Nationwide vs 
Zurich U.S.: How Do They Compare for Builders Risk Insurance?
Nationwide describes construction property with optional flood, earthquake, debris removal, and business income coverage. Zurich lists water and sewer pipelines but excludes oil and gas pipelines, offers access to more than 50 specialists, and publishes conflicting project-value descriptions that need confirmation. 4,7
What Is Nationwide?
Nationwide’s commercial catalogue includes common small-business policies and separate specialty products. A catalogue listing does not establish eligibility or policy terms; confirm the issuing company and coverage for your state and business. 1,2,3
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. 5,6
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. 8,9,10,11
Key Differences in Builders Risk Insurance
Pipeline Appetite and Project Value
Zurich's commercial program lists water and sewer pipeline work within appetite and explicitly excludes oil and gas pipelines. Its page also conflicts on project values: the overview and FAQ say up to $75 million, while the appetite section says commercial projects of any size and value. Nationwide describes commercial and industrial construction generally but does not give pipeline categories or a project-value figure in its overview. Pipeline owners should get written eligibility and maximum project value from both before investing in a submission. 7 7 4
Program Features and Specialist Access
Zurich lists possible soft-cost, business-income, flood, earth-movement, and building-systems-testing options and says buyers can access a dedicated team of more than 50 specialists. Nationwide's product description also lists flood and business income as optional endorsements, alongside debris removal and earthquake. Compare the exact forms and limits for overlapping options; for Zurich, its agent-registration and underwriting submission route differs from Nationwide's general agent or quote request. 7 7 7 4 4
What to Confirm in Builders Risk Insurance Quotes
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.
Nationwide
Review Score
4 rated sources
Experts like Nationwide more than customers do. NerdWallet gives it 4.5 out of 5 for business insurance, while small-business customers on ConsumerAffairs give it 2.5 out of 5 from 19 reviews.[1][10]
Read Nationwide reviewsZurich U.S.
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. reviewsOffering Details
Nationwide vs Zurich U.S.: Builders Risk Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Nationwide builders risk (official overview) | Zurich Commercial Builders Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Nationwide describes offering builders risk for the audience stated on the cited product page. 4Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Who It’s For | Construction projects through completion; listed ideal risks include commercial/industrial construction and other named industries. 4Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. | Zurich lists water and sewer pipeline projects within Commercial Builders Risk appetite and explicitly excludes oil and gas pipelines. 7Company-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. 7Company-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. 7Company-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. 7Company-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 | The cited product page describes property under construction, construction materials, and temporary structures, with optional endorsements such as debris removal, earthquake, flood, and business income. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. 4Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. | Zurich says its Commercial Builders Risk program protects commercial projects against physical loss or damage during construction, renovation or installation. 7Company-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. 7Company-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. |
| Limits and Retentions | The cited overview does not set a universal limit or retention for this line. Ask for the proposed policy form, limits, retentions, exclusions, and conditions in the quote. 4Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Risk Services | Confirm in your quote. | Zurich states the commercial Builders Risk program offers direct access to a dedicated team of more than 50 specialists. 7Company-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 | The page directs prospective customers to contact an agent or request a quote. The page does not establish a quote, bind, or coverage-effective timeline. 4Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. | 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. 7Company-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 Nationwide vs Zurich U.S. Comparisons
Other Builders Risk Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Nationwide
- Small Business Insurance. Nationwide; Small business products and solutions, lines 185–214: BOP, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, umbrella, EPLI, cyber and surety; purchase guidance lines 235–247. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Small Business Insurance Solutions for Agents. Nationwide; Specialized small commercial solutions: BOP, auto, workers’ compensation, cyber, EPLI, umbrella, inland marine and professional liability; page states appetite varies by state, lines 129–163, 191–193. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Terms and Conditions for Nationwide.com. Nationwide; P&C products not offered by all companies/states; policy/declarations control; NMI and affiliates may underwrite; each underwriter responsible for own products, lines 358–368 and 391–394. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Get Builder’s Risk Insurance - Nationwide. Nationwide; Additional builder's risk coverage; property under construction, materials, temporary structures, and endorsement examples. Accessed 2026-09-30.
Zurich U.S.
- 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.
- Agents and Brokers | Zurich U.S. Zurich U.S.; Agent/broker route and locator. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- 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
- Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Builders’ Risk Policies; Ocean Marine; Auto Physical Damage; All-Risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial Property; Inland Marine; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- 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.
- Builders Risk Application Tip Sheet. US Assure; General policy application tips p.1; Remodeling tips p.2. Accessed 2026-09-16.
