Trade · Carpenters & Framers
NJ Carpenters & Framers Insurance | NJCIC
Framing, finish, cabinetry, trim — different class codes, different markets, sometimes the same contractor doing both. We split the operations at quote so you’re not over-rated on the easier work.
Who We Write in This Trade
Solo finish carpenters, framing crews, full-service residential carpentry contractors, cabinet shops, and commercial framing operations.
Carrier Appetite
Standard panel: Travelers, The Hartford, Nationwide, AmTrust, Cumberland Mutual, Merchants Mutual. Framing is a higher-rated class than finish carpentry; commercial framing higher still. Most operations fit standard market without issue.
The Coverage Stack You’ll Want
- GL — $1M/$2M standard. Property damage during framing (falling lumber, structural issues, scaffolding incidents) is the main exposure.
- Workers Comp — required for any employee in NJ. Class codes matter — we audit them at quote.
- Commercial Auto — trucks, vans, trailers, employee drivers.
- Tools & Equipment — significant for finish carpentry (tablesaws, planers, routers, dust collection) and cabinet shops.
- Commercial Umbrella — recommended; sits over GL, Auto, and EL.
NJ-Specific Considerations
- Split-class on WC — finish carpentry, framing, and supervisor payroll can split separately. Getting the split right matters.
- Cabinet shop operations — if you have a fixed shop with woodworking equipment, you may need commercial property in addition to tools coverage.
- Commercial framing — height exposure on multi-story; fall protection programs matter to underwriters.
- Custom cabinetry installed at customer location — installation floater belongs on the policy.
FAQ
Common questions.
I do both framing and finish — different rates?
Yes. We split the operations at quote so framing payroll gets framing rates and finish carpentry payroll gets finish rates. Often saves 20–40% over a single-class quote.
Cabinet shop with $80K in woodworking equipment — what do I need?
Commercial property on the shop building/contents, Tools coverage for equipment that leaves the shop, Installation floater for customer cabinets in transit and pre-install.
Commercial framing — do you write it?
Yes. Standard market for most operations. Multi-story height exposure may narrow carriers; fall protection program documentation helps placement.
Trim work in completed homes — is that residential service for class-code purposes?
Generally yes — finish carpentry class. We confirm the operation at quote.
Custom cabinetry — how do we cover the cabinets in transit?
Installation floater. We add it by default for cabinet shops and any carpenter installing customer materials.
Ready When You Are
Quote your carpenters & framers program in one intake.
GL, WC, Auto, Tools, Umbrella — all in one form. We come back with a multi-line quote, not six separate quote events.