A job that changes every week
A general builder might dig footings on Monday, lay blocks on Wednesday and fit joists by Friday. That variety is the appeal, but it means exposure to almost every hazard on site: lifting, working at height, cutting tools, mixers, dust and the weather. Strains and sprains are common, and so are hand injuries.
Long term, years of heavy lifting and vibrating tools can lead to joint wear, back problems and hand-arm vibration. Insurers know that a builder in their fifties is often still carrying blocks, and they price that in.
When the builder is the business
Many builders are sole traders or run a small limited company with a couple of lads and a van. If you are the one winning work, ordering materials and getting the job finished, an injury can stall the whole operation. Customers wait, deposits get spent and labour costs carry on.
Personal income protection replaces part of your own earnings. If you run a limited company, the company can sometimes pay for executive income protection instead, and business expenses cover can help with overheads. These are different products, so it pays to think about which gap matters most.
- Sole trader: cover based on your profits from your tax returns
- Limited company director: salary and dividends can both count
- Employing others: think about wages and rent during time off
- Partnerships: each partner can hold their own policy
Heavy manual rating, explained
Insurers sort occupations into classes from office work at one end to heavy manual work at the other. General building usually falls towards the heavier end. That raises the premium and may mean the insurer will only pay if you cannot do any suitable work, or cannot carry out certain everyday work tasks, rather than if you cannot do your own job.
If you now spend most of your time pricing jobs, managing site and dealing with clients, tell us. Some insurers rate supervisory builders more like site managers, which can open up better terms. A short-term policy that pays for a year or two per claim is another way to keep the cost sensible.
Life insurance and critical illness
Life insurance pays out if you die during the term. Builders with a mortgage often choose cover that matches the loan, and parents may add extra to replace income for the family. Your job is asked about, but for most builders it makes little difference to life cover.
Critical illness cover pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a listed serious condition. It can sit alongside income protection, giving you money to clear debts while the monthly income keeps the bills paid.
How Hi Tomorrow helps builders
We find out what you actually do on a typical day, how you are paid and what your business costs. Then we compare insurers on our panel to find the best rating and definition we can for your mix of site and office work.
We talk you through the options for sole traders and for company directors, and we help with the application. If the firm has a second owner or a business loan, we can also show you how business protection fits around your personal cover. If you claim, we can help you through the process.