Is theft of materials covered on a self-build site?

How it works in Ireland

Materials are a common loss on a house site: copper pipe, cable, tools and timber are easy to take and easy to sell. One published self-build wording insures “Free Materials”, meaning materials you supply for the project whose value is not part of the contractor’s final price. They are covered as part of the works while on the contract site or in transit to or from it, including loading and unloading.

The same wording has conditions. Theft of unfixed non-ferrous metals, such as copper and brass, is excluded unless an authorised person is actually on site or the property is in a securely locked hut, container or building. Another condition says that if work stops for three consecutive months, cover on the works is suspended unless the insurer agrees in writing to continue, and you must take practical steps to protect the property meanwhile.

Different insurers set different conditions, so read the exclusions and conditions pages, not just the summary. Ask what counts as secure storage, whether it must be locked on the evening of delivery, and whether materials stored off site at a supplier are covered.

Keep delivery dockets and invoices, and photograph what is on site at the end of each stage. After a theft you report it to the Gardaí and to your insurer, and the paperwork shows what you lost and what it cost.

A common mistake

Leaving a first-fix delivery of copper unlocked over a weekend. The loss is common, and the policy may exclude it. Order metal for the day it is fitted, or lock it away, and ask the insurer to put its security requirements in writing before the first delivery.