# Insurance for tilers, floor layers and screed layers in Germany

> Tilers drill into walls full of pipes, cut natural stone for five-figure bathrooms and waterproof showers whose faults only the neighbours notice. Add knees, dust and heavy materials. This page explains what your business should insure and what premiums to expect.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-tiler.php  
Updated: 2026-09-18

## Who pays if my shower waterproofing starts leaking after a year?

The new waterproofing and new tiles in the bathroom are your remedial work and not insured. Your public liability policy pays for the water damage in the wall, the screed and the flat below. Whether removing and replacing the intact tiles is also paid depends on whether access and reinstatement costs are included. That is exactly the clause you should check.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** No statutory insurance duty; developers and main contractors regularly ask for proof of liability cover, though
- **Biggest risk:** Water damage from waterproofing faults and from drilling into pipes or underfloor heating
- **Basic cover from:** about €210 a year for the public liability of a small business
- **Statutory accident insurer:** BG BAU, the Berufsgenossenschaft for the construction industry; membership is compulsory from your first employee
- **Often forgotten:** Access and reinstatement costs: to reach a leak you often have to knock off half the bathroom
- **WZ 2025 / NACE:** 43.33 Fußboden-, Fliesen- und Plattenlegerei, Tapeziererei

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Leaking showers:** Faults in the waterproofing layer often only show after months, when it drips into the flat below. By then the screed is soaked.
- **Drilled pipes:** A plug hole for the towel rail hits the water pipe, a cut in the screed hits the underfloor heating.
- **Expensive materials:** Large-format porcelain slabs and natural stone break in transport or while being laid. Materials stored at the customer's home also get stolen.
- **Dust through the whole house:** Cutting and grinding spreads fine dust through ventilation and door gaps. Cleaning furniture and electronics can become expensive.
- **Knees and lungs:** Kneeling work and silica dust take their toll. Meniscus damage and respiratory diseases are recognised occupational diseases in the tiling trade.
- **Trip hazards:** Edges, cables and wet floors: residents or other tradespeople fall on your site.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 4, Fire and water 2, Theft 3, Cyber 1, Downtime 2, Health 4

## The insurance you need

- **Business liability** (Essential): Pays for water and pipe damage, falls by third parties and damage to customers' property, including access and reinstatement costs. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Cargo insurance** (Strongly advised): Covers wet saws, grouting machines and tiles in the van and on site against theft and breakage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cargo-insurance.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): Replaces the store, showroom and tools after burglary, fire or escape of water. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Occupational disability** (Strongly advised): Your knees and back decide how long you can keep tiling. Income protection secures your earnings when it no longer works. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): Disputes about falls, joint patterns or sign-off often end up with an expert surveyor in this trade; business legal expenses cover pays. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Group accident insurance** (Depends on the business): Extra protection for employees, including in their free time. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-group-accident.php

## What it costs: example prices

Tilers and floor layers sit in the middle of the finishing trades when it comes to premiums. What counts is turnover, staff numbers and whether you offer waterproofing, screed or natural stone work.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Small business, €3 million cover | about €210 to €450 a year |
| Business liability | €300,000 turnover, three full-time and one part-time staff, €500 excess | about €300 to €900 a year |
| Cargo insurance | Tools in transit for three vehicles, up to €10,000 per claim | about €150 to €300 a year |
| Business contents | Store with a small showroom worth €40,000 | about €120 to €300 a year |

For comparison: Liability and tools cover for a small tiling business costs about as much per year as laying eight to ten square metres of wall tiles.

_Guide prices excluding German insurance premium tax, as of September 2026. The entry price and tools in transit come from published tariff examples, the other ranges are guide values from our quoting practice. We obtain the exact quote for you._

- [betriebshaftpflicht24.de: Betriebshaftpflicht Fliesenleger](https://betriebshaftpflicht24.de/betriebshaftpflicht-fliesenleger.html)
- [handwerk.com: Werkzeug absichern unterwegs und auf der Baustelle](https://www.handwerk.com/tipps-werkverkehrsversicherung-fuer-handwerker)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Start** (tiler working alone or with a helper): Business liability, Cargo insurance. Together: about €360 to €750 a year
- **Specialist business** (two to eight employees with store and showroom): Business liability, Cargo insurance, Business contents, Business legal expenses. Together: about €800 to €1,900 a year
- **All round** (business offering complete bathroom renovations with permanent staff): Business liability, Cargo insurance, Business contents, Business legal expenses, Group accident insurance. Together: about €1,500 to €3,200 a year

## The worst day for a tiling business

Six claims as they really happen to tilers and floor layers, all on a single Thursday. Go through the day and see who pays.

- 07:40: While drilling fixings for the glass shower screen, the drill hits the hot water pipe. The wall and hallway are flooded. (€9,800, Paid by: Business liability)
- 09:55: Last year's shower is leaking. In the flat below, the ceiling has to be opened and dried. (€18,500, Paid by: Business liability)
- 11:30: While cutting in the living room, stone dust drifts into the home cinema. Projector and speakers have to be cleaned and partly replaced. (€4,200, Paid by: Business liability)
- 13:45: Wet saw and mixer are stolen from the open van while the team carries materials inside. (€3,900, Paid by: Cargo insurance)
- 15:20: A resident trips over the edge of the freshly tiled stair and breaks her wrist. (€7,500, Paid by: Business liability)
- 22:50: Burglary in the showroom: sample slabs, laser level and cash box are gone, the glass door is smashed. (€8,600, Paid by: Business contents)

**Damage so far:** €52,500

## Practical tips from your broker

- Have access and reinstatement costs included with an adequate limit; for bathroom renovations at least €50,000.
- Damage to pipes from drilling and cutting should be covered without low special limits.
- Name waterproofing, screed, natural stone work and floor coverings such as parquet or vinyl expressly in the policy.
- Choose at least €5 million combined cover.
- Insure materials at the customer's premises until they are laid: large-format slabs are popular with thieves.
- Take out income protection early, before knee or back complaints appear in your medical records.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We read the small print:** Whether the extra costs of a leaking shower are paid depends on one clause. We compare these clauses across several insurers for you.
- **Water damage is our field:** In boat insurance we act as underwriting agent and settle claims ourselves, so we know moisture surveys from our own work. That helps when cause and extent are in dispute.
- **Everything in one place:** Van, store, liability and your personal income protection are handled together, with one phone number.
- **No cost to you:** The insurer pays us. You get advice from a family business that has been arranging insurance since 1989.

## FAQ

### Do I need liability insurance as a tiler in Germany?

Not by law, but almost every client asks for it. Without insurance, a drilled pipe or a leaking shower can cost five figures.

### How much does liability insurance cost for tilers?

Published tariffs start at around €210 a year. For a business with four staff and €300,000 turnover, expect about €300 to €900 in our experience.

### Is a leaking shower covered?

The consequential damage to the building and the neighbouring flat is, your remedial work is not. With access and reinstatement costs included, the insurer also pays for opening up and restoring the surrounding area.

### Who pays if I drill into the underfloor heating?

Your public liability policy, provided damage to pipes is included. Repairing the heating loop and drying are then covered.

### Are tiles broken while laying them covered?

Breakage during laying is usually not insured; it is part of your material risk. Tools in transit cover helps during transport, and materials stored at the customer's site can be protected with contract works insurance.

### Is kneeling work a recognised occupational risk?

Yes, meniscus damage from kneeling work is recognised as an occupational disease, handled by BG BAU as the statutory accident insurer. That does not secure your income as the owner; for that you need income protection.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison. Free of charge and without obligation: the insurer pays our commission. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-tiler.php#anfrage

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NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.