Welding and insurance wtf

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So just spent a better part of my day calling and trying to get quotes for my business insurance and found a few companies pretty said get stuffed as soon as I mentioned anything to do with welding!!!   Right now all I really do is small stuff like Alu sled decks and armor on 4x4s I've done a couple off site repairs and installs. Who do guys get you insurance through I'm in canada ???? And what general prices are you paying?
Reply:Are you talking to agents or a broker? A broker usually has several different companies that they can work with vs an agent who just deals with one company.Also what you tell the insurance guy can effect whether they want to cover you or not. Certain key words can increase your risk. "Fabrication" I know is one example vs "assembly". It may seem like a meaningless difference to you, but to an insurance guy "fabrication" can imply design as well as assembly, and it's the design aspect that can increase you risk. I know in my general construction liability policy, my broker pointed out certain words I should never use with my insurance company. Painting is one of them, I guess because they are scared I may get involved with removal of old lead paint and increase my risk. Roofs and scaffolding are two other no no's. I can work off a 40' extension ladder and they have no issues, but saying I use scaffolding ( even if it's only one buck) increases my risk and raises my rates.It's in the brokers best interest to find you the coverage that fits you best. He'll want to make sure you are covered for what you do, and don't have wasted coverage for things you don't do. He may also tell you what areas to watch out for. A small job 2 or 3 times a year, may not warrant you getting coverage if the costs exceed the cost of the job. Even though you are qualified to do the work, it may make more financial sense to walk away or hire someone else to do that part. I've got plenty of years experience running heavy equipment and doing basement footings and walls, but I don't do enough work to justify carrying the coverage I'd need to do that work all the time. If I feel I can make money doing one job, I can always talk to my broker about adding that coverage when needed and save me the cost when I'm not going to be doing that sort of stuff..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:This may sound dumb to large business guys, but at one point my insurance broker dude insured me under handyman service. I was doing anything and everything to make money, metal, wood, etc. (I still do all that stuff and currently have no insurance)He was the only guy in town who was able to get me insurance at all. But since he got insurance for bars that got sued, I knew he was my guy Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:What about just getting bonded? Would that help cover your a**?Hobart 125 EZHobart Handler 140Everlast STH 160Generic 210 Amp Welder/GeneratorHobart Air Force 500i plasma cutterChinese 50 amp plasma cutter! Youtube Channel : Henrymac100
Reply:Bonding is not the same.A bonding company basically says you will complete the job or the bonding company will step in and hire someone who will.  Its insurance for your customer.  This would cover things like if you got killed in a car accident - who would finish the project?If a state requires you to be licensed, sometimes that license requires a certain level of bonding.   I know in Maryland if a contractor gives a 25 year warranty on a roof, and then goes out of business in say, 10 years... the state will cover the warranty - at least in theory.So "licensed, bonded and insured" - not necessarily in that order.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:I would keep digging like DSW mentioned find a broker to help and I would also suggest putting yourself in a LLC of some kind. If things go bad at least you wont loose everything.. Ask a lot of questions research it very well. I weld and fabricate a lot in the motorsports world and have all customers sign a wavier form when done with a job. I visited with a lawyer as well that maybe another option for you to ck into?Miller 250DX HTP 221 DV AC/DCHenrob O-A Miller 180 MigMiller 150 Inverter   Hobart 10,000 Welder-Generator   Have a good day!!!
Reply:I've had brokers looking as well, about the cheapest I can find so far is $3500 a year.  A lot of it has to do with what you do though I think, I've had to fill out questionaires to get quotes and and just about every welding scenario they can think of they ask you about, are you going to be welding in factories, are you welding construction equipment, will you be welding railings, structural, will you be welding with a duck on your head, etc, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by Antibling?....will you be welding with a duck on your head, etc, etc.
Reply:Yeah, I have had a few insurance agents feeling around in recent years wanting to insure shop building, car ,trucks, house but when I throw the welding business insurance in there they all back away never to be heard from again. would think 40 trouble free years would be worth something.
Reply:As far as Home Owners Insurance, don't mention to your Insurance Agent/Broker that you have "Welding Equipment" in your garage at your house. Most Home Owners policies don't like that because of the increased Fire risk. Like the "big Dog" disclaimer on some policies. You are allowed to have a dog under the standard policy as long as he fits into a certain criteria....Shepards, Labs, Dobermans and Pit Bulls are usually No,No's. Even my Siberian Huskies are considered No,No's as they are physically large and intimidating.
Reply:Originally Posted by drujininAs far as Home Owners Insurance, don't mention to your Insurance Agent/Broker that you have "Welding Equipment" in your garage at your house. Most Home Owners policies don't like that because of the increased Fire risk.
Reply:Quack, Quack!!!! Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveHere, in case you do weld with a duck....
Reply:I didn't know Jimmy Durante was a welder!!! Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveHere, in case you do weld with a duck....
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveI tend to disagree - you may be right, but it's better to be honestly covered vs having stuff you did not disclose that causes a claim issue later.  Specifically, burning down your shop while welding and grinding.  Farmer down the road did that but his welding gear and building were covered.As has been noted elsewhere on this site, expensive equip may need to be separately listed as well.
Reply:I was looking at switching house insurance and was trying to get more coverage for my detached shop  I have some coverage right now with the current one. Yeah I was being honest with the insurance places might as we'll be cause if you get caught under insured or have your policy cancelled is not my idea of a fun situation