Underwriting Guide
What Underwriters Ask About Roofing Contractors
Roofing is one of the most restricted commercial classes in the market — high fall risk for workers, significant property damage potential from installation errors, and a history of storm-chaser fraud make roofing accounts difficult to place. Many carriers exclude roofing entirely. Those that write it scrutinize the type of roofing (residential vs. commercial, flat vs. pitched), safety programs, and prior losses with exceptional care.
General LiabilityWorkers' CompensationCommercial AutoCommercial Umbrella
Operations
What type of roofing work is performed — residential shingle, commercial flat (TPO/EPDM/modified bitumen), metal roofing, tile, or all?
Why they ask: Commercial flat roofing and hot tar/built-up systems carry different risk than standard residential shingle work. Each may be rated or priced separately.
What is the maximum building height worked on?
Why they ask: Fall exposure scales with height. Work above 3 stories significantly increases WC risk and may affect GL eligibility.
Does the contractor perform any tear-off and replacement, or new construction, or both?
Why they ask: New construction roofing creates long-tail completed operations exposure. Tear-off work adds debris liability.
Does the contractor perform any hot work (torch-applied membranes, hot mopping)?
Why they ask: Hot work is a major fire hazard. Many GL carriers exclude or restrict coverage for torch-applied roofing systems.
Does the contractor perform storm damage inspections or work primarily in post-storm markets?
Why they ask: Storm-chasing operations raise fraud concerns and create completed operations exposure from rushed post-storm work.
Safety Programs
Does the contractor have a written fall protection program that complies with OSHA 1926.502?
Why they ask: Fall protection is the OSHA standard most frequently cited in roofing. A documented program is a key underwriting requirement.
Are workers required to use personal fall arrest systems (harnesses, anchors, lifelines)?
Why they ask: Harness requirements directly reduce WC claims from falls. Carriers want to know these controls are enforced, not just written.
Does the contractor use subcontractors? Do they require proof of workers' comp and GL insurance?
Why they ask: Uninsured roofing subcontractors expose the GC to both GL and WC liability for their work and injuries.
Loss History
Provide 5 years of GL and WC loss runs.
Why they ask: Roofing has the highest WC fatality rate of any trade. Multiple severe WC claims or prior fall fatalities significantly restrict market options.
What is the current experience modification rate (EMR)?
Why they ask: WC is the primary cost driver for roofing. EMR above 1.0 indicates above-average WC losses and will affect pricing.
Have there been any completed operations claims from prior roof installations — leaks, structural failures, damage to property below?
Why they ask: Roof installation errors that cause water damage are the most common GL claims in roofing.
Answers that raise red flags
⚠Falls resulting in serious injury or fatality in the past 5 years
⚠EMR above 1.0 — roofing WC losses above average
⚠Hot work (torch-applied systems) without carrier approval
⚠No written fall protection program
⚠Subcontractors used without requiring WC certificates
⚠Storm-chasing work patterns across multiple states
Tips for presenting this risk favorably
✓Provide the written fall protection program — this is often the single most important document for a roofing submission
✓Break revenue into residential and commercial, and by system type (shingle, flat, metal, tile)
✓Confirm whether hot work is performed and check carrier appetite before submitting
✓Document subcontractor insurance requirements in writing
✓Explain any prior WC claims with detail on corrective actions and safety program improvements
Collect all this information automatically
AgencyAssist sends your client a plain-English intake link and maps every answer to the correct ACORD fields — including all the questions above.