Some insurers offer specialist home renovation insurance, which covers you for the things that might go wrong during the renovation. However, it's not always an essential purchase.
Most contractors will have insurance for the work carried out on your home, protecting you in the event something goes wrong during the build. But you might not be covered in all circumstances, so make sure you have comprehensive building and contents insurance in place.
If your property will be empty for more than 30 or 60 days while it's being renovated, you may need specialist home renovation insurance. You may also need specialist cover if works are extensive, or if expensive equipment and materials will be present at the property during building works, which may increase the risk of theft.