The works
- Fire, storm and water
- Theft of materials
- Inherent defect and design fault
- Vandalism on the building site
Construction all risks (CAR) insurance for bricklayers
For the first few days fresh brickwork stands in the wind under its own strength, and around that facade is scaffolding full of material that can come down.
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Work out for yourself what it would cost.
Enter your details; you will receive a proposal within one working day.
- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your activities
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
- Independent advice
- Several insurers
- Switching arranged
- Help with claims
In brief
Two things characterise bricklaying in insurance terms. The first is that your work only gains its strength after days: a gable or free-standing wall not yet tied in can blow over in the wind. That is damage to the works itself under section 1, plus everything that was standing below it.
The second is the height at which you work. Bricks, mortar tubs, tools and scaffolding parts falling from staging cause damage to third parties' property and injury to people. That is liability under section 2, with Article 6:162 of the Dutch Civil Code as the basis. If your own staff are injured, it is specifically not a CAR claim but employers' liability under Article 7:658 of the Dutch Civil Code.
On top of that, the scaffolding is usually not yours. Hired plant, or plant erected by a scaffolding firm, is property in your charge and does not automatically fall under the sum insured for the works. If you work on an existing facade, the existing property section also comes into play; see also the page about renovation work.
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What does CAR insurance for bricklayers cover?
The structure of the cover in three parts, with an overview per situation below.
Liability
Damage to property and persons of third parties on and around the works.
- Adjoining premises
- Injury to bystanders
- Cables and pipes
Extensions
What comes into play alongside the works themselves.
- Client's existing property
- Ancillary plant and site huts
- Maintenance period
What is covered
| Situation | Works section | Liability section |
|---|---|---|
| Storm or water damage to the works in progress | Yes | No |
| Theft of materials from the building site | Sometimes | No |
| Damage to an adjoining building | No | Yes |
| Injury to a bystander | No | Yes |
| The client's existing property | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Repair of your own defective work | No | No |
This overview is general in nature and is not personal advice. What is actually covered, including exclusions, limits and the excess, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) of the insurer; you receive both before you take out cover. Taking out cover without advice? Then read what execution only means for you.
What does your premium depend on?
- Turnover from bricklaying and pointing. The annual output or the contract sum per works forms the basis of the calculation.
- Building height. The higher you build, the more serious the consequences of falling material and of unstable brickwork.
- Own or hired scaffolding. Plant from a hire company is in your charge and calls for a separate agreement on value and liability.
- New build or existing facade. Working on an existing building calls for the existing property section. On new build it barely arises.
- Position in relation to public space. Bricklaying alongside a pavement or car park gives far more chance of damage to third parties than a closed site.
- Storage and security on the works. Pallets of bricks, mortar silos and tools on an unsecured site count towards theft and vandalism.
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
How we arrange it
- You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, your risk and your wishes.
- We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
- You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
- We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
Why arrange it through Finass Verzekert?
We look at the terms as well as the premium, and stay your point of contact when there is a claim.
Independent
We are not tied to one insurer and compare on the basis of an objective analysis of several companies.
One fixed adviser
You call or email someone who knows your file. No menu options, no changing call centres.
Switching without hassle
We cancel your old policy and align the start date, so you are never a day without cover.
Help with claims
We report the claim and monitor how it is handled. In urgent cases you can reach us on the emergency line.
9.5New policy
9.8Claims handling
Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
Where things go wrong in practice
Four points that make the difference between a policy that pays out and one that does not.
Free-standing brickwork has to be propped
A facade not yet tied to floors or anchors catches the wind like a sail. Where a gust has been forecast, blowing over is not an unforeseen event but a predictable consequence of not propping. Insurers ask about the temporary anchoring, the free height and whether the work was braced in time. Record for each facade how you did that. In a storm that is the difference between a payout and an argument.
What falls from the scaffolding is liability
Toe boards, netting, a fenced-off zone below the working platform and a designated walking route are health and safety requirements, but on a claim they determine whether you met your duty of care. A brick landing on a parked car is property damage; the same brick on a passer-by is injury and immediately the heaviest claim in this trade. Clear the working platform before you climb down at the end of the day.
The scaffolding usually belongs to someone else
Hired staging only falls under the policy if ancillary plant has been insured separately, and you also have it in your care, custody and control. If the scaffolding is erected by a third party, leave the inspection tag in place and change nothing yourself; a diagonal you remove makes you liable for what happens afterwards. Theft of scaffolding parts from an unattended site is usually only paid for after forced entry.
Mortar splashes are not damage but finishing
Cement haze and splashes on frames, sills and glazing are part of the job; cleaning them off is finishing your own work and not an insured event. That only changes where irreparable damage occurs and glazing or natural stone has to be replaced. So mask up before you start: those few rolls of sheeting are cheaper than the excess you would otherwise pay.
Existing property is the most commonly missed section
If you work in or on an existing building, that building is not your works but the property of the client. Damage to it does not fall under section 1 and, on your AVB, falls under the care, custody and control exclusion. The section existing property fills that gap, and with conversions, renovations and installation work that is not an edge case but the core of the risk.
The maintenance period continues after handover
After handover there is often a maintenance period during which you remain liable for defects that arose during construction. Agree that period explicitly and have it stated on the policy. Under the Wet kwaliteitsborging (the Dutch Building Quality Assurance Act) this carries more weight: Article 7:758(4) of the Dutch Civil Code places the burden of proof for hidden defects on the contractor.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
A gable has blown over. Will that be paid for?
That depends on what you did beforehand. If the wind came unexpectedly and you had braced the brickwork in the usual way, it is a sudden event and you report it as damage to the works. If a storm was forecast and the facade stood free and unpropped, the insurer will argue that the consequence was foreseeable and the bill stays with you.
A brick has fallen on a parked car.
That is liability for damage to third-party property and runs through section 2. Expect the question of how the zone below the working platform was fenced off and whether netting and toe boards were in place. Report it straight away, even for a small dent. A car owner who turns up weeks later with a damage report costs you considerably more in evidence than a report on the day itself.
I hire the scaffolding. Is it insured?
Only if ancillary plant appears on the policy as a separate section, and even then it counts as property in your care, custody and control. Ask the hire company what value it charges for loss or damage and whether it has insured the plant itself. Never alter anything about the erection yourself; by doing so you take over the liability from the party that inspected the staging.
Should I claim for cleaning soiled window frames?
Usually there is no point. Removing mortar splashes and cement haze is part of handing over your own work properly and does not count as sudden damage. Only when glazing or natural stone is permanently damaged and has to be replaced does it become damage to the client's property. Masking up beforehand is considerably cheaper than that argument.
Every situation is different. For these situations we have a separate page.
- Compare construction all risks (CAR) insuranceThe main page
- Construction all risks (CAR) insurance for roofersOpen roof, hot work, rainfall
- Construction all risks (CAR) insurance for concrete constructionFormwork, curing time, pouring
- Construction all risks (CAR) insurance for paintersSplash damage, existing finishes, fire risk
- Construction all risks (CAR) insurance for plasterersDamp, existing finishes, drying time
- Construction all risks (CAR) insurance for carpentry firmsStructure, bespoke work, storage on site
- Construction all risks (CAR) insurance for renovationExisting buildings, asbestos, occupied condition
- Construction all risks (CAR) insurance for contractorsMain contractor, subcontractors, coordination
- Construction all risks (CAR) insurance for extensions and additionsExisting facade, opening up, weatherproofing
Ready to compare?
Request a quote without obligation. We will look at which insurer best matches your activities and your risk.
Prefer to call? 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 09:00–17:00.
Claim on the road? Emergency line 06 - 55 20 40 72.
About our service
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
You will find our licence, KvK and Kifid details and our complaints procedure at the foot of every page.
This page was compiled by Finass Verzekert (LinkedIn). Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.