Marsh vs Zurich U.S.: How Do They Compare for Builders Risk Insurance?

Marsh McLennan Agency describes builders risk coverage for foundations, temporary structures and materials owned by the insured, with limited coverage for others’ supplies. Zurich describes physical-damage protection and optional soft-cost and business-income features. 5,8

What Is Marsh?

Marsh suits technology and larger businesses seeking specialist cyber placement or broad global risk advice; small firms wanting a quick standard quote should compare its MMA route or digital agencies. 1,2,3,4

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Read the Marsh Builders Risk Insurance page

Zurich U.S. Business Insurance: Products, Access, and Claims

Zurich U.S. serves Middle Market businesses and large or national accounts with commercial property-casualty and specialty insurance. Buyers can explore product lines and work through an agent or broker; the insurer named on a quote or policy identifies which Zurich company underwrites that coverage. 6,7

Read the Zurich U.S. profile

Read the Zurich U.S. Builders Risk Insurance page

What Is Builders Risk Insurance?

Builders risk protects the project you are building, including materials meant for it, against physical loss until construction ends. The gaps that cost owners money are materials in storage or transit, the existing building in a renovation, and coverage ending when you occupy early. 9,10,11,12

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Key Differences in Builders Risk Insurance

Property scope and program options

Marsh McLennan Agency says its builders risk coverage addresses foundations, additions, alterations, temporary structures and materials owned by the insured, with limited coverage for materials belonging to others. Zurich describes physical-loss protection during construction, renovation or installation and lists options such as soft costs, business income and building-systems testing. If a project relies on owner-furnished or subcontractor materials, ask how each proposal schedules that property and whether Zurich’s options are selected. 5 8

Advisory services and application

Marsh McLennan Agency describes a property-specialist placement supported by hazard assessment, valuation, catastrophe modeling, claims advocacy and risk control. Zurich describes direct access to more than 50 program specialists and says agents submit applications online or on paper. These are different documented service descriptions; ask Marsh which advisory services apply to the project and Zurich what support the dedicated team provides after submission. 5 8

What to Confirm in Builders Risk Insurance Quotes

  • Ask Marsh to state how materials owned by subcontractors or other parties are treated and identify limits for temporary structures. 5
  • Ask Zurich to itemize selected options, project-value eligibility and the issuing insurer in the quote. 8

Review Scores

These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.

Marsh

5.8/ 10

Review Score

2 rated sources

Marsh’s global Trustpilot profile has a poor 1.3/5 score. Treat it as a service warning to investigate with your proposed team; it does not isolate US commercial accounts.[2][4][7]

Read Marsh reviews

Zurich U.S.

-/ 10

Review Score

No reviews found

The available Zurich review evidence is mixed and comes from distinct populations: a car-rental-business editorial rating, broad global and U.S. review-platform snapshots, and a BBB business-profile grade. These are not a representative measure of every Zurich commercial policy or claim.[1][4][5][6][7]

Read Zurich U.S. reviews

Offering Details

Marsh vs Zurich U.S.: Builders Risk Insurance: documented features by provider

CriteriaMarsh McLennan Agency Builders' Risk InsuranceZurich Commercial Builders Risk
Role in This Line

Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), Marsh's middle-market subsidiary, places builders' risk insurance as part of its broader property insurance practice, not as a separately branded product. 5Company-reported. MMA property insurance page, Builders' Risk subsection.

Confirm in your quote.

Issuing Insurer

The reviewed page does not name a specific builders' risk insurer. 5Not publicly disclosed. MMA property insurance page as read on 2026-09-23.

Confirm in your quote.

Who It’s For

Confirm in your quote.

Zurich lists water and sewer pipeline projects within Commercial Builders Risk appetite and explicitly excludes oil and gas pipelines. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; issuing company is not specified on this program summary; Zurich Commercial Builders Risk for commercial construction projects; United States. Company-reported target appetite; each application remains subject to underwriting. Do not imply every risk or class is accepted.

Zurich’s live Commercial Builders Risk page gives conflicting project-value descriptions: the overview and FAQ describe projects up to $75 million, while the Appetite section says commercial projects of any size and value. The page does not resolve the scope conflict; confirm eligibility with Zurich. These statements describe project values, not policy limits. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; issuing company is not specified on this program summary; Zurich Commercial Builders Risk; United States. The official page contains an unresolved conflict about project-value eligibility. Obtain current Zurich clarification before relying on a boundary. The statements concern project values and do not establish a policy limit; issued terms and underwriting govern.

Zurich lists the Commercial Builders Risk program as nationwide. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; underlying issuing legal entity is not identified on this page; Zurich Commercial Builders Risk program; United States, company-reported nationwide program availability. Company-reported program geography does not establish issuer authority or coverage for a specific risk; confirm jurisdiction and policy with the quote.

Zurich lists registered historic structures, tunnels, dams, structures built over water, and manufacturing including testing/equipment among ineligible Commercial Builders Risk projects. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; issuing company is not specified on this program summary; Zurich Commercial Builders Risk; United States. Company-reported appetite; not a full policy exclusion list. Actual terms govern.

Coverage Features

MMA says builders' risk coverage addresses risks unique to a building under construction, including additions and alterations, foundations, temporary structures, and materials and supplies owned by the insured, and on a limited basis, materials and supplies belonging to others. 5Company-reported. MMA property insurance page; illustrative description, not a specific policy form.

Zurich says its Commercial Builders Risk program protects commercial projects against physical loss or damage during construction, renovation or installation. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; issuing company is not specified on this program summary; Zurich Commercial Builders Risk; United States. Company product summary, not a policy form; actual covered property, causes, exclusions, limits and conditions depend on issued terms and underwriting.

Zurich lists potential Commercial Builders Risk options including earth movement, flood, Ordinance or Law, soft costs, business income/extra expense, waiver of coinsurance and building-systems testing. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; issuing company is not specified on this program summary; Zurich Commercial Builders Risk; United States. Options may depend on project/underwriting and issued policy terms; page is not the policy form.

Risk Services

MMA says its property practice offers hazard assessment and valuation services, loss and catastrophe modeling, claims advocacy, pre- and post-loss risk control, and program design expertise drawn from its global market experience. 5Company-reported. MMA property insurance page, Benefits of Property Insurance and Builders' Risk sections; these services are described for the property practice generally, not exclusively for builders' risk.

Zurich states the commercial Builders Risk program offers direct access to a dedicated team of more than 50 specialists. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; issuing company is not specified on this program summary; Zurich Commercial Builders Risk; United States. Company-reported program service statement; it does not promise response times or claims outcomes.

How to Apply

You work with an MMA property specialist directly; the page names a National Accounts Property Practice Leader and describes advisor-led placement rather than an online quote. 5Company-reported. MMA property insurance page.

Zurich says agents can register online for program access and submit an online or paper application to underwriting; no premium commitment is required to register. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; distribution through agents/brokers; Zurich Commercial Builders Risk; United States. Application process description; submission is not binding coverage or evidence of acceptance.

Full Comparison

More Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Comparisons

Other Builders Risk Insurance Comparisons

Sources

Marsh

  1. Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments. Marsh; Hero and capability tiles; FAQ: What does Marsh do?; industries served; Is Marsh the same as Marsh McLennan? January 2026 brand change. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Compensation guide for US clients. Marsh; US broking segments; broker role; retail commissions, client fees, wholesale, insurer consulting, contingent and supplemental commissions; Marsh LLC and Marsh USA LLC; page 3: broker role and Marsh & McLennan Agency segment; page 7: copyright © 2024 Marsh LLC. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). Marsh; Middle-market US organizations; wholly-owned subsidiary; business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, private client. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management. Marsh; Opening Technology Practice description; practice links including data center insurance, fintech and Stratus; Talk to us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  5. Property Insurance. Marsh McLennan Agency; Builders' Risk subsection under Property Insurance: risks unique to a building during construction, including additions and alterations, foundations, temporary structures, materials and supplies; Program design expertise; Benefits of Property Insurance. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Zurich U.S.

  1. About Us | Zurich U.S. | Commercial Insurance. Zurich U.S.; About Zurich U.S.; customer and industry description; FAQ on U.S. product focus. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Agents and Brokers | Zurich U.S. Zurich U.S.; Agent/broker route and locator. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Commercial Builders Risk Program | Zurich Insurance. Zurich U.S.; Builders Risk - Commercial; direct product overview and FAQ: coverage, appetite, ineligible projects, options, limits, application, geography, admission and program highlights (HTML lines 270–411). Accessed 2026-09-28.

Builders Risk Insurance Guide

  1. Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Builders’ Risk Policies; Ocean Marine; Auto Physical Damage; All-Risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial Property; Inland Marine; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Builders Risk Coverage Form. Insurance Services Office, Inc.; hosted by Touchpoint Markets; A.1–3 p.1; B.3.c p.11; C,D,E p.12. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Builders Risk Application Tip Sheet. US Assure; General policy application tips p.1; Remodeling tips p.2. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated . Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with the page URL and supporting source.

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