Tradesman: Artexers Insurance

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Artexers Business Insurance

Tradesman insurance is designed to meet the insurance needs of self employed artex workers.

Love it or hate it, Artex, the textured decorative coating for ceilings and walls has never really gone out of fashion despite its bad press and the difficulty with matching repair work. The product is still in demand for domestic and commercial premises and so are skilled workers.

As well as applying new Artex, skimming over old Artex-type plasters can be a big part of an Artexers trade.

Asbestos

Other customers want its complete removal, even though The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advise that any asbestos containing materials should be left in place.

Artex attracted a lot of negative publicity due to the fact that white asbestos was added to the coating until it was banned in 1984. Despite the ban, some manufacturers appear to have continued using it until as recently as 1999.

After a lot of pressure from insurers, the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 were revised and now Artexers working with coatings containing asbestos no longer need to be licensed, so insurance is a lot easier to obtain.

General contractors can now carry out the work - previously you had to be licensed - but you must have asbestos training to do it safely.

If you don't have training and you carry out Artex removal, you could void your insurance cover.

The Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) represents asbestos removal contractors and associated asbestos businesses in the UK. They also provide training. You can download guidelines for working with asbestos-containing decorative coatings from their website: arca.org.uk.

Public Liability Insurance

Insurance for causing unintentional damage or injury to others, e.g. You could inadvertently expose customers to deadly asbestos fibres or damage a customer's home - possibly causing the ceiling to collapse or damaging an expensive ceiling decoration or coving

You have a legal duty towards the public to protect them from injury or wrongful acts, either deliberate or as a result of negligence and you can be made legally responsible for injury or damage to property.

Public liability insurance covers you against claims made against you by the general public and it is designed to meet legal liabilities such as paying damages for death, injury or damage to property, and for legal costs if you are at fault.

Without public liability insurance defending a claim can be difficult, expensive, worrisome and time consuming.

A valid policy in itself may also deter false claims against you.

PLI will not usually cover claims for negligent advice, a separate professional indemnity policy is required. Nor does it cover wilful acts of damage/harm.

Tradesman quotes typically specify £1 million, £2 million, £4 million, £5 million or £10 million (local government contracts).

Employers Liability Insurance

If you have an employee, even a casual labourer, then employers liability insurance is a legal requirement.

• Employers liability insurance is there to meet compensation costs and legal fees for employees who are injured or made ill at work (such as by asbestos) if the fault of the employer
• The legal minimum is currently (2007) £5 million
• Ensure your policy covers all relevant business activities when you take it out

Product Liability Insurance

Any product you supply must be "fit for purpose". If it isn't and someone suffers injury, illness, loss or damage as a result of it not being so, then you could be held legally liable.

The Cost

Average costs of artexer's cover depends on turnover, employees, training, prior clims, location, etc. so the best way to compare and find the cheapest, most relevant quote is to

Tradesman Insurance

Tradesman insurance is designed to group relevant cover to make the best insurance package to meet your needs.

Because artexers's work is physically demanding, involves potentially dangerous materials and occasionally at height the package is designed to recognise these risks.