Trade · Restoration · Harder placement
NJ Restoration Insurance | NJCIC — honest about the placement.
Water, fire, mold. Pollution exclusions are the buried problem — standard GL excludes pollution by default, and restoration work crosses that line constantly. We get the right policy form.
Who We Write in This Trade
Water mitigation contractors, fire/smoke restoration operations, mold remediation specialists, full-service restoration contractors handling all three.
The Placement Reality
Standard market is tighter than for general trades. Restoration work crosses the pollution exclusion regularly. Some carriers exclude mold work entirely. We use the panels that fit (typically a mix of standard and specialty) and recommend CPL (V2) for contractors with meaningful exposure.
The Coverage Stack You’ll Want
- GL — $1M/$2M standard. Pollution exclusion is the issue — confirm whether your GL covers mold, asbestos, lead, sewage backup. Standard GL excludes most of this by default.
- 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 — air movers, dehumidifiers, HEPA filtration, moisture meters. Significant equipment investment.
- Commercial Umbrella — recommended; sits over GL, Auto, and EL.
NJ-Specific Considerations
- Pollution exclusion — standard GL excludes pollution by default. Contractors Pollution Liability (CPL) is on the V2 roadmap; we’ll discuss workarounds and partial coverage in the meantime.
- Mold remediation — some carriers exclude entirely. Specialty endorsements available on some forms.
- Bioremediation (sewage backup, crime scene, hoarding) — narrower carrier panel; pricing higher.
- Hazardous material handling — asbestos and lead-specific operations require specialty placement and licensing.
FAQ
Common questions.
Do you write mold remediation?
Yes — but the placement is tighter than water-only restoration. We confirm scope and route to the appropriate carrier. CPL (V2) will be the cleaner answer once available.
Pollution exclusion — what does it mean for my GL?
Standard GL excludes pollution-related claims. For restoration contractors, that’s a real exposure — water damage cleanup that releases bacterial contamination, fire residue cleanup with smoke contamination, mold remediation that disturbs spores. We discuss the gap at quote and recommend CPL when it’s available.
Bioremediation work — sewage, crime scene — different conversation?
Yes, narrower carrier panel and tighter underwriting. Tell us on the intake.
Solo water mitigation operator — program cost?
Wide range — $4K–$10K/year for GL, Auto, Tools (significant equipment), Umbrella. CPL adds when available.
Asbestos abatement — can you place it?
Specialty market only — we route to abatement-specialist carriers, not the standard contractor panel.
Ready When You Are
Quote your restoration 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.