Concreter Insurance
Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Canberra

Concreting businesses should explain the type of work performed, including paths, driveways, slabs, suspended work, decorative finishes and repairs. State whether the business undertakes excavation, reinforcement, formwork, pumping or design responsibilities. A ground level driveway differs from work above other structures or close to occupied premises. Include subcontracted pumps and earthworks in the description. Wet concrete, moving vehicles, hoses and unfinished surfaces create risks during the job, while cracking, levels, drainage and finish can become issues after completion. These different allegations should be considered separately in the insurance discussion.

Materials and site conditions are central to the operation. Explain who supplies the concrete, who specifies the mix and who confirms site preparation. Identify machinery, finishing equipment and tools carried between jobs, including hired items. Damage caused by concrete splash to nearby property differs from the cost of removing and replacing an unsatisfactory pour. Public liability should not be assumed to fund correction of all defective work. Ask how contract works, tools and plant cover may relate to the projects undertaken, particularly when another contractor says the overall construction project is already insured.

Retain plans, levels, mix specifications, delivery dockets and the customer’s approved finish. Record variations concerning thickness, reinforcement, access or drainage before pouring where practical. Photographs of preparation and reinforcement can be useful once those details are concealed. Keep information about the weather, timing and curing instructions relevant to the job. If the design is supplied by a builder or engineer, document the boundary between that design and your workmanship. The records should help explain what was specified and delivered, rather than make an unsupported assumption about the cause of later cracking or surface problems.

Review contracts for responsibility for site preparation, pumps, formwork, protection and damage caused by other trades. Ask about property being worked on, underground services, vibration and any conditions relating to specific operations. A promise to meet a program or pay broad delay costs may exceed the liability covered by the policy. Confirm whether supplied materials and incomplete work are included under any project insurance arranged by a principal. For machinery and hired equipment, check ownership, agreed values and hire contract liabilities. The presence of cover for accidental damage does not necessarily mean mechanical breakdown or wear is included.

If a pour causes injury or damage, secure the area and record the task, equipment and people involved. Photograph affected property and retain concrete delivery information. When a customer later disputes levels, strength or finish, retrieve the specification and stage photographs before discussing extensive removal. An assessment may need to distinguish design, ground movement, material supply, placement and later use. Notify the broker of allegations that may require a claim response and seek guidance about inspections or rectification. Agreeing to replace the entire job does not establish that the insurer will reimburse the cost.

At renewal, review the types, sizes and locations of pours now undertaken. Moving into structural slabs, larger commercial work or decorative systems can change the exposure. Update plant, tools and the value of materials or work in progress at one site. Consider how a key machine failure or loss of access to a yard would affect scheduled pours, while checking which interruption events are actually insured. Review complaints for recurring uncertainty about finish expectations or scope changes. A current insurance description and a concise pour record provide a stronger basis for handling both accidental damage and later questions about completed work. That record is especially useful where several trades work around the finished concrete.