For masonry contractors and business owners, comprehensive insurance coverage is crucial to protect against the unique risks associated with structural construction work. The specialized nature of masonry work—from building load-bearing walls to installing decorative brick facades and constructing foundations—presents distinct challenges and potential liabilities that require tailored insurance solutions.
At ContractorNerd, we’ve developed a proprietary quote platform that connects masonry contractors with contractor-friendly insurers who truly understand your business risks. Our tech-enabled specialized agents focus exclusively on contractor insurance, helping you navigate coverage options efficiently while securing competitive quotes. Whether you’re dealing with potential structural failures, property damage claims, or workplace injuries, having the right insurance partner makes all the difference.
This comprehensive guide explores essential insurance for masonry contractors, expected quotes, and strategies for reducing insurance expenses. Our analysis draws from over 200 insurance quotes for masonry professionals across the US.
What We’ll Cover in This Guide:
- Insurance Requirements by Business Size – From sole proprietors to established companies
- General Liability Coverage – Quote benchmarks and coverage details for GL Code 97447
- Workers’ Compensation – Premium rates and safety strategies for Class Code 5022
- Additional Essential Coverage – Commercial auto, equipment, bonds, and more
- Quote Reduction Strategies – Proven methods to lower your insurance expenses
Ready to protect your masonry business with the right coverage at the right price? Get your personalized insurance quotes today through ContractorNerd’s streamlined platform.
What Insurance Do Masonry Contractors Need?
Starting Out: Sole Proprietor
As a sole proprietor masonry contractor, your insurance foundation includes:
- General liability insurance – Your first line of defense against damage claims and injuries on job sites
- Tools & equipment coverage (Inland Marine) – Protects your scaffolding, mixers, and specialized masonry equipment
- Commercial auto insurance – Essential for vehicles hauling materials and equipment to job sites
Growing: Small Business with Your First Employee
When you hire your first employee and grow to 2-3 workers, you’ll need:
- Workers’ compensation insurance – Required by law once you have employees
- Excess / Umbrella insurance – Extra liability protection for those larger projects
- Bond coverage – Opens doors to commercial and government contracts
- Property insurance – Important if you’re maintaining a yard or storage facility
Established: Business with Multiple Employees and Projects
For masonry businesses with 5+ employees handling diverse projects:
- Enhanced commercial property insurance – Comprehensive coverage for equipment yards and warehouses
- Employment practices liability insurance – Protection against employee-related claims
- Cyber liability insurance – Critical for businesses processing digital payments and storing customer data
- Professional liability insurance – Covers you when providing design consultation services
General Liability Insurance for Masonry Contractors
General liability insurance forms the cornerstone of protection for masonry contractors, covering the unique risks inherent in working with bricks, blocks, stone, and mortar. This essential coverage protects your business from third-party claims involving bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injuries that can occur during your masonry operations.
What GL Insurance Covers
Your general liability policy typically includes:
• Bodily injury claims – When someone is injured by falling materials or trips over equipment at your job site
• Property damage claims – If mortar splatter damages a client’s vehicle or a wall collapse affects neighboring property
• Completed operations – Protection against claims arising from your finished work, even years later
• Personal and advertising injury – Coverage for claims of slander, libel, or copyright infringement in your marketing
Standard policy limits are $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, though many masonry contractors opt for higher limits given the physical nature of the work.
Understanding Your Quote Benchmarks
For masonry contractors (Class Code 97447), general liability quotes vary significantly based on your revenue level. This classification commonly includes masonry cutting and laying of bricks, blocks, stone, clay products and mortar, with exterior work up to 3 stories and retaining walls to 6 feet.
| Revenue Level | National Average | Favorable Rate | Potential Savings | Low % of Revenue | High % of Revenue |
| $50,000 | $1,430 | $700 | 51% | 0.7% | 1.2% |
| $150,000 | $3,160 | $1,810 | 43% | 1.3% | 2.7% |
| $500,000 | $8,490 | $5,290 | 38% | 3.3% | 6.7% |
Well-managed masonry businesses can achieve significant savings – up to 51% off national averages – through strong safety programs and claims-free histories. Your quotes may range from as low as 0.7% of revenue for lower-risk operations to 6.7% of revenue for higher-risk profiles.
Important exclusions typically include street/road/highway walls, dams, foundations, and underground operations without utility verification. These specialized activities often require additional coverage or separate policies.
For detailed state-specific quote information and to understand how your location affects your general liability insurance costs, refer to our comprehensive state-by-state cost guide.
Keep in mind that your actual masonry insurance cost will vary based on factors like safety programs, claims history, and whether you work on specialized projects like retaining walls or commercial structures.
Workers’ Compensation for Masonry Contractors
Workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory once you hire your first employee, protecting both your business and workers from the financial impact of workplace injuries. Masonry contractors typically fall under NCCI Class Code 5022 (Masonry Construction), which covers work with brick, block, stone, fireplaces, stucco, and exterior plastering.
Premium Rates and Risk Factors
Due to the physically demanding nature of masonry work, premium rates typically range from $7 to $9 per $100 of payroll – higher than many construction trades. Your specific rate largely depends on:
- Company safety record and claims history
- Geographic location and state regulations
- Implementation of safety protocols and training programs
Common Workplace Injuries
Masonry contractors face elevated risks including:
- Back injuries from lifting heavy blocks and materials
- Falls from scaffolding and elevated platforms
- Respiratory issues from concrete dust and mortar exposure
- Crushing injuries from falling materials
- Repetitive stress injuries from continuous physical labor
Reducing Your Premium Rates
Contractors can secure better rates by:
- Implementing comprehensive safety training programs
- Maintaining proper scaffolding and fall protection systems
- Providing and enforcing use of appropriate PPE
- Documenting all safety procedures and incidents
- Conducting regular safety audits and equipment maintenance
Commercial Auto for Masonry Contractors
Commercial auto coverage is essential for vehicles transporting heavy materials and specialized equipment. Standard limits of $100k/$300k/$100k may need adjustment based on your operations.
Annual premiums: $1,800-$4,200 per vehicle (higher than other trades due to heavier loads)
Tools & Equipment Insurance (Inland Marine)
Protects your specialized masonry equipment including scaffolding, mortar mixers, power tools, and safety equipment.
Annual premiums: $200-$2,000+
Bonds for Masonry Contractors
Required for many commercial and government projects:
- $5,000 bond: $125-$500
- $10,000 bond: $175-$1,200
- $25,000 bond: $275-$2,700
Rates based on credit score, experience, and financial strength.
Reducing Your Insurance Costs
Key strategies for lower premiums:
- Implement comprehensive safety programs
- Maintain detailed documentation and contracts and subcontractor COIs
- Bundle policies for multi-policy discounts
- Work with masonry-specialized insurers
- Consider higher deductibles for premium savings
- Ensure continuous coverage without lapses
Get Masonry Insurance Quotes from ContractorNerd
Finding comprehensive insurance coverage at competitive rates can be challenging for masonry contractors. At ContractorNerd, we’ve built a proprietary quote platform specifically designed for construction professionals, streamlining the traditionally complex insurance process.
Why masonry contractors choose ContractorNerd:
• Contractor-friendly insurers – We partner exclusively with carriers who understand masonry risks and offer specialized coverage options
• Tech-enabled platform – Get multiple quotes in minutes, not days, through our streamlined digital process
• Specialized agents – Our team focuses solely on contractor insurance, bringing deep industry expertise to every policy
• Data-driven insights – Our analysis of over 200 masonry insurance quotes helps ensure you’re getting competitive rates
Our platform connects you with insurers who specialize in masonry risks, from small residential projects to large commercial builds. We understand that every masonry business is unique, whether you’re a sole proprietor just starting out or an established company with multiple crews.
Don’t let insurance complexity slow your business growth. Our tech-enabled agents will help you secure the right coverage at rates that make sense for your bottom line.
Get your masonry insurance quotes today and discover why contractors across the country trust ContractorNerd for their insurance needs.