Decks · Insurance

Decks and insurance

Two insurance questions matter with a deck. First, your contractor's: verify liability and workers' compensation coverage directly with the insurer, not from a certificate the contractor hands you. Second, your own: call your insurer before you build and ask how a new deck affects your coverage and your dwelling value. Policy terms vary by carrier and state, so only your insurer can answer that.

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Verify the contractor's insurance yourself. Ask for the insurer's name and policy number and call the insurer to confirm the policy is active and covers this type of work. A certificate PDF proves the policy existed on the day it was printed and nothing more. If a contractor resists this, walk. You are hiring someone to work at height on your property.

Tell your own insurer before you build. A deck adds structure and value — a project averaging around $14,000, and $9,000 to $20,000 for most homeowners. Whether that changes your dwelling coverage or your premium depends entirely on your policy and your state, so ask the carrier directly and get the answer in writing.

Liability follows the code items. Guards above 30 inches of grade at a 36-inch minimum height, stair handrails on four or more risers, and stair lighting exist because those are where people get hurt. Skipping them is not just a code problem; it's the kind of thing that gets examined closely after an injury.

Keep the permit and inspection records. A deck should not be used or occupied until final inspection and approval. That paperwork is the clearest evidence the structure was built and inspected properly.

How to choose

Call the insurer, not the contractor: Verify liability and workers' comp are in force today, for this scope of work.
Notify your own carrier before, not after: A $9,000 to $20,000 addition to your property is worth a phone call before the concrete goes in.
Don't accept an uninsured 'cheaper' bid: Labor at $10 to $35 per square foot is real money, and an uninsured injury on your property is much more.
Build the safety items even if nobody's watching: Guards, handrails and stair lighting are the requirements that exist because of injuries.
File the inspection approval with your policy documents: It's the record that the structure passed. Keep both together.

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FAQ

Decks insurance — common questions

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Does homeowners insurance cover a deck?

That depends entirely on your policy and your state, and only your insurer can tell you. Call them before you build and ask specifically how a new deck is treated.

How do I verify a deck contractor's insurance?

Get the insurer's name and the policy number, then call the insurer directly to confirm it's active and covers this work. Do not rely on a certificate the contractor provides.

Should I tell my insurer about a new deck?

Yes. It's a structural addition averaging around $14,000. Ask what it means for coverage and premium and get the answer in writing.

Does an unpermitted deck affect a claim?

Ask your insurer directly — it varies. What's certain is that a deck should not be used or occupied until final inspection and approval, and having that record is straightforwardly better than not having it.

Sources

Where these figures come from

Fixr — Cost to Build a Deck · retrieved 2026-07-26
American Wood Council — DCA 6 Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide · retrieved 2026-07-26