What insurance should a painting contractor carry when working on my home in New Brunswick?

At minimum, any painting contractor you hire in New Brunswick should carry commercial general liability (CGL) insurance — ideally million in coverage — and should be able to show you a current certificate of insurance before starting work. For exterior work involving ladders and scaffolding, WorkSafeNB coverage is also strongly recommended, and for larger projects, verify both.

Commercial general liability insurance protects you, the homeowner, if the painter accidentally damages your property or a third party is injured during the work. Think about what can go wrong: a drop cloth slips and a paint spill damages your hardwood floors, a ladder falls and breaks a window, or a contractor trips over equipment and injures themselves on your property. Without liability insurance, the cost of those incidents lands on you. A million CGL policy is the standard in the Canadian residential painting trade — some contractors carry million, which may be acceptable for smaller interior projects, but million is the more prudent standard for exterior work or larger whole-home projects.

WorkSafeNB coverage is the New Brunswick equivalent of workers' compensation. If a painter is injured on your property and does not carry WorkSafeNB coverage, you as the homeowner could potentially be held liable for their medical costs and lost wages under provincial workplace health and safety law. This is especially relevant for exterior painting involving ladders and scaffolding, where fall injuries are a real risk. Ask your painter directly: "Do you carry WorkSafeNB coverage for your crew?" A reputable contractor will have no hesitation answering yes and showing their clearance letter.

What to actually ask and verify:

Request a certificate of insurance directly from the contractor's insurance broker — not just a verbal assurance. The certificate should show the policy is current (check the expiry date), the coverage amount, and list your project address. For WorkSafeNB, you can verify coverage online through the WorkSafeNB website by requesting a clearance letter in the contractor's name.

Also consider whether the contractor is a sole proprietor working alone versus a company with employees. A solo painter who is the sole worker on your project has slightly different insurance considerations than a crew of three or four. Either way, liability insurance is non-negotiable.

New Brunswick Painting is a free matching service — we recommend homeowners verify insurance and WorkSafeNB coverage independently for every contractor they hire. For any painting project, get at least three quotes and ask each contractor for their proof of insurance as part of the quoting process. Any reputable painter will provide this without hesitation. Browse verified painting contractors through the New Brunswick Construction Network at newbrunswickconstructionnetwork.com/directory?trade=painting.

---

Find a Painting Contractor

New Brunswick Painting helps you find local painting professionals through the New Brunswick Construction Network:

• Expressions Painting ✓
• Loves Painting Ltd. ✓
• Worry No More Handyman Service ✓
• Worry No More Handyman Services ✓