Umbrella / Excess Liability for framing contractors

It's driven by your largest realistic loss and your contract requirements. Many commercial and multifamily GCs require $2M–$5M total limits. We model your worst-case scenarios and size the umbrella to what your work actually demands.

It sits over employers' liability (Part Two of workers' comp), not the workers' comp benefit itself. That matters for serious injury claims that exceed primary employers' liability limits.

Large projects and commercial contracts shift risk down to subcontractors and require proof of high limits — often $2M–$5M. Carrying an umbrella lets you bid that work and protects you from a catastrophic claim.

Umbrella premium is a fraction of your underlying liability cost and reflects your operations, underlying limits, and the umbrella layer chosen. It's one of the most cost-effective ways to add protection.

Often yes. If a new project requires higher limits, we can frequently increase the umbrella (subject to underwriting) so you can take the work. Tell us the requirement and we'll move.

Yes. An umbrella responds to the same types of claims your underlying GL covers — including framed-structure fires and completed-operations claims — once primary limits are exhausted.

A true umbrella can drop down to cover some claims not covered by underlying policies; a straight excess policy simply adds limits on top of the same coverage. We place the form that fits your exposure and budget.

Most framers pay $1,500–$4,500 a year for $1M/$2M general liability, with workers' comp rated on payroll at class 5403 and tools floaters based on scheduled gear. We quote the full program in about 15 minutes and show every market's price.

Yes. Contractors Choice Agency is licensed in all 50 states and writes framing crews from the Sun Belt and Texas to the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain West, and Northeast.

About 15 minutes for a standard program. Once bound, we turn around additional-insured certificates, waivers of subrogation, and primary/non-contributory endorsements usually within minutes.

Wood framing and rough carpentry is typically coded under NCCI class 5403 (Carpentry). Correct classification keeps you from overpaying or facing an audit surprise — and ensures claims aren't denied for misclassification.

We place general liability that specifically covers two- and three-story framing, truss setting, and roof work. Many budget contractor policies exclude work above one or two stories — we make sure yours does not.

Tools are covered under a tools & equipment (inland marine) policy, not GL or property. We schedule nail guns, saws, generators, and compressors at replacement cost so jobsite and truck theft is covered.

Most residential framers carry $1M/$2M GL with a $2M–$5M umbrella. Commercial and multifamily GCs often require $2M–$5M limits plus additional-insured status. We size limits to your actual contract requirements.

Yes — personal auto excludes business use and will deny claims when you haul lumber or tools. Commercial auto covers your trucks, trailers, and lumber haulers, including hired/non-owned vehicles.

Often, yes. We have excess-and-surplus (E&S) markets for contractors with loss runs, cancellations, or tough exposures that standard markets decline.

Your GL doesn't cover independent subs — they should carry their own and name you additional insured. We set up certificate tracking and additional-insured requirements so subcontracted work doesn't become your liability.

You reach a person with context, not a queue. We respond within 2 hours, help you document the loss, and manage the claim with the carrier so it's paid correctly and your operation keeps moving.

Framing has fall, nail-gun, saw, and theft exposures that generic carriers exclude or misprice. A specialty broker knows the class codes, the height exclusions to avoid, the markets that write framers, and how to manage a framing claim.