Decennial insurance for tilers: tiling, screeds and waterproofing
Tiles coming away on a large scale, a cracking screed or a leaking walk-in shower can make a room unfit for use. Tilers are concerned by the decennial guarantee. Lev Assurances helps you declare your activities, especially waterproofing under tiles.
- Floor and wall tiling
- Screeds and levelling
- Walk-in showers and waterproofing
NEED ADVICE?
Tiling activities to declare
- Indoor tiling
- Outdoor tiling (terraces)
- Screeds and levelling compounds
- Under-tile waterproofing systems
- Natural stone
Decennial risks for tilers
French case law considers that tiling may fall under the decennial guarantee when defects make the building unfit for purpose: widespread debonding, cracking caused by the substrate, leaks in wet rooms.
Wet rooms are the main risk. A walk-in shower requires a waterproofing system under the tiles; if it fails, it causes damage in adjoining rooms or to the neighbours below. If you install this waterproofing, it must be among your declared activities. See covered activities and exclusions.
Outdoor tiled terraces, especially above living spaces, combine tiling and waterproofing. Insurers often treat them differently from indoor tiling: mention them when requesting a quote.
Add professional liability for damage caused during the works. The decennial insurance cost depends on these activities and your turnover.
More about decennial insurance
Construction insurance
Overview of construction insurance in France: decennial, dommages-ouvrage, professional liability.
Decennial liability (BTP)
Our main page on decennial insurance for construction professionals.
Decennial certificate
What the certificate must contain and when to give it to the client.
Covered activities and exclusions
Why declared activities determine what is covered.
Dommages-ouvrage insurance
The project owner’s insurance, complementary to decennial cover.
How we review your decennial insurance
Specify your tiling work
Floor and wall tiling, screeds, wall tiles, walk-in showers, under-tile waterproofing systems: each activity must be declared.
Prove your tiling experience
Qualification (CAP or BP in tiling) or proven experience, business registration, previous certificates and claims history if any.
Review cover and excesses
Limits, excesses and exclusions (for example undeclared under-tile waterproofing or laying on underfloor heating) are reviewed with you.
Receive your certificate
If accepted and the policy is taken out, the certificate listing the insured activities must be attached to your quotes and invoices, in line with Article L. 243-2 of the French Insurance Code.
Let’s review your decennial insurance as a tiler
Describe your tiling, screed or waterproofing work, your experience and your turnover: Lev Assurances reviews your file and, if an insurer accepts it, supports you through to the certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Must a tiler take out decennial insurance?
Yes, when the work forms part of the structure. Cover must be in place before work starts.
Is tiles coming loose covered by decennial insurance?
If loose tiles undermine the structure’s solidity or make it unfit for its purpose, for example by creating a hazard or leaks, decennial liability may apply after handover. A defect without decennial severity may, if reported within a year of handover under Article 1792-6 of the French Civil Code, fall under the one-year completion guarantee.
Is a walk-in shower covered?
It may be covered if the activities carried out, including tiling and the under-tile waterproofing system, are declared and insured under the policy. The system used and the technical installation conditions may also be taken into account by the insurer.
Are outdoor terraces covered?
They are often treated separately, especially above living spaces. Mention them when requesting a quote.
Decennial insurance suited to your trade
Decennial insurance is chosen according to the activities you actually carry out, your experience and your projects. Lev Assurances helps you declare the right activities and understand your contract — Lev Assurances, broker registered with ORIAS no. 24001858, supervised by the ACPR (French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority).