INSTALLATION OF WINDOWS
The Learning Center
6. What insurance must an installer have to work on my home?
The people who work on your home need to have two types of insurance coverage. The first type is liability, which will compensate you
for any property damage caused by the installer while working on your home. While having liability coverage is important, the amount of
coverage is just as critical. A $50,000 policy won’t help you very much if the worker accidentally starts a fire that ultimately burns down
your home. A million dollar policy is more acceptable.
The second type of necessary insurance, which is typically overlooked by most homeowners, is Workman’s Compensation Insurance. By
law, all reputable businesses must have Workman’s Compensation insurance for each of their employees. If an employee is hurt or killed
while working on your property, all claims will be handled by the insurance carrier and you will have no responsibility. The only exception
to this is if the person who works on your home is a sole proprietor type of business. In that case, the owner does not have to have
Workman’s Compensation insurance on himself, but he’s still required by law to have it on any persons working for him.
It is important for you to know that if a person working on your home is not insured, or inadequately insured, your Homeowner’s
Insurance policy will not protect you. Most homeowner’s policies exclude contractor damage or injury. Since your insurance company
cannot assess the company you hire to work on your home, they exclude everyone who works for that company. It is up to you to do
your homework and get the needed assurances in writing.
Because it is expensive to be properly insured, many subcontractors do not cover the people on your property who work for them. If the
person on your property works for the subcontractor, he must be covered by Workman’s Compensation. If every individual working on
your property is a sole proprietor, they must have their own liability policy.
Hiring a company with proper insurance coverage is one of the most overlooked, but most important, things you need to check. Don’t try
to save a few dollars by hiring a contractor without proper insurance. As with most types of insurance, the probability is low, but the
personal risk to you is high.
< back to list of questions about installation
3245 Miracle Drive
Murrysville, PA 15668
724-387-2991
PA Contractor ID
PA001856
The Learning Center
6. What insurance must an installer have to work on my home?
The people who work on your home need to have two types of insurance coverage. The first type is liability, which will compensate you
for any property damage caused by the installer while working on your home. While having liability coverage is important, the amount of
coverage is just as critical. A $50,000 policy won’t help you very much if the worker accidentally starts a fire that ultimately burns down
your home. A million dollar policy is more acceptable.
The second type of necessary insurance, which is typically overlooked by most homeowners, is Workman’s Compensation Insurance. By
law, all reputable businesses must have Workman’s Compensation insurance for each of their employees. If an employee is hurt or killed
while working on your property, all claims will be handled by the insurance carrier and you will have no responsibility. The only exception
to this is if the person who works on your home is a sole proprietor type of business. In that case, the owner does not have to have
Workman’s Compensation insurance on himself, but he’s still required by law to have it on any persons working for him.
It is important for you to know that if a person working on your home is not insured, or inadequately insured, your Homeowner’s
Insurance policy will not protect you. Most homeowner’s policies exclude contractor damage or injury. Since your insurance company
cannot assess the company you hire to work on your home, they exclude everyone who works for that company. It is up to you to do
your homework and get the needed assurances in writing.
Because it is expensive to be properly insured, many subcontractors do not cover the people on your property who work for them. If the
person on your property works for the subcontractor, he must be covered by Workman’s Compensation. If every individual working on
your property is a sole proprietor, they must have their own liability policy.
Hiring a company with proper insurance coverage is one of the most overlooked, but most important, things you need to check. Don’t try
to save a few dollars by hiring a contractor without proper insurance. As with most types of insurance, the probability is low, but the
personal risk to you is high.
< back to list of questions about installation
3245 Miracle Drive
Murrysville, PA 15668
724-387-2991
PA Contractor ID
PA001856
