General Liability
The foundation of every masonry business insurance program. What it covers, what it costs, and why most masons need it before their next job.
General liability (GL) insurance protects your masonry business from third-party claims of bodily injury and property damage. It's the most fundamental coverage for any masonry contractor — and the one most clients, GCs, and municipalities require before you start work.
Masonry carries two kinds of risk most trades don't stack together: working at height on scaffolding, and building structures that have to bear real load for decades. A fall from scaffolding is one of the more severe injury types carriers see in construction. A structural issue — a wall that shifts, a chimney that develops a crack — can surface long after the job's paid for, and the claim still lands on you. Your GL policy has to answer for both.
If someone is injured in connection with your work — a passerby is struck by falling debris, a worker from another trade is hurt by scaffolding that shifts, or a client trips over staged brick or block pallets — general liability covers the medical costs and legal fees associated with that claim.
Mortar overspray damages a client's driveway, dust and debris from tuckpointing an old chimney damages the roof below it, a section of wall under demo damages a neighboring structure — these are common claims for masons. 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 masonry than in most trades because structural problems don't always show up right away. A wall settles unevenly after a freeze-thaw winter, a chimney you repointed starts leaking the following season — completed operations coverage responds to these after-the-fact claims.
Covers claims of libel, slander, or copyright infringement arising from your business activities. Less common for masons, 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. Structural and commercial masonry 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 scaffolding fall or structural claim 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 design or engineering judgment was negligent, which matters more on structural masonry where you're working from stamped plans. Most masons need GL; professional liability is less common but available.
Yes, if the collapse causes third-party bodily injury or property damage — a common scenario when removing or rebuilding an existing structure that turns out to be less stable than expected. This is exactly the kind of exposure GL is built for in masonry work.
Same-day coverage is typically available. Fill out the form today and our agents work fast. Once you bind, your COI is issued instantly.
Yes. Height and scaffolding exposure is one of the bigger rating factors in masonry GL, since falls from height are more severe than most other injury types in this trade. A single-story patio mason will typically see a different rate than a crew building multi-story walls or chimneys.
Licensed agents build your custom quote — typically same business day. Review, enroll, and get your COI instantly.