Why do plasterers need insurance?
Keeping people safe
Plastering is demanding, but smoothing walls isn’t the only challenge – another contractor or a member of the public could be injured through contact with your work.
When a third party is injured after stepping on your sharp trowel, they may decide to bring a claim against you, costing time, money and possibly your reputation.
Here, public liability insurance can provide cover for self-employed and employee plasterers, to tackle claims and expenses. So, you can continue with your day-to-day.
Employee illness
It’s not just members of the public you need to worry about. Your employees can also be injured on site or develop an occupational illness.
You operate alone, and things are going well, but an out-of-the-blue call from an ex-plasterer employee changes things. When they say they have chronic asthma due to dust exposure, you’re facing costly court action.
Hiscox liability insurance can cover plasterers for legal expenses and help you meet compensation demands.
Protect your tools
Sometimes, problems can strike completely out of the blue. You might be unloading a jointing compound from your van when thieves target your electric mixer, blades and trowels.
Plastering is a skilled trade that relies on expensive specialist equipment. If you don’t have access to the tools you need, work stops – and that means deadlines are pushed back.
Plasterers can tailor their insurance policy to include tools cover, which can help with the costs of repairs or replacements and get you back on track.
What insurance is available for plasterers?
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance offers protection for plasterers if a member of the public claims they’ve been injured or their property was damaged because of your actions – or those of an employee.
This cover can deliver support for plasterers by helping with any compensation costs. It gives you reassurance that your plastering business is protected financially if an accident should happen, so you can focus on that flush finish.
Employers' liability insurance
Employers’ liability insurance is generally required under UK law (external link) if you employ anyone. Plasterers need EL insurance like any other trade or profession, even if they employ contract, casual or seasonal staff.
Employers’ liability insurance protects business owners in the event an employee is injured or falls ill through their work and decides to sue. You could be ordered to pay compensation if they do take legal action – insurance offers help with this.
Portable equipment insurance
Yours is the kind of job where people trust you to turn up and get on with the task at hand. That’s the way you like to work too but, if you find yourself without your key equipment, everything stops.
Portable equipment insurance can cover a plasterer’s kit against loss, theft or damage – including electrical equipment such as laptops and phones. It’s there to help you get equipment repaired or replaced as quickly as possible.
If you’re a plasterer who provides design and consultancy services you may also consider professional indemnity insurance. Another cover plasterers may opt for is legal protection insurance.
Tell us a little more about what you do, and we’ll explore your insurance needs.
Build my coverInsurance for plasterers: FAQs
What insurance do I need as a self-employed plasterer?
Trading alone gives plasterers the freedom to take on all kinds of jobs, but it could also mean you need certain insurance products to account for the responsibility you take on.
Public liability insurance could be important for self-employed plasterers, due to the hazards that can come with using tools near clients and passers-by. You might also have a need for tools insurance if you’d struggle to pay for repairs and replacements without it.
Explore all the types of business insurance we offer the self-employed.
How much is insurance for plasterers?
How much a plasterer can expect to pay for insurance depends on the type and amount of cover you buy. If you add several types of business insurance to your policy, then the cost may be higher. But it’s good to know that, with Hiscox, costs start at £8.40 per month*.
Policy limits also make a difference – and the size and nature of your plastering business will shape how much cover you need. For instance, if you run a large firm that employs dozens of plasterers in multiple locations, your public liability risk profile might be higher.
*Figures based on an average of all business insurance policies sold to at least 10% of our customer base between February 2024 and February 2025
What risks could public liability insurance for plasterers cover?
Public liability insurance could help a plasterer if they accidentally hurt a homeowner or business customer during their work. If a ladder falls over or they drop a heavy tool, for example. It may also come into play if a dust sheet fails to protect furniture or carpets from serious harm.
Specialise in big commercial jobs? PL cover could also deal with claims from the public that you failed to take proper care in a busy environment.
Related articles and guides
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Are you thinking of using your plastering skills for other types of work? Discover how to become a handyman with this step-by-step guide.
What business insurance does a sole trader need?
Working as a sole trader is a unique arrangement which comes with responsibility. Learn about sole trader business insurance needs with our FAQ guide.
Employers’ liability coverage explained
Find out what employers’ liability insurance covers, from compensation pay-outs to legal fees, and how your policy limit affects a plasterer’s coverage.