While you may be covered if a contractor breaks something, homeowners insurance won't pay for damages involving poor workmanship. When a contractor installs something incorrectly, does sloppy work, or you aren't happy with their design, you'll need to come to an agreement with them on how to correct the poor quality of work. If no agreement can be reached, you may file a complaint with the governmental agency that licensed them or even file a civil lawsuit.
Damage vs. poor workmanship: what's covered
The following examples illustrate how your homeowners policy may cover damages but not poor quality work:
A plumber does a poor job installing pipes, resulting in a leak. Your homeowners insurance may cover water damage to your walls, floors, and furniture up to your policy’s limits. However, the cost of reinstalling the pipes likely won’t be covered.
An electrician wires a room incorrectly, and a fire breaks out. Your insurance may cover damage to your home and belongings caused by the fire, up to the limits of your policy, but not the cost to rewire the system.
A contractor hastily installs a built-in entertainment unit, and a shelf collapses. Insurance probably won't cover the cost to rebuild the unit, but it may pay to repair or replace any belongings that are damaged, such as your TV or gaming console.
The contractor knocks over a ladder, and it smashes through your sliding glass doors. Your homeowners insurance may cover the cost to replace the damaged doors.
Note that your policy may include a deductible and/or a sublimit on certain items. Your insurance company may seek reimbursement for the party responsible party for the damages.