COI requirements by trade / Drywall and interior finishes
Drywall and interior finishes COI requirements
Drywall and finish crews are often large, fast-moving, and heavily subcontracted. Most of the risk is in labor: injuries, uninsured crews, and audit surprises.
What makes drywall and interior finishes risky
- Injuries from lifts, stilts, and scaffolds.
- Uninsured lower-tier crews.
- Damage to finished work from other trades or water.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is common. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability. The most important item for this trade. |
| Commercial auto | $1M combined single limit. |
| Umbrella / excess | Sometimes required on larger commercial jobs. |
On top of the coverage itself, most contracts also require additional insured status for you (and the owner, where applicable), a waiver of subrogation, and primary and noncontributory wording. Those come from endorsements, so ask for copies.
Red flags on drywall and interior finishes certificates
- Workers' comp that covers only the owner, or a ghost policy with no payroll.
- Lower-tier crews on site with no certificates.
- An insured name that's a labor broker rather than the company you contracted with.
Tip
Uninsured subs can show up on your own workers' comp audit as payroll you owe premium on. Collecting a valid COI from every drywall sub is how you avoid that charge.
Review checklist
- Insured name matches the company on your contract.
- Every coverage above that your contract requires is listed.
- Each limit meets your minimum.
- No policy expires before the job ends. Track each expiration date separately.
- ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD are marked, with endorsements on file.
- You've asked the agent about any drywall and interior finishes exclusions that matter.
New to reading certificates? Start with how to read an ACORD 25, grab the free COI checklist, or log dates in the free expiration tracker.
Common questions
What insurance should a drywall and interior finishes subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto, and umbrella / excess. Your contracts and broker set the actual minimums.
Are these limits required by law?
Generally no. Insurance requirements for subcontractors and vendors are set by your contracts, your own insurer, and any owner, lender, or public agency on the job. Workers' compensation requirements are set by state law. The figures here describe common practice only.
Does the ACORD 25 show exclusions?
Usually not. A certificate summarizes policy types, limits, and dates. Exclusions like height limits, residential work, or pollution are in the policy itself, so ask the agent directly when they matter for the trade.
Who should issue the certificate?
Ask the sub's insurance agent or broker to issue it, not the sub. Agents issue certificates daily and can send the endorsements at the same time.
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