Woodworking Insurance — Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc.
Overview of the Program
Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc. offers a dedicated Woodworking Insurance program for agents placing coverage for cabinetmakers, furniture manufacturers, window and door shops, millwork operations and related woodworking contractors. This program provides both property and liability solutions on a mono-line or package basis and can be placed through admitted markets where available or on an excess & surplus basis as needed.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
This program works well for small- to mid-sized woodworking and millwork operations that perform design/build, installation and manufacturing for residential and light commercial clients. Typical accounts include:
- Custom cabinet shops and furniture makers
- Window and door fabricators and installers
- Millwork shops producing trim, moulding and architectural components
- Contractors who both manufacture and install finished goods
The program is geared toward operations with standard woodworking exposures (saws, routers, finishing operations, assembly) and reasonable loss histories. It is generally not intended for heavy industrial wood product manufacturers, high-hazard specialty processes, or accounts with frequent/large recent losses.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
Underwriters provide flexible options to match the account’s exposures. Key highlights include:
- Commercial General Liability — Primary limits available up to $3,000,000 occurrence/aggregate
- Hired and Non-Owned Auto coverage available
- Medical Payments coverage with a $5,000 limit included
- Additional interests can be named
- Excess/Umbrella limits up to $25,000,000
- Property coverage options: Basic, Broad, or Special form; building, contents, business income
- Specialized property add-ons: Bailees’ Customer, Contractors’ Equipment, Installation Floater, Accounts Receivable, Valuable Papers
- Equipment Breakdown and Outside Signs available
- Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value valuation
- Crime coverage options: inside the premises (theft of money and securities), inside premises robbery or safe burglary of other property, and outside the premises
- Minimum $500 deductible required
Underwriting Notes and Typical Submission Requirements
Colonial General’s underwriting team evaluates operations by process, revenue mix, and controls. Common factors they consider include finishing operations (spray booths), dust collection and housekeeping, flammable solvent storage, installation exposures, and bailee/customer exposures.
To accelerate review, provide a clear description of operations, years in business, estimated annual receipts or payroll, and recent loss history. Underwriters commonly request a completed application and loss runs; they may also ask for photos of the workspace and protection details for facilities using spray finishes or large finishing systems.
Territories and Admitted Status
This program is available in: AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT, WY. Colonial General places coverage through multiple markets — admitted where offered and excess & surplus lines where necessary. The admitted status varies by state and by carrier ("Some Available Markets").
Why Place Woodworking Business Through Colonial General?
- Specialized focus — underwriting that understands woodworking operations and the common loss drivers for small and mid-size shops.
- Flexible placement — access to a range of admitted and E&S markets and ability to package property and liability with ancillary coverages like bailee and installation floaters.
- Competitive limit options — higher primary limits and significant umbrella capacity for contractors who need broader protection.
- Responsive underwriting — practical risk mitigation guidance and tailored terms for accounts with standard controls.
Example Accounts
You might have a client who operates a local cabinet shop with light installation services and modest annual receipts — this program can provide packaged property and liability with bailee coverage for customer goods. Or you could place a larger regional millwork shop that needs higher liability limits, an installation floater and contractors’ equipment coverage while protecting customer property with bailee’s coverage.
For submission help or to confirm market availability in a specific state, contact Colonial General’s underwriting desk through your regular wholesale channels. Colonial General acts as a Managing General Agency and Excess & Surplus Lines Broker with multiple carrier relationships.