What insurance do I need to build a deck in New Brunswick?

If you are hiring a contractor to build your deck, they need commercial general liability insurance and WorkSafeNB coverage, while your existing homeowner's insurance should cover personal injury on your property during the project. Understanding both sides of the insurance equation protects you from significant financial exposure.

On the contractor side, commercial general liability insurance is the most critical policy to verify. This covers damage the contractor or their crew causes to your property during construction, as well as injuries to third parties. A reputable deck builder in New Brunswick should carry a minimum of one million dollars in general liability coverage, and many carry two million. Before any work begins, ask for a current certificate of insurance and confirm the policy is active by calling the insurer directly. Certificates can be outdated or even fabricated, so the phone call is worth the five minutes.

WorksafeNB coverage is equally important and is legally required for most construction businesses operating in the province. WorkSafeNB is New Brunswick's workplace health and safety commission, and it provides workers' compensation insurance that covers medical costs and lost wages if a worker is injured on your job site. If a contractor does not carry WorkSafeNB coverage and one of their workers is hurt building your deck, you as the homeowner could be held liable for those costs. You can verify a contractor's WorkSafeNB status by requesting their clearance letter or checking directly with WorkSafeNB. This is not optional due diligence; it is essential financial protection.

On the homeowner side, your standard homeowner's insurance policy generally covers personal injury that occurs on your property. If a visitor or passerby is injured at your home during construction, your policy's personal liability component would typically respond. However, most homeowner's policies do not cover construction defects or contractor negligence. That is why the contractor's own liability insurance exists. You should also notify your insurance provider before a major deck project begins, particularly if the deck significantly increases your home's square footage or includes elevated sections. Some insurers want to know about structural additions so they can adjust your coverage and replacement cost estimates.

If you are building the deck yourself as a DIY project, the insurance picture changes. Your homeowner's policy generally does not cover injuries to people you hire informally to help, nor does it cover construction defects. If you hire day labourers without WorkSafeNB coverage and someone is injured, you bear the full financial risk. This is one of the under-appreciated advantages of hiring a properly insured professional deck builder.

For the deck itself, once it is complete, your homeowner's insurance should cover it as part of your dwelling or as an attached structure. Contact your insurer after completion to update your policy with the new value. A well-built deck adds real value to your home, and you want that value reflected in your coverage in case of fire, storm damage, or other covered events.

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