Roofing Insurance in Ontario, Canada
Construction & Trade Insurance | Boardwalk Insurance — A Division of Oracle RMS
Roofing is one of the highest-risk trades in Canada — and insurers price it that way. Work at heights, hot-applied membranes, open structures left exposed overnight, and completed operations claims from leaks discovered months after job completion all create liability exposures that can reach six figures from a single incident. Roofing insurance from Boardwalk Insurance gives residential and commercial roofers across Ontario access to fast quotes from 30+ A-rated carriers, trade-appropriate coverage limits, and same-day certificate issuance. Serving all provinces except Quebec.
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What Is Roofing Insurance?
Roofing insurance is a specialized commercial insurance program built for roofing contractors — sole operators, small roofing crews, and established roofing companies. It combines Commercial General Liability (CGL), Tools and Equipment coverage, Commercial Auto, and — for larger commercial and industrial roofers — Umbrella or Excess Liability into a coordinated program that addresses the elevated risk profile of work performed at height, often on occupied structures, using heat and open flame.
What makes roofing categorically different from most other contractor trades is the combination of three compounding risk factors. First, height exposure: every residential re-roof, every commercial flat roof job, and every emergency repair involves workers operating at height, creating fall risk, falling debris risk, and exposure to property damage from dropped materials and equipment. Second, hot work exposure: torch-applied membrane roofing, hot-mopped built-up roofing, and propane-fuelled equipment create fire risk to the structure being worked on as well as adjacent structures — and insurers classify hot-work roofing operations as a distinct and elevated risk category. Third, completed operations exposure: a leaking roof does not always reveal itself the day after installation. Improper flashing, inadequate sealing around penetrations, and membrane defects can allow water ingress that goes undetected for months, causing interior water damage that accumulates before anyone notices — and that gets traced back to the roofing contractor who last touched the roof.
These three factors explain why roofing premiums are consistently higher than most other trades, why some standard contractor insurance carriers decline to insure roofing operations entirely, and why roofing contractors benefit from working with a broker who has established access to carriers that specialize in or regularly accommodate roofing risk.
Why Roofing Is Classified as a High-Risk Trade
Insurance underwriters assess roofing as a high-risk trade for well-documented reasons. According to the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada, roofing consistently ranks among the trades with the highest rates of lost-time injuries, with falls from heights representing the most frequent serious injury cause. This worker injury frequency translates to higher liability exposure for clients and third parties on and near the worksite.
Completed operations claims are equally significant. A residential re-roofing job involves removing the existing weather barrier, staging materials on the roof deck, and re-establishing weatherproofing in a single working day or over multiple days on larger projects. If a rainstorm arrives before the new membrane is secured, if flashing is improperly installed around a chimney, or if a nail penetrates a pipe boot — the resulting water damage inside the home can reach $30,000 to $100,000 on a single residential claim. Multiply that across a busy roofing season and the cumulative liability exposure becomes the dominant financial risk for a roofing business of any size.
Who Needs Roofing Insurance in Ontario?
Any contractor who installs, repairs, or maintains roofing systems in Ontario — residential or commercial, as a prime contractor or subcontractor — needs roofing insurance. The following types are the most common:
Independent / Sole Operator Roofers
Self-employed roofers performing residential repairs, shingle replacement, and small commercial work. Operating without insurance is not only a financial risk — it is effectively a disqualifier for most jobs. Homeowners who have experienced a roofing loss are particularly likely to require proof of insurance before hiring, and property management companies never accept an uninsured roofer on a managed property. A single water damage claim from an uninsured residential re-roof can far exceed the annual premium cost for a complete roofing insurance program.
Residential Roofing Contractors
Roofing companies that specialize in residential work — asphalt shingles, cedar shakes, metal roofing, skylights, and residential flat roofing — face high-frequency completed operations exposure across a large volume of jobs. A residential roofer doing 150 to 300 jobs per year has significant aggregate completed operations exposure that accumulates across all those jobs simultaneously. A CGL policy with robust completed operations coverage and adequate aggregate limits is essential to protect against the combined weight of post-completion claims from a full season's work.
Commercial and Industrial Roofers
Commercial and industrial roofing contractors — working on flat roofs, large-format metal roofing, low-slope membrane systems, and green roofs on office buildings, warehouses, retail centres, and industrial facilities — face substantially higher per-incident liability than residential roofers. A water infiltration event on a commercial building can damage merchandise, equipment, server infrastructure, and finished interiors. A fire from a hot-work roofing operation on a commercial building can result in losses that run into the millions. Commercial roofing contracts routinely require $5 million in CGL and may require an Umbrella policy on top. Roofers who work on both residential and commercial projects need to confirm with their broker that their policy covers both classes of work.
Flat Roof and Membrane Specialists
Roofers who specialize in flat and low-slope roofing systems — TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin), EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), modified bitumen, built-up roofing (BUR), and spray polyurethane foam — operate with distinct risk profiles compared to steep-slope shingle roofers. Torch-applied modified bitumen and hot-mopped BUR systems involve open flame or superheated bitumen on the roof surface of occupied or partially-occupied commercial buildings. A moment of inattention — a torch left in contact with combustible substrate, overheated bitumen splashing onto adjacent material — can ignite a structure fire with consequences far beyond the cost of the roofing job itself. Underwriters who accept flat roof and membrane specialists typically apply hot-work exclusions or endorsements that require specific safety protocols, including fire watch procedures after torch operations. Roofers who perform hot-work roofing must confirm that their CGL policy explicitly covers torch-applied and hot-applied operations and understand any conditions attached to that coverage.
High-Rise and Commercial Height Work
Roofers working on buildings above a certain height — typically defined as four storeys or higher in underwriting terms — face a distinct insurance classification. High-rise roofing work involves additional fall exposure, additional falling debris risk to pedestrians at grade, more complex access and equipment requirements, and higher potential property damage severity. Some standard roofing insurance markets exclude high-rise work by definition, making carrier selection critical for roofers who regularly work on taller commercial or residential buildings.
Roofing Subcontractors on New Construction
Roofers working as subcontractors under a general contractor on new residential or commercial construction are required — under virtually every standard subcontract agreement in Ontario — to carry their own CGL with minimum limits specified in the subcontract, name the GC as an Additional Insured, and provide a Certificate of Insurance before starting work. The GC's own policy does not cover the roofing subcontractor's independent operations. A roofing subcontractor who works without their own insurance violates the subcontract and bears full personal exposure for any claim arising from their work.
Storm Restoration and Emergency Repair Roofers
Roofing contractors who respond to storm damage — performing emergency tarping, temporary repairs, and urgent re-roofing following wind, hail, or ice events — face a specific risk context: jobs performed rapidly, sometimes in poor weather, often on structures already partially damaged by the storm event. Working in adverse weather conditions increases fall risk and increases the likelihood of incomplete weather protection that allows additional water ingress. Storm restoration roofers should confirm their CGL does not contain a weather condition exclusion that would apply to work performed in rain, wind, or frozen conditions.
What Does Roofing Insurance Cover?
1. Commercial General Liability (CGL)
CGL is the non-negotiable foundation of every roofing contractor's insurance program. It protects against third-party claims for bodily injury or property damage caused by your roofing operations, materials, or completed work. It covers legal defence costs and damages — your insurer pays for lawyers and any settlement or judgment up to your policy limit from the moment a claim is made.
For roofers, CGL must specifically cover two things that standard contractor CGL policies sometimes exclude: hot-work operations (torch, open flame, or hot bitumen) and completed operations (claims from leaks and property damage that arise after the job is finished and paid for). Before binding any CGL policy, roofers who perform torch-applied or hot-mopped work must confirm in writing that hot-work operations are not excluded.
What CGL covers for roofers:
- Third-party bodily injury — a homeowner, neighbour, or passerby injured by a fall, falling debris, or equipment dropped from height
- Property damage to the client's home or building, neighbouring structures, landscaping, vehicles, and other property
- Water damage from incomplete roofing — rain ingress through an open roof deck left overnight or over a weekend
- Fire damage from hot-work operations — torch-applied membrane or hot-mopped BUR igniting substrate, insulation, or structure
- Completed operations — leaks, water infiltration, and interior damage that emerge weeks or months after the job is finished
- Products liability — claims arising from materials you supply or install that fail or cause harm
- Legal defence costs from first notice of claim, regardless of whether the claim has merit
Standard CGL limits for roofers in Ontario:
- $2 million per occurrence — minimum for most residential contracts and residential property management companies
- $5 million per occurrence — standard minimum for commercial roofing contracts, industrial facilities, and institutional buildings; typically achieved through a primary CGL plus Commercial Umbrella
- Higher limits required for high-rise work, municipal contracts, and government projects
Critical policy conditions for hot-work roofers:
Most insurers who cover torch-applied and hot-applied roofing operations attach specific conditions to that coverage. Common conditions include: a mandatory fire watch period of 60 to 90 minutes after all torch operations on any given day; confirmation that all combustible materials within a specified distance of the work area are removed or protected; and documentation of hot-work permits on commercial buildings where required. Failing to comply with these conditions when a fire loss occurs can give the insurer grounds to deny the claim. Roofers who perform hot-work must understand exactly what their policy requires and train all crew members accordingly.
2. Tools and Equipment Coverage
Roofing contractors carry significant tool and equipment value — nail guns, compressors, generators, safety harnesses, ladders, scaffolding components, hot kettles, and specialty equipment that can represent $20,000 to $100,000 or more in replacement value for an established roofing crew. Tools and Equipment coverage (Inland Marine) protects these assets against theft, loss, and physical damage wherever they are — on a jobsite, in a locked trailer, in a vehicle, or in transit.
Roofing equipment trailers are a primary theft target. A roofing company's trailer is easy to identify and typically contains high-value, easily resold tools. An overnight trailer theft in a residential area can cost $25,000 to $60,000 in replacement equipment and halt multiple active jobs simultaneously while replacement equipment is sourced — some specialty items, like commercial-grade hot kettles, have lead times measured in weeks.
What tools and equipment coverage covers:
- Theft of tools and equipment from locked trailers, vehicles, or jobsites
- Accidental damage or physical loss during use, transit, or staging
- Compressors, generators, nail guns, and air hose assemblies
- Hot kettles, mop applicators, and torch equipment
- Safety harnesses, rope access equipment, and fall arrest systems
- Scaffolding components and staging equipment
- Rented equipment in your care, custody, or control
3. Commercial Auto Insurance
Roofing contractors drive loaded trucks and trailers to multiple jobsites daily, often with heavy materials — shingles, rolls of membrane, insulation boards — stacked in and on the vehicle. Personal auto policies exclude commercial use entirely. An at-fault accident while driving to a roofing job, with materials loaded and a crew in the cab, can result in claim denial from a personal insurer, leaving the roofer personally exposed for vehicle damage and third-party injury costs.
Roofing companies that operate fleets — multiple trucks serving multiple concurrent jobs — benefit from a commercial fleet policy that consolidates all vehicles and provides consistent coverage across the operation.
What commercial auto covers:
- Third-party bodily injury and property damage liability (minimum $1 million required by Ontario law; most commercial contracts require $2 million)
- Collision and comprehensive coverage for trucks, vans, and trailers
- Contents in transit — shingles, membrane, materials, and tools being transported
- Non-owned auto — protection when driving a rental or borrowed vehicle for work
- Fleet coverage — multiple vehicles under one policy with volume pricing
4. Umbrella / Excess Liability
A Commercial Umbrella or Excess Liability policy provides additional coverage above the limits of the primary CGL and commercial auto. For roofers who work on commercial properties, institutional buildings, or under developer and property management agreements, the standard $2 million CGL limit is often insufficient. A single fire event triggered by a torch-applied roofing operation on a commercial building can easily generate a claim that exceeds $2 million. An Umbrella at $3 million to $5 million above the primary CGL provides meaningful financial protection for these higher-severity commercial exposures at a fraction of the cost of increasing primary limits.
5. Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions)
Professional Liability is relevant for roofing contractors who provide written roof assessments, specifications, design recommendations, or energy performance consulting as a formal service to clients — most commonly commercial roofing firms that compete for large institutional contracts. A roofing contractor who recommends a specific membrane system that fails to perform as represented, or whose roof design specification does not account for the building's structural load capacity, faces a professional negligence claim that a CGL policy will not cover.
Most residential and small commercial roofers do not provide formal professional services and do not require E&O coverage. Roofers who do provide written specifications, certified inspections, or consulting reports should discuss E&O with their broker.
6. Commercial Property Insurance
Roofing companies that operate from a yard, shop, or fixed premises — storing materials, staging equipment, maintaining company vehicles — need commercial property insurance to protect those assets against fire, theft, vandalism, and weather damage at the fixed location. A materials fire at a roofing yard can destroy significant inventory; a break-in at a storage facility can eliminate a season's worth of staged equipment. If you operate from a location beyond your home, commercial property insurance should be part of your program.
Coverage Requirements by Roofer Type
| Roofer Type | CGL | Tools & Equipment | Commercial Auto | Umbrella | Professional Liability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Residential Roofer | Required | Required | Required | Rarely | Rarely |
| Residential Roofing Company | Required | Required | Required | Recommended | Rarely |
| Commercial Roofer | Required | Required | Required | Required | Rarely |
| Flat Roof / Membrane Specialist | Required (hot-work confirmed) | Required | Required | Recommended | Rarely |
| High-Rise Roofer | Required (height class confirmed) | Required | Required | Required | Rarely |
| Storm Restoration Roofer | Required | Required | Required | Recommended | Rarely |
| Roofing Subcontractor | Required | Required | Required | Rarely | Rarely |
| Industrial / Institutional Roofer | Required | Required | Required | Required | Recommended |
Common Roofing Insurance Claims in Ontario
Water Damage from Incomplete or Faulty Work
Water infiltration is the most frequent and most expensive category of completed operations claims in the roofing trade. A roof left partially open overnight, improperly installed flashing at a chimney, a nail driven through a pipe boot, an inadequately sealed valley — any of these can allow water ingress that damages ceilings, drywall, insulation, flooring, cabinetry, and personal property. Residential water damage claims from roofing defects routinely run between $15,000 and $80,000. Commercial claims involving water damage to merchandise, equipment, or finished interiors can reach well into six figures.
Example: A residential re-roofing job is partially complete when an overnight thunderstorm delivers 60mm of rain. The unprotected roof deck and exposed sheathing allow water into the attic, soaking insulation and staining ceilings in two rooms below. Interior remediation, insulation replacement, and ceiling repairs total $34,000. The homeowner's insurer pursues the roofer's CGL completed operations coverage.
Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL) — Completed Operations
Fire from Hot-Work Operations
Torch-applied modified bitumen and hot-applied built-up roofing are among the highest fire-risk operations in the construction trades. Propane torches applied to combustible substrate, superheated bitumen splashing onto adjacent materials, and ignition of concealed combustible materials within the roof assembly are all documented causes of roofing-related structure fires. These fires can spread rapidly — particularly in commercial buildings with large open roof cavities — and the resulting losses can reach hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.
Example: A commercial roofer applies torch-down modified bitumen on a flat roof of a single-storey retail unit. A torch pass ignites polystyrene insulation board beneath the membrane at a location concealed from the crew. The smouldering fire goes undetected until after the crew leaves the site for the day. By the time firefighters arrive, significant damage to the roof assembly, HVAC systems, and store interior has occurred. Total loss: $430,000. The roofer's CGL hot-work coverage responds, subject to the fire watch conditions in the policy.
Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL) — with hot-work endorsement confirmed active
Third-Party Injury from Falls or Falling Debris
Roofing at height creates constant risk of objects falling to grade — shingles, tools, nail guns, waste materials, and equipment can fall from roof level and injure anyone below. Homeowners, neighbours, pedestrians on adjacent sidewalks, and utility workers near the property are all potential victims of falling debris. The injuries from a direct fall of heavy materials or equipment from roof height can be severe and the resulting liability claims substantial.
Example: A roofer's compressor hose dislodges a bundle of shingles near the eave on a two-storey residential job. The falling bundle strikes a homeowner's vehicle in the driveway and continues to strike the homeowner who is walking nearby, causing a shoulder injury requiring surgery. Vehicle damage is $9,000; the personal injury claim, including surgery, physiotherapy, and lost income, totals $76,000. The roofer's CGL responds to both.
Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL)
Tool and Equipment Trailer Theft
Roofing trailers — identifiable from the exterior by roofing-specific equipment, nail guns, and compressors — are regularly targeted for overnight theft in the GTA and Southern Ontario. A fully loaded roofing trailer can contain $30,000 to $80,000 in replacement-value equipment. The loss not only creates an immediate financial impact but halts multiple active jobs while replacement equipment is sourced — some items, particularly commercial-grade hot kettles, have multi-week lead times that compound the operational disruption.
Example: A roofing company's enclosed trailer is stolen from the operator's driveway overnight. The trailer contains two compressors, a hot kettle, roofing nail guns, harnesses, rope access equipment, and hand tools with a combined replacement value of $52,000. The tools and equipment policy responds minus the deductible; the trailer itself is covered under the commercial auto policy.
Coverage responds: Tools and Equipment Coverage (trailer contents); Commercial Auto (trailer itself)
Completed Operations Leak Claims
Roofing failures that emerge weeks, months, or years after installation are among the most common and most contested claims in the trade. Improper flashing installation around chimneys, skylights, and roof penetrations; inadequate ice and water shield application in vulnerable zones; and membrane defects in flat roof systems can all allow water infiltration that goes unnoticed until it has caused significant cumulative damage to structure and contents. The completed operations component of a CGL policy is what extends coverage to these post-completion losses.
Example: Eight months after a full residential shingle replacement and chimney flashing reinstallation, a homeowner notices a brown stain on the ceiling of their master bedroom. Investigation reveals that the chimney flashing was improperly stepped and has been admitting water during every rain event since installation, saturating the attic insulation and causing mould growth on the roof deck sheathing. Mould remediation, insulation replacement, sheathing repair, and ceiling refinishing total $58,000. The roofer's completed operations coverage responds.
Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL) — Completed Operations
Property Damage to Adjacent Structures and Landscaping
Residential roofing work in established neighbourhoods creates exposure to neighbouring property. Torn-off shingles landing in a neighbour's yard, waste materials blowing off a roof in wind, ladders leaning against neighbouring fences, and roofing trucks parked across driveways — all of these create minor claim frequency that accumulates across a busy roofing season. More significant events — a mispositioned dumpster damaging a driveway, falling materials striking a parked vehicle, or debris entering a pool — generate claims that require prompt CGL response to maintain client relationships.
Example: A roofing crew tears off a two-layer shingle roof on a semi-detached home. Despite tarping precautions, torn-off shingle fragments blow off the tarp into the neighbour's yard and pool during a windy teardown. Pool cleaning, filter replacement, and landscaping damage total $8,500. The roofer's CGL responds quickly, protecting the relationship with both clients.
Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL)
Commercial Roofing — Interior Damage from Roof Failure
Commercial building owners who experience interior damage from roof failures during or after a roofer's work face losses that are categorically larger than residential equivalents. Merchandise damaged by water infiltration in a retail environment, inventory losses in a warehouse, equipment damage in a manufacturing facility, or business interruption from closure following a roof fire — these losses create claims that can exceed standard residential CGL aggregate limits and emphasize why commercial roofers require both higher primary limits and Umbrella coverage.
Example: A flat roof membrane replacement on a 10,000 sq ft warehouse is completed on a Friday. Over the weekend, an unsealed seam allows significant water infiltration during a heavy rain event, damaging shelving, inventory, and the concrete floor slab. The warehouse operator files a claim that includes inventory replacement, equipment damage, and three days of business interruption, totalling $185,000. The commercial roofer's CGL responds; an Umbrella ensures the claim does not exhaust the primary limit.
Coverage responds: Commercial General Liability (CGL), Commercial Umbrella (if primary limit approached)
Frequently Asked Questions About Roofing Insurance in Ontario
How much does roofing insurance cost in Ontario?
Roofing insurance in Ontario typically costs between $2,500 and $8,000 or more per year for a sole operator or small roofing company, depending on annual revenue, the types of roofing work performed (residential shingles, commercial flat roofing, or hot-work membrane systems each carry different risk classifications), number of employees, claims history, and coverage limits selected. Roofing is consistently classified as a high-risk trade, and premiums are correspondingly higher than most other contractor trades. A sole operator residential roofer with $200,000 in annual revenue might pay $2,500 to $4,000 per year for CGL and tools coverage. A commercial roofing company with five employees and $2 million in annual revenue will pay materially more — often $6,000 to $15,000 or above across a full program including CGL, tools, auto, and Umbrella. Comparing quotes through Boardwalk Insurance across 30+ carriers typically produces the most competitive available pricing for a given risk profile.
What insurance do roofers need in Ontario?
Roofing contractors in Ontario need at minimum: Commercial General Liability (CGL) at $2 million per occurrence for most residential work, with $5 million typically required for commercial contracts; Tools and Equipment coverage for the theft and physical damage of tools, nail guns, compressors, and specialty equipment; and Commercial Auto insurance for any vehicle used for work. Roofers who perform torch-applied or hot-mopped roofing must confirm their CGL specifically covers hot-work operations. Commercial roofers should carry a Commercial Umbrella to reach the $5 million limits most commercial contracts require. Roofers who perform formal inspections or written assessments may also need Professional Liability (E&O).
Does roofing insurance cover hot-work and torch-applied operations?
Coverage for torch-applied and hot-applied roofing operations depends on the specific insurer and policy. Many standard contractor CGL policies exclude hot-work operations entirely, or cover them only subject to specific conditions — including mandatory fire watch periods after daily torch operations, removal of combustible materials within a defined distance of the work area, and hot-work permit compliance on commercial buildings. Roofers who perform any torch-applied, open-flame, or hot-bitumen roofing must explicitly confirm with their broker that this work is covered under their policy. An undisclosed hot-work operation that causes a fire can result in a claim denial. Boardwalk Insurance works with carriers who understand and appropriately cover roofing trade operations including hot-work.
Is roofing insurance mandatory in Ontario?
Ontario law does not specifically mandate commercial liability insurance for roofing contractors as a licensing condition. However, roofing insurance is effectively mandatory to operate professionally. General contractors, property managers, commercial building owners, and institutional clients all require proof of CGL insurance before allowing roofers on site. Homeowners who have experienced a roofing loss are particularly diligent about requiring insurance from the roofer they hire for repairs. The financial exposure created by a single water damage or fire claim — which can easily exceed $50,000 to $200,000 depending on the project — makes operating without coverage an existential financial risk for any roofing business.
What CGL limit do roofers need for commercial work?
Most commercial roofing contracts in Ontario require a minimum of $5 million per occurrence in Commercial General Liability coverage. Some large institutional, government, and property management contracts require $5 million as a baseline and add Umbrella requirements on top. Residential work typically requires $2 million. Roofers who work on both residential and commercial projects should carry a primary CGL of $2 million and a Commercial Umbrella of $3 million to reach $5 million combined — which is both more cost-effective and more flexible than a single $5 million primary policy.
Does roofing insurance cover completed operations claims?
Yes, provided the CGL policy includes a completed operations extension — which most standard CGL policies do. Completed operations coverage protects roofing contractors against claims arising from work they have already finished and been paid for. This is particularly important in the roofing trade because roof failures — especially leaks from improper flashing, inadequate sealing, or membrane defects — often do not manifest until weeks or months after installation, when weather conditions finally expose the deficiency. Roofers should confirm that their CGL aggregate limit is sufficient to cover completed operations claims across their full annual volume of work, not just a single incident.
Does my personal auto policy cover my work truck?
No. Ontario personal auto policies explicitly exclude commercial use — including driving to and from jobsites, carrying roofing materials and tools, and towing a work trailer. An at-fault accident while driving to a roofing job under a personal policy can be denied by the insurer, leaving the roofer personally liable for vehicle damage and third-party injury costs. Any roofing contractor who uses a vehicle for work — including sole operators who use a personal truck for the business — requires commercial auto insurance.
What happens if it rains and damages the client's interior while I'm mid-job?
If the interior of a client's home or building is damaged by rain ingress because the roof is open, partially removed, or improperly tarped during your work, the resulting water damage claim falls under your CGL policy's property damage coverage. This is an active operations claim — it occurs while you are performing your work — rather than a completed operations claim. The key coverage consideration is whether your CGL limits and deductible are appropriate for the scale of the job. A mid-job rain event on a large residential re-roof or a commercial flat roof project can generate $20,000 to $100,000 or more in interior water damage. Roofers who leave jobs partially open should have weather monitoring plans and tarping protocols documented as part of their risk management practice.
Do I need Umbrella insurance as a roofer?
For residential-only roofers with moderate annual revenues, a primary CGL of $2 million may satisfy most contract requirements. For any roofer who performs commercial work, a Commercial Umbrella is effectively required — most commercial contracts specify $5 million in combined liability, which a $2 million primary plus $3 million Umbrella achieves cost-effectively. For roofers who perform industrial, institutional, or high-rise work, Umbrella coverage is essential given the severity of potential fire or structural damage losses on large commercial properties. Even for residential roofers, a $1 million to $2 million Umbrella above the primary CGL is a low-cost way to add meaningful financial protection against severe claims.
How fast can I get a certificate of insurance for a new roofing contract?
Boardwalk Insurance issues Certificates of Insurance (ACORD 25) the same business day for active policyholders — including Additional Insured endorsements, Waiver of Subrogation, and Primary and Non-Contributory wording as required by your contract. For new clients, most roofing insurance quotes are returned within one business day and coverage can be bound immediately upon acceptance, with the certificate issued the same day. Contact us directly at +1-416-477-9771 for urgent certificate requests on time-sensitive contracts.
Why Roofers 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 residential roofers, commercial flat roof contractors, membrane specialists, and roofing subcontractors across Ontario and nationally. We access 30+ A-rated Canadian carriers — including Intact, Aviva, Economical, Northbridge, Chubb, Travelers, CNA, and Gore Mutual.
Carriers That Actually Cover Roofing
Not every insurer will write a roofing contractor, particularly one who performs hot-work or commercial high-rise operations. Boardwalk Insurance has established access to carriers who understand the roofing trade and can provide coverage that explicitly includes the operations you perform — not coverage that looks complete until a claim reveals an undisclosed exclusion.
Advisors Who Understand Roofing Risk
You work directly with licensed Ontario brokers who understand the distinction between shingle roofing and hot-work membrane systems, what commercial roofing contracts actually require in a Certificate of Insurance, and how to structure a primary CGL plus Umbrella program that meets $5 million combined requirements cost-effectively. No generalists, no call centres.
Same-Day Certificates for New Contracts
We issue contract-ready Certificates of Insurance the same business day — including Additional Insured endorsements, Waiver of Subrogation, and Primary and Non-Contributory wording. Roofers who win a contract on Monday and need to start Wednesday will not wait days for their broker.
Competitive Pricing Across 30+ Carriers
We compare your submission across more than 30 A-rated carriers to find the best pricing for your specific roofing profile — residential, commercial, hot-work, or mixed. Our carrier relationships regularly produce pricing that roofers cannot obtain by approaching insurers directly.
Claims Advocacy
When a claim arises — a water damage event, a fire, a theft — our team advocates on your behalf from first notice of loss through final settlement, ensuring your insurer meets its obligations promptly.
Trusted by Canada's Leading Insurance Carriers
- Intact Insurance
- Aviva Canada
- Economical Insurance
- Northbridge Insurance
- Wawanesa Insurance
- Chubb Insurance
- Unica Insurance
- CNA Canada
- Travelers Canada
- Gore Mutual Insurance
Related Insurance for Roofing Contractors
- Contractor Insurance — General commercial insurance framework for independent contractors of all trades
- Construction Insurance — Broader programs for general contractors and multi-party construction projects
- Commercial General Liability — Detailed CGL coverage information for contractors and trades
- Commercial Auto & Fleet Insurance — Commercial vehicle and fleet coverage for roofing trucks and trailers
- Home Builder Insurance — Insurance for residential home builders who engage roofing subcontractors
- Renovation Contractor Insurance — Coverage for renovation contractors performing roofing as part of a broader scope
- Electrician Insurance — Coverage for electrical subcontractors working alongside roofers on new builds
- Plumbing Contractor Insurance — Coverage for plumbing contractors installing roof drain systems and penetrations
- Concrete Contractor Insurance — Coverage for concrete contractors on commercial builds where roofing subcontracts apply
- Professional Liability (E&O) — Errors and Omissions for roofers who provide formal inspections or specifications
- Pollution Liability Insurance — For roofers handling asbestos-containing materials or legacy roofing products
- Surety Bonds — Performance and payment bonds for roofing contractors on public and large commercial projects
Where We Serve Roofing Contractors
Boardwalk Insurance is headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, and serves roofing 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 roofing 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 Roofing Insurance Quote Today
Whether you are a sole operator doing residential shingle replacements or a commercial roofing company performing flat roof membrane systems on industrial facilities, Boardwalk Insurance builds roofing insurance programs that cover your actual operations — including hot work — satisfy your contract requirements, and protect your business from the water damage, fire, and completed operations claims that define roofing liability exposure.
We compare quotes from 30+ A-rated Canadian carriers with no obligation, and most roofers receive a quote within one business day.
Speak with a licensed roofing 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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- RIBO Registered Broker — Ontario Licensed
- 5-Star Rated — 69+ Verified Reviews
- 15+ Years Experience in Contractor and Trade Insurance
- 30+ A-Rated Canadian Carriers — Including Carriers That Cover Hot-Work Roofing
- Same-Day Certificate Issuance
- Serving All Provinces Except Quebec
- Dedicated claims support