Building Supply & Lumberyard Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a building supply & lumberyard business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for building supply stores and home centers serving the public and walk-in contractors. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual store and services.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Liability (incl. Products) | Covers shopper injuries from falling stock, carts, and products you sell. | Core | |
| Business Property / Inventory | Covers the store, racking, and inventory at seasonal peak value. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability | Covers staff, including forklift and saw operators. | Core | |
| Crime / Theft | Covers burglary, robbery, and organized retail theft losses. | Prevalent | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers delivery trucks; rental trucks need separate review. | Prevalent | |
| Rental Equipment / Lessor Liability | Covers tools and trucks rented to customers. | Situational | |
| Business Income | Replaces income after a fire or forced closure. | Prevalent | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits for serious falling-merchandise injuries. | Prevalent | |
| Vendor / Importer Products Coverage | Needed if you import or sell your own brand. | Situational | |
| Equipment Breakdown | Covers forklifts, saws, paint machines, and HVAC. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by building supply stores is the shopper in the aisle. Overhead racking, forklifts, and customers loading their own lumber put the public next to heavy stock — a Georgia jury awarded $1.5 million after plywood fell from a forklift onto a shopper. Limits written for a typical store may not be enough. Carry an umbrella sized to your foot traffic, close aisles during forklift work, and review rental and theft exposures separately.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your building supply & lumberyard coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Building Supply & Lumberyard Insurance · Building Supply & Lumberyard Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a building supply & lumberyard business need?
The core coverages for a building supply & lumberyard business are General Liability (incl. Products), Business Property / Inventory, Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my building supply & lumberyard coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.