liability in Multi-Unit Buildings

Unlike detached residential renovation, condo renovation creates third-party liability exposure to adjacent unit owners who have no contractual relationship with the contractor. Water damage that travels through a floor assembly from a plumbing failure on the 12th floor affects the 11th-floor unit owner — who can pursue the contractor directly for their losses. Dust that enters a neighbouring unit through shared HVAC can contaminate furnishings. Structural vibration from demolition work can cause cosmetic damage in adjacent units.

Renovation contractors who work in condominiums should carry CGL limits that reflect the potential for multi-unit claims, even when each individual claim is moderate. An Umbrella policy that provides an additional aggregate above the primary CGL offers meaningful protection when multiple small claims arise from a single renovation project in a multi-unit building.

Common Renovation Contractor Insurance Claims in Ontario

Water Damage from Kitchen or Bathroom Plumbing

Plumbing connection failures during or after kitchen and bathroom renovations are the most frequent and most expensive source of renovation liability claims in Ontario. Supply line connections under pressure, drain connections improperly seated, and shower waterproofing systems that fail under normal use — any of these can release water into finished spaces and cause damage that multiplies rapidly when ceiling and floor assemblies are penetrated.

Example: A renovation contractor completes a full kitchen renovation including new plumbing rough-in for the relocated sink. Six weeks after project completion, a push-fit supply fitting on the cold water line develops a slow leak inside the finished cabinet. Water saturates the cabinet base, the subfloor, and penetrates through to the finished basement ceiling below. By the time the homeowner notices, $42,000 in damage has accumulated including cabinet replacement, subfloor replacement, drywall, and basement ceiling remediation. CGL completed operations coverage responds.

Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL) — Completed Operations

Damage to Existing Finishes Adjacent to the Renovation Zone

Working in an occupied home means that damage to finishes outside the immediate renovation area is a constant risk. Moving materials through hallways scratches hardwood floors. Demolition debris tracked across existing flooring leaves marks and gouges. Dust from cutting and sanding settles on polished surfaces in adjacent rooms. These are the everyday damage events that accumulate across a renovation project and that a homeowner expects the contractor to address.

Example: A contractor performing a full main-floor kitchen and dining room renovation moves tile, drywall, and lumber through the front foyer during the project. At project close, the homeowner identifies significant scratches in the hardwood flooring in the foyer, hallway, and living room — areas outside the renovation scope — caused by dragging materials without protective covering. The hardwood throughout the main floor requires refinishing. Total cost: $14,500. The contractor's CGL responds.

Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL)

Homeowner Injury in an Occupied Renovation Space

Occupied-home renovation creates daily injury exposure that a controlled construction site would normally prevent. A homeowner navigating their own home at night around a contractor's tools, materials, and open work areas faces hazards that can cause serious injuries. A child left in a part of the house near construction materials, a pet that accesses an open wall cavity or falls through an unprotected floor opening — all of these can generate bodily injury claims against the renovation contractor.

Example: A homeowner returns home after the renovation crew has left for the day and navigates to the kitchen in low light. A circular saw left plugged in on the floor catches the homeowner's foot, causing a fall that results in a broken wrist and a fractured elbow requiring surgery. Lost income during the six-week recovery and medical costs total $38,000. The contractor's CGL responds.

Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL)

Condo Neighbour Water Damage Claim

In a condominium building, a renovation contractor's plumbing or waterproofing failure in one unit can generate a claim from the unit below — a party with no contractual relationship with the contractor but with a direct claim for their property damage. The strata corporation may also have a claim for damage to common elements. Both can be pursued simultaneously against the contractor's CGL.

Example: A bathroom renovation contractor completes a master ensuite renovation in a 14th-floor condo unit, including a new shower with tile and custom glass enclosure. Seven months after completion, the 13th-floor unit owner notices a stain spreading across their master bedroom ceiling. Investigation reveals that the shower pan membrane was inadequately sealed at the drain assembly, allowing water to seep through the floor assembly with each shower use. The 14th-floor client's claim for shower reconstruction totals $22,000; the 13th-floor neighbour's claim for ceiling, drywall, and paint totals $18,500. Both claims are filed against the contractor's CGL completed operations coverage.

Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL) — Completed Operations (two simultaneous claims from one incident)

Completed Operations — Tile and Waterproofing Failure

Tile installation failures — grout cracking, tile delamination, and shower pan failures — are among the most common completed operations claims for renovation contractors. Many tile failures are not workmanship defects in the obvious sense; they result from inadequate substrate preparation, improper adhesive selection, insufficient expansion joint allowance, or waterproofing membrane application that was technically adequate at inspection but insufficient for the long-term thermal and moisture cycling of a bathroom environment.

Example: A bathroom renovation contractor installs a large-format porcelain tile floor in a master bathroom. Eight months after completion, tiles adjacent to the heated floor system begin to crack and lift. Investigation reveals that the adhesive used was not rated for in-floor heating systems and that the substrate preparation was insufficient to prevent differential movement. Full tile removal, substrate preparation, and retiling costs $18,000. The contractor's completed operations coverage responds.

Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL) — Completed Operations

Tool and Material Theft from an Occupied Job Site

Renovation job sites in residential homes are not immune to theft — even when the homeowner is present. A contractor's tools and materials staged in a garage, basement, or side yard can be taken overnight. A staged delivery of custom cabinetry parked in the driveway can be damaged or stolen. Tools loaded in a van parked in a residential driveway overnight are a frequent target.

Example: A renovation contractor stores a tile saw, cordless tool set, laser level, and staged tile material in the client's attached garage during a multi-week bathroom renovation. Over a weekend, the garage is broken into and the tile saw, tools, and $3,800 in staged tile are taken. Total loss: $22,000. Tools and Equipment coverage responds for the tools; the Installation Floater responds for the staged materials.

Coverage responds: Tools and Equipment Coverage (tools); Installation Floater (staged materials)

Fire from Hot Work During Renovation

Renovation work that involves soldering, torch application of waterproofing products, or hot work near combustible materials creates fire risk inside occupied structures. Unlike new construction sites where the building is not yet finished, a fire from hot work during a renovation occurs inside a completed, furnished home with immediate and significant consequences.

Example: A renovation contractor's plumber performs copper soldering inside a finished wall cavity during a kitchen renovation. A torch pass ignites dry framing lumber in the cavity. The fire spreads into the wall assembly before it is detected, requiring fire department response. Structural repair, smoke remediation, and refinishing of adjacent rooms totals $78,000. The contractor's CGL covers the property damage claim.

Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL)

Frequently Asked Questions About Renovation Contractor Insurance in Ontario

What insurance does a renovation contractor need in Ontario?

A renovation contractor in Ontario needs at minimum: Commercial General Liability (CGL) at $2 million per occurrence for property damage, bodily injury, and completed operations claims; Tools and Equipment coverage for theft and physical damage of tools; and Commercial Auto insurance for any vehicle used for work. Contractors who manage the supply of high-value materials should carry an Installation Floater. Renovation contractors performing major gut renovations or structural additions should discuss whether a Builder's Risk policy is warranted for the specific project. General renovation contractors who coordinate multiple subcontractors should consider a Commercial Umbrella to provide higher aggregate limits across a busy project calendar.

Does renovation insurance cover damage to the client's existing home?

Yes, provided the CGL is written appropriately for renovation work. CGL covers property damage you cause to the client's existing home — floors, walls, ceilings, cabinetry, and personal belongings — during the renovation. However, some contractor CGL policies contain exclusions or sublimits for "property in your care, custody, or control" or "damage to property on which you are working" that can limit or deny coverage for damage to the existing structure. Renovation contractors must confirm with their broker that their CGL explicitly covers damage to the existing structure and its contents — not just third-party property outside the project site.

Does a renovation contractor need Builder's Risk insurance?

For most standard kitchen, bathroom, and basement renovation projects, CGL with completed operations coverage is sufficient, and a separate Builder's Risk policy is not required. Builder's Risk becomes relevant — and in some cases necessary — for major gut renovations, second-storey additions, or structural extension projects where: the building envelope is substantially opened during construction; the renovation is significant enough that the homeowner's existing insurance policy may have coverage gaps for work in progress; or a lender providing financing for the renovation requires Builder's Risk as a condition of the loan. Renovation contractors who perform major structural renovation work should discuss the specific project with their broker to determine whether Builder's Risk is warranted.

Do I need different insurance for condo renovations?

Standard renovation contractor insurance applies to condo renovation work, but the contract requirements and liability exposure are different. Strata corporations in Ontario typically require renovation contractors to carry $2 million to $5 million in CGL, name the strata corporation as Additional Insured, and carry WSIB coverage. Condo renovation also creates neighbour liability exposure — a plumbing failure or waterproofing breach in one unit can generate claims from the unit below — that can produce multiple simultaneous claims from a single incident. Renovation contractors who work regularly in condominiums should confirm that their CGL aggregate limit is sufficient to cover multiple claims from a single project, and should consider a Commercial Umbrella if their annual volume of condo work is significant.

How much does renovation contractor insurance cost in Ontario?

Renovation contractor insurance in Ontario typically costs between $1,200 and $4,500 per year for a sole proprietor or small renovation company, depending on annual revenue, the types of renovation work (kitchen and bathroom renovation carry higher premiums than painting or finishing work due to water damage exposure), number of employees and subcontractors, and claims history. A sole proprietor kitchen and bathroom renovator with $300,000 in annual revenue might pay $1,500 to $2,500 per year for CGL and tools coverage. A full-service renovation company with multiple crews and $2 million in annual revenue will pay more — typically $4,000 to $8,000 or above across a complete program. Adding Installation Floater, commercial auto, and Umbrella coverage increases total program cost proportionally. Comparing quotes through Boardwalk Insurance across 30+ carriers typically produces the most competitive pricing for a renovation contractor's specific scope.

What is an Installation Floater and do renovation contractors need one?

An Installation Floater covers materials and fixtures that a renovation contractor has purchased, received, or is storing for installation — from the time they leave the supplier until they are permanently installed and accepted by the client. CGL covers liability to third parties for property damage you cause; it does not cover your own materials if they are damaged or stolen before installation. If your renovation contracts involve supplying and managing the delivery of high-value materials — custom cabinetry at $15,000, stone countertops at $8,000, a specialty tile package at $6,000 — and those materials are staged on-site, in a garage, or in transit at your risk, an Installation Floater is the coverage that protects that investment between delivery and permanent installation.

Does renovation insurance cover my subcontractors' work?

Your CGL as the prime contractor may respond to claims arising from a subcontractor's work if the client pursues you as the responsible party. However, your CGL should not be your primary protection against subcontractor losses. Best practice is to require all subcontractors to carry their own CGL with limits meeting or exceeding your own, name you as Additional Insured on their policies, and provide Certificates of Insurance before starting work. Your CGL provides a backstop if a subcontractor's policy is insufficient or denied — but the subcontractor's own insurance is the first line of response. A renovation contractor who manages multiple subcontractors and does not enforce subcontractor insurance requirements is effectively taking on all of their trades' liability under their own policy.

What is completed operations coverage and why is it critical for renovation contractors?

Completed operations coverage is an extension of CGL that protects you against claims arising from renovation work after the project is finished and paid for. It is critical for renovation contractors because many renovation defects — tile waterproofing failures, plumbing connection deterioration, moisture management errors, and structural settlement — do not manifest immediately. A shower that passes visual inspection at project completion may begin allowing water through a defective membrane eight months later. A supply line fitting that holds pressure initially may begin weeping after six weeks of thermal cycling. Without completed operations coverage, your insurance only responds to incidents that occur while you are actively on the job. With it, you are protected for the full period within which claims can reasonably arise from past work — as long as your policy remains in force and was active when the work was performed.

Can I get a same-day certificate of insurance for a condo renovation?

Yes. Boardwalk Insurance issues Certificates of Insurance (ACORD 25) the same business day for active policyholders — including strata corporation Additional Insured endorsements, Waiver of Subrogation, and any other endorsements required by the condominium corporation's renovation approval process. If you have won a renovation project and need to submit proof of insurance to the strata corporation before starting, contact us at +1-416-477-9771 and we will have your certificate ready the same business day.

Why Renovation Contractors Choose Boardwalk Insurance

Boardwalk Insurance is a RIBO-registered commercial insurance broker and a division of Oracle RMS. We specialize in contractor and trade insurance, with direct experience placing coverage for kitchen and bathroom specialists, general renovation contractors, condo renovation firms, and design-build renovation companies across Ontario and nationally. We access 30+ A-rated carriers — including Intact, Aviva, Economical, Northbridge, Chubb, Travelers, CNA, and Gore Mutual.

Advisors Who Understand Occupied-Space Renovation Risk

You work directly with licensed Ontario brokers who understand the specific risk profile of renovation work inside occupied homes — the care, custody, and control exclusion issue, the strata corporation certificate requirements, the completed operations timeline of renovation defects, and what a condo renovation approval package actually needs to contain. No generalists, no call centres.

Coverage That Addresses the Existing Structure Exposure

We structure renovation contractor policies that explicitly address the existing structure exposure — confirming that the CGL covers damage to client property, adjacent finishes, and personal belongings as part of the covered operations. This is the coverage element that matters most to renovation contractors and that is most commonly unclear in generic contractor CGL policies.

Same-Day Certificates for Strata Corporations and Clients

We issue contract-ready Certificates of Insurance the same business day — including condominium corporation Additional Insured endorsements and all required wording for strata renovation approval packages.

Competitive Pricing Across 30+ Carriers

We compare your submission across more than 30 A-rated carriers to find the best pricing for your renovation scope — residential kitchen and bath, general renovation, commercial TI, or design-build. Our carrier relationships regularly produce pricing that renovation contractors cannot obtain by approaching insurers directly.

Claims Advocacy

When a claim arises — a completed operations water damage event, a homeowner injury, a condo neighbour claim — our team advocates on your behalf from first notice of loss through settlement.

Trusted by Canada's Leading Insurance Carriers

Related Insurance for Renovation Contractors

Where We Serve Renovation Contractors

Boardwalk Insurance is headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, and serves renovation contractors across the Greater Toronto Area, Southern Ontario, and all Canadian provinces except Quebec.

Ontario Markets We Serve

Toronto | Mississauga | Vaughan | Oakville | Hamilton | Kitchener | Brampton | Markham | Richmond Hill | Burlington | Guelph | London | Ottawa | Windsor | Sudbury | Thunder Bay

National Coverage

We also serve renovation contractors in Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton), British Columbia (Vancouver, Victoria), Manitoba (Winnipeg), Saskatchewan (Regina, Saskatoon), Nova Scotia (Halifax), Newfoundland and Labrador (St. John's), and New Brunswick. Coverage is available in all Canadian provinces and territories except the Province of Quebec.

Get a Renovation Contractor Insurance Quote Today

Whether you specialize in kitchens and bathrooms or manage full-home renovations across the GTA, Boardwalk Insurance builds renovation insurance programs that cover the occupied-space exposure your work creates, satisfy your client and strata corporation requirements, and protect your business from the completed operations claims that renovation work generates long after the project is done.

We compare quotes from 30+ A-rated Canadian carriers with no obligation, and most renovation contractors receive a quote within one business day.

Speak with a licensed renovation contractor insurance advisor at +1-416-477-9771 or email sales@myboardwalk.ca. Our office is at 10 Great Gulf Dr, Suite 202, Vaughan, ON L4K 0K7. Business hours are Monday to Friday, 9AM to 5PM EST.

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