General Liability
The foundation of every drywall business insurance program. What it covers, what it costs, and why most drywall contractors need it before their next job.
General liability (GL) insurance protects your drywall business from third-party claims of bodily injury and property damage. It's the most fundamental coverage for any drywall contractor — and the one most clients, GCs, and property managers require before you start work.
Drywall is closed-up work — once you hang, tape, and finish a wall, whatever's behind it disappears from view, and so does your ability to point to exactly what happened if a problem surfaces later. A tape seam fails eight months after the paint goes on. A fire-rated assembly is questioned during a later inspection. Your GL policy has to answer for defects that don't show up until long after the crew has moved to the next job.
If someone is injured in connection with your work — a worker from another trade is hurt by a lift or scaffold, a bystander is struck by falling material, or a client's employee is hurt around your job site — general liability covers the medical costs and legal fees associated with that claim.
Dust and debris damage finished flooring, a lift scuffs an expensive surface, sheet goods staged on-site damage an existing structure — these are common claims for drywall contractors. GL covers the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged property plus any legal costs if the claim becomes a lawsuit.
This covers claims that arise after a job is finished, and it matters more in drywall than in trades where the work stays visible. A nail pop appears, a tape seam cracks, a fire-rated assembly is later found out of spec — completed operations coverage responds to these after-the-fact claims, which can surface well after the space is painted and occupied.
Covers claims of libel, slander, or copyright infringement arising from your business activities. Less common for drywall contractors, but included in standard GL policies.
It's important to understand the limits of GL coverage:
GL policies have two main limits: per occurrence and aggregate. A common limit is $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. The per occurrence limit is the maximum paid on any single claim. The aggregate is the total the policy will pay in a year across all claims. Commercial and fire-rated contracts often require $2M/$4M limits.
Fill out the quote form and our licensed agents will build your general liability quote — typically the same business day. Once you bind, your certificate of insurance is issued instantly.
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FAQ
It's required by most GCs, property managers, and commercial clients. Some states require it for licensed contractors. Even where it's not legally required, it's essential protection — one claim over a defect discovered after a wall is closed up can easily cost more than years of premiums.
GL covers physical claims — bodily injury and property damage. Professional liability (E&O) covers claims that your workmanship judgment was negligent, which can matter on fire-rated assemblies where a spec deviation is a compliance issue. Most drywall contractors need GL; professional liability is less common but available.
It depends on whether the issue traces to your own installation. If your work is what failed — a fastening pattern, a taped seam — completed operations coverage under your GL policy responds even though the claim surfaces after you've moved on. If it's another trade's pre-existing issue, that's a different question your agent can help sort out.
Same-day coverage is typically available. Fill out the form today and our agents work fast. Once you bind, your COI is issued instantly.
Prior claims can affect your rate and in some cases carrier eligibility, but coverage is often still available. Tell us about any prior claims on the quote form and we'll find the best option for your situation.
Licensed agents build your custom quote — typically same business day. Review, enroll, and get your COI instantly.