Stone masonry is a craft that requires skill, strength and creativity. If you’re currently working as a stone mason, then you’ll know that it’s not a job for just anybody. Terms like ‘back-breaking’ and ‘relentless’ are commonly thrown around when describing this trade, so if you’re one of the number who has chosen to make it your profession – we salute you.
A special trade like stone masonry requires a special type of protection. Relax – you’re in the right place. Rhino Trade Insurance offer insurance for stone masons which has been expertly crafted with the specific risks you face in mind.
The purpose of Stone Masons Insurance is to protect self-employed masonry experts and master craftsmen from the huge range of risks and liabilities they face in their work. From on-site injuries to accidental damage to customer property – you need to protect yourself or your business could suffer.
Stone Masons Insurance from Rhino is not just one single policy. It’s a range of policies that are uniquely customised to you and your business, brought together in one low-cost bundle.
If you’re wondering what insurance you may need as a stone mason – wonder no longer. Just talk to Rhino. We are the award-winning industry experts in trade insurance and we have been protecting tradespeople like you for over a decade.
Here is a quick rundown of the different insurance types you may need as a stone mason.
Public Liability Insurance is the main policy you’ll need as a stone mason. Without it, you shouldn’t so much as pick up a chisel. Public Liability Insurance will protect you from third-party liability claims which can strike you at any time, on any job. These claims can be for things like injury to a customer or passer-by, and any property damage that may occur during the course of your work. Such claims are usually very costly, with payouts for compensation, legal fees and damages that can rack up to tens of thousands and sometimes even more. Most jobs will stipulate that you have Public Liability Insurance as a condition of the contract. Be sure to check the small print as most contracts require a certain minimum level of cover (e.g., £100,000) depending on the level of risk involved in the job.
For stone masons who work in construction, renovation, and restoration projects, when hazards are around every corner, Public Liability Insurance is absolutely essential.
Example: You’re working on a high-value job outside a customer’s home on an ornate set of balustrades. You drop a piece of stone and crack the marble steps. Unfortunately, on the same job, a postman trips over your tool bag as he’s posting a letter to the customer’s home, causing him to fracture a bone. In both cases, you would simply make a claim on your Public Liability Insurance. Your policy would cover the cost of replacing the marble step, plus paying out damages to cover the postman’s inconvenience and recovery.
Employer’s Liability Insurance is another absolutely essential policy – if you’ve got employees, that is. Employer’s Liability Insurance protects businesses from claims made by employees for work-related injuries or illnesses. Highlight Having Employer’s Liability Insurance is actually a legal requirement if you have staff, so it’s not something you can skimp on (unless you fancy paying a £2,500 daily fine!). Even an apprentice or a casual worker counts as staff, so don’t think you won’t need it simply because you don’t have anyone on the full-time payroll.
Example: You have brought on a temp to help you with the summer rush. You notice he didn’t bother wearing safety glasses, but thought nothing of it. Then, a piece of stone flies up and hits your man in the eye, causing him serious injury. As a result, your temp can no longer work and draw an income, plus will need surgery to repair his eye. As his employer, you find yourself liable for the costs associated. With Employer’s Liability Insurance, you can simply make a claim and allow your insurer to handle it on your behalf without you needing to put your hands in your pocket.
Your hands may be the ultimate tool, but no stone mason would be able to work without his or her trusty chisel, hammer, pointing trowel, angle grinder, stone saw and polisher. Even ancient stone masons relied on their tools – although we’re willing to bet your kit costs more!
When it comes to protecting your tools as a stone mason, keeping them secure is a no-brainer tip but you can’t always avoid tool theft, damage and loss. There’s only one way to guarantee you won’t lose out – by adding Tools & Equipment Insurance to your Stone Masons Insurance bundle.
Example: Your tool set is stolen from your locked van while it’s parked on your street overnight. They took your hand tools, power tools – everything right down to your calipers! You report it to the police but you suspect they have bigger fish to fry. Over the years you’ve amassed a tool collection worth thousands, so now you face having to replace the lot at short notice out of your own pocket. Luckily, you’re covered by Tools & Equipment Insurance so you simply put in a claim to your insurer and get the amount for the replacement of the full set in just a couple of days.
We’ll start by saying that not all stone masons will need Professional Indemnity Insurance. If you’re the kind of mason who only deals with the hands-on side of things, then you probably don’t need it. But if you do provide any kind of professional advice along with your masonry services, then it’s something you should consider. Professional Indemnity Insurance will protect you from customer claims that you have provided dodgy, faulty or incorrect advice in a professional capacity that has caused them to lose money as a result. These types of claims can occur even years down the line, so if you’re at risk of professional indemnity claims, you should always be covered by this policy.
Example: You designed a commemorative stone plaque for a customer which was to be installed into an existing wall. You assured the customer that the wall would bear its weight, but a few weeks later the whole thing collapsed. The customer is after you for the cost of rebuilding the wall and wants another plaque made free of charge. If you have Professional Indemnity Insurance, then you’re likely to get the cost of all this taken care of.
Holding self-employed status as a tradesperson means you’re vulnerable should any legal issues rear their ugly heads. Legal Expenses Insurance offers access to a UK-based Business & Legal support helpline, offering expert advice on matters including tax, employment law, health & safety, debt and much more.
Example: You completed a large job for a customer who later refuses to pay. They owe you £8,000 and you know you’re in the right. It’s going to cost you a packet to hire a solicitor to help you fight to recover the sum. With Legal Expenses Insurance, you will have access to a legal expert who will even represent you in court should it come to that.
If you’re in the stone masonry trade, you might think nothing of lugging heavy loads and shaping and trimming stones that weigh a ton. The days might fly by as you forget just how tough the job actually is and how many risks you face on a daily basis. Here’s a quick reminder:
Shifting heavy stone slabs, using power tools and being stuck by flying debris are all hazards stone masons face. Getting injured on the job is a daily risk no matter how careful you are.
In the stone masonry game there is huge potential to cause damage to customer property while you’re on the job. Whether it’s chipping a stone structure, dropping a tool on some delicate flooring or simply spilling your morning brew over your customer’s sofa – you may find yourself promising to settle the damage to save your reputation.
Working as a self-employed stone mason comes with a variety of legal risks. For example, you are vulnerable to people making claims against your business should they feel that you have harmed them, inconvenienced them or caused them to lose out financially. Without a legal team or HR department on hand, self-employed stone masons are exposed to legal risks.
So, we finally come to the good part! Having Stone Masons Insurance in place will protect you against just about every risk you face. Here’s how Rhino’s stone masonry coverage will offer you:
Stone Masons Insurance provides financial security to you as a self-employed tradesperson. Depending on the bundle of policies you select, you can protect your income should you be injured or ill, and completely cover the costs of claims and damages that your business comes up against.
Legal protection is essential for self-employed tradesmen. Without the benefit of a HR team or legal advisor via your employer, you’d be left exposed if you found yourself in legal trouble. Stone Masons Insurance can solve this issue if you add Legal Expenses Insurance to your bundle.
Simply, having adequate insurance reduces stress and worry for stone masons, allowing you to focus on your work. It’s not good for you to be constantly worrying about what’s around the corner, and with stone masonry insurance, you don’t need to.
Having the right insurance builds client trust and enhances business credibility. It also helps you reassure clients about the safety and reliability of the services you’re offering, and that if something goes wrong, you’ll be able to put it right financially.
Rhino Trade Insurance are the experts in tradesmen insurance, providing specialised coverage tailored to the needs of stone masons. At Rhino we have many years experience insuring tradespeople like you, and we have enhanced understanding of the unique risks and challenges faced by those in your trade.
We offer a whole range of policies that you can bundle together in your personalised Stone Masons Insurance, ensuring that all aspects of your business are covered. Only select the policies you need, and don’t waste money on the ones you don’t. From Public Liability to Tools and Equipment Insurance – we have everything you need all in one place.
Rhino Trade Insurance offer unbeatable pricing. As a broker, we scan the market to find the most comprehensive and best value policies, making quality coverage affordable for all stone masons. We don’t charge sneaky fees like most of our competitors. For example, there is no extra cost to spread the cost by paying monthly.
Rhino Trade Insurance are famous for our customer service, which has earned us customer feedback such as, “a pleasure to do business with”, “very good service and relatable staff who are willing to help” and “5 * Quality service with great friendly staff fast response time.” You really can’t buy compliments like that, and we are very proud of our thousands of 5-star reviews.
With perfectly crafted policies, straightforward renewals, no-nonsense claims process and simply the best customer service you’ll find anywhere, it makes sense for every self-employed stone mason in the UK to give Rhino a call today.
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