Tools & Equipment Insurance
Tools and equipment insurance (Inland Marine) for coating contractors covering airless sprayers, Graco plural-component proportioners, surface grinders, scaffolding, compressors, and other equipment against theft, accidental damage, and loss — whether at a job site, in transit, or in storage.
Why Coating Contractor Equipment Requires Dedicated Coverage
Coating contractors invest heavily in equipment — and that equipment travels to job sites, sits in vehicles and trailers overnight, and operates in environments with theft risk, accidental damage exposure, and the potential for equipment failures during critical applications. General liability does not cover your own tools and equipment. A dedicated Inland Marine / Tools & Equipment policy is the correct coverage.
Equipment Covered: What's in a Coating Contractor's Tool Inventory
Plural-Component Spray Machines: The centerpiece of a professional epoxy floor, polyurea, or 2-part polyurethane coating operation. Graco Reactor (E-XP2, E-30) and XP series proportioners range from $20,000 to $60,000 per unit. A theft or accidental damage event without insurance coverage can shut down a coating operation entirely.
Airless Sprayers: Graco, Titan, and Binks airless paint sprayers for waterborne coatings, primers, and single-component systems range from $3,000 to $15,000 each.
Concrete Grinding and Surface Preparation Equipment: Diamond cup wheels, planetary grinders, walk-behind shot blasters, and vacuum-equipped edge grinders range from $5,000 to $30,000 per unit. HEPA-rated dust extraction units add another $3,000 to $10,000.
Scaffold Systems: Ring-lock scaffold systems, outrigger scaffolds, and baker scaffolding for elevated coating work represent $5,000 to $30,000 in inventory. Scaffolding is a frequent theft target at overnight job sites.
Spray Rigs (Trailer or Truck-Mounted): For roof coating and large commercial coating operations, heated spray rigs with material agitators represent $15,000 to $40,000 in equipment value.
Coverage Types: Scheduled vs. Blanket
Scheduled Equipment: Each piece of equipment is individually listed with its own value and coverage. Best for high-value equipment like plural-component machines, large grinders, or spray rigs where you need to ensure full replacement value per item.
Blanket Limits: A single coverage limit applies to all covered tools and equipment in aggregate. More flexible — adding new equipment doesn't require policy changes, and the blanket limit is available for any combination of covered items. Many coating contractors use a combination: scheduled coverage for high-value machines and blanket coverage for the broader tool inventory.
What's Covered — and What's Not
Covered losses: theft from job sites, vehicles, trailers, and storage; accidental damage during operations, loading/unloading, and transit; vandalism; fire and certain weather events.
Not covered: mechanical breakdown, wear and tear, gradual deterioration; equipment rented from others (separate coverage required); electronic data loss.
Always insure to replacement cost — a 5-year-old Graco Reactor with a depreciated ACV of $15,000 costs $35,000 to $45,000 to replace new. Insuring at ACV leaves you significantly short in a total loss situation.
Cost Ranges for Tools & Equipment Coverage
Annual T&E premiums for coating contractors: $500 to $1,500/year for a light commercial painter with $25,000 to $75,000 in equipment; $1,000 to $3,000/year for a mid-size contractor with $75,000 to $200,000 in equipment; $2,500 to $6,000+/year for operations with $200,000 to $500,000 in total equipment value. Call 844-967-5247 for a same-day quote.
What's Covered
Frequently Asked Questions
No — GL does not cover your own tools and equipment. A separate Inland Marine / Tools & Equipment policy covers theft of your coating equipment from job sites, vehicles, trailers, and storage facilities.
A Graco Reactor or XP proportioner is covered under an Inland Marine / Tools & Equipment policy — not GL. At $20,000 to $60,000 replacement cost, these machines should be individually scheduled at replacement cost value on your T&E policy.
Scheduled coverage lists each piece of equipment with its own value and limit. Blanket coverage applies a single aggregate limit to all covered tools. Many coating contractors use scheduled coverage for high-value machines and blanket coverage for the broader tool inventory.
Most Inland Marine T&E policies cover equipment in transit, but verify with your carrier. Some policies require a specific transit endorsement for equipment on detached trailers.
Always insure at replacement cost. A Graco Reactor with a depreciated ACV of $15,000 costs $35,000 to $45,000 to replace new. Insuring at ACV leaves you significantly short in a total loss. The premium difference for replacement cost coverage is modest.
Yes — diamond cup grinders, planetary grinders, walk-behind shot blasters, and vacuum-equipped edge grinders are covered under Inland Marine / T&E policies for theft and accidental damage. High-value prep equipment should be scheduled individually at replacement cost.
T&E policies generally do not cover: mechanical breakdown or wear and tear, equipment rented from others, equipment owned by others in your care, or electronic data loss.
Yes — scaffolding is a common theft target at overnight coating job sites. Scaffold systems are covered under T&E policies for job site theft. Make sure your scaffolding inventory value is accurately reflected in your coverage limit.
Yes — accidental damage during operations is a covered cause of loss under most Inland Marine / T&E policies, including damage during loading and unloading, and accidental impacts. Mechanical breakdown from normal wear is not covered.
Annual T&E premiums range from $500 to $1,500/year for light commercial painters with $25K–$75K in equipment, $1,000 to $3,000/year for mid-size contractors with $75K–$200K in equipment, and $2,500 to $6,000+/year for full-service operations with $200K–$500K in total equipment value.
Have a list of your major equipment items with estimated replacement values. For high-value items (Graco machines, grinders, spray rigs), serial numbers are helpful. For blanket coverage, an estimated total equipment value is sufficient. Call 844-967-5247.
The trailer structure requires coverage under auto/trailer insurance. The equipment on the trailer is covered by your T&E / Inland Marine policy. For a spray rig mounted on a trailer, you need both: trailer liability/physical damage under commercial auto and T&E coverage for the spray equipment itself.
No — standard T&E policies cover equipment you own. Rented equipment requires a separate 'Rented Equipment' endorsement or a rental damage waiver from the rental company.
File a claim under your Inland Marine / T&E policy. The carrier will assess whether the damage is accidental (covered) or mechanical breakdown/wear (not covered under standard T&E). If your spray equipment is high-value, add equipment breakdown coverage alongside T&E.
Yes — equipment can be added to a scheduled T&E policy at any time. Call 844-967-5247 to add equipment to your policy when you purchase or acquire it. Under blanket T&E, new equipment is automatically covered up to the blanket limit.