Does homeowners insurance cover poor workmanship?

Author: Jaida Sporer  |  Last update: Monday, June 30, 2025

Your homeowners coverage can act as a safeguard against certain mishaps, such as your contractor causing a fire, or damaging your belongings or your neighbor's property. But your policy won't cover poor workmanship or if you're unhappy with the results.

Is faulty workmanship covered by homeowners insurance?

If a contractor damages your home, homeowners insurance typically helps pay for repairs. However, home insurance may not cover other scenarios involving a contractor working on your home, such as poor workmanship.

What is the poor workmanship exclusion?

The faulty workmanship exclusion is a common clause in contractor insurance policies. It means that if a contractor's work is subpar, the cost of redoing or fixing that work isn't covered by their insurance.

Does insurance cover bad contractor work?

If a contractor simply does an inadequate job — e.g., improperly installing roof shingles — but no resulting damage occurs, your homeowners insurance likely won't cover this poor workmanship. It's up to you to rectify the situation with the contractor or the company employing the contractor.

What things does homeowners insurance not cover?

Perils Generally not covered by a Homeowners Policy if Damage is caused by:
  • Flood.
  • Earthquake.
  • Earth movement.
  • Termites.
  • Insects, rats or mice.
  • Water damage cause by seepage or leaks.
  • Losses to house vacant for 60 days or more.
  • Mold.

Poor Workmanship Explained | Insurance Claim HQ | (844) CLAIM-84

What not to say to home insurance?

Avoid Misleading Phrases: Be cautious with your words. Phrases like “I think” or “It might have been” can introduce doubt and ambiguity into your claim. Instead, stick to clear, confident statements that are supported by your evidence and records.

Which of these is not usually covered by homeowners insurance?

Highly valued items, such as jewelry, fine art, and collectibles, are often excluded from a typical policy for replacement costs. In addition, damage from certain weather events, like floods or earthquakes, usually requires you to purchase additional home insurance. Be sure to check your liability coverage.

What is an example of faulty workmanship?

It might be something that's installed, repaired, built, or maintained in a manner that falls below generally recognized standards of quality or fails to meet representations or warranties. Even failing to provide instructions or warnings can make it “faulty work.” Take the drywall example.

What if the contractor doesn't finish the job?

File a Suit in Small Claims Court

If arbitration or mediation doesn't work, it may be time to take legal action. Your first step, unless your project is very large and expensive, is to file in small claims court.

Does homeowners insurance cover workers on your property?

Yes, that is the simple answer to this question. Even so, the coverage is minimal, exposing people who rely on homeowner's insurance. For instance, homeowner insurance can cover the medical expenses of injured workers who don't enjoy protection under state workers' compensation regulations.

What is considered poor workmanship?

Definition. “Defective” or “faulty” workmanship is usually defined as a material or design defects, or poor workmanship that can render a structure unsafe or unsuitable for the purpose for which it was intended. These defects will eventually increase damage to a property, usually permanently.

What is the root cause of poor workmanship?

Unskilled workman, unsuitable equipment and materials, and lack of project management are just a few things that can lead to poor workmanship.

What is lack of workmanship?

Workmanship defects are flaws in the building process. It can happen due to minor issues on jobsites, related to site conditions or a lack of skill in a particular area. For example, laying a slab for a house that is not level can be a workmanship defect that impacts the rest of the house.

Does home insurance pay for repairs?

If your home is damaged, your home insurance company sends out an adjuster to look at the damage. The company then determines your settlement amount or how much you'll be reimbursed to make repairs. A homeowner's insurance policy pays for losses or damage to your property if something unexpected happens.

What is defective workmanship?

Defective workmanship is defined as “Work that is unsatisfactory, deficient or damaged, does not conform to the Contract Documents, or does not meet the requirements of any inspection, test or approval.”

Can I change my contractor for an insurance claim?

It depends on the specific terms and conditions of your insurance policy. In some cases, your insurance company may allow you to use your own contractor, while in other cases, they may require you to use one of their preferred contractors or their general contractors.

Can I sue a contractor for not finishing work on time?

If a construction delay is caused by the negligence or intentional actions of the contractor, or someone the contractor is responsible for, and the company fails to deliver promptly, you may be able to file a lawsuit and hold the contractor accountable for delays.

Can you refuse to pay a contractor for poor work?

While the other commentators have stated it seems reasonable to withhold payment after demands for corrective work and failed efforts by the contractor to perform that work, the answer to your question will usually depend almost entirely on your written agreement with the contractor and applicable California law.

How do you get your money back from a contractor?

Under California law, you have several options to pursue to get money back from your contractor. Firstly, you can attempt to negotiate a resolution directly with the contractor, either by requesting a refund or an agreement to complete the work as promised.

Does insurance cover poor workmanship?

Your homeowners coverage can act as a safeguard against certain mishaps, such as your contractor causing a fire, or damaging your belongings or your neighbor's property. But your policy won't cover poor workmanship or if you're unhappy with the results.

Can you sue for poor workmanship?

Fortunately, there are plenty of options available if a contractor does poor or unfinished work, damages your property, breaches the contract, or rips you off. A dispute with a licensed contractor may get resolved in mediation or arbitration, or a small claims court if he or she lacks a valid license.

What constitutes faulty workmanship?

Faulty workmanship refers to problems caused by poor quality or inadequate work done during construction or renovation.

What does homeowner insurance not cover?

Floods and earthquakes

Standard homeowner's insurance covers a number of severe weather events, including blizzards, fires, lightning and windstorms, but it doesn't cover floods or earthquakes.

What is not covered by insurance?

Health insurance typically covers most doctor and hospital visits, prescription drugs, wellness care, and medical devices. Most health insurance will not cover elective or cosmetic procedures, beauty treatments, off-label drug use, or brand-new technologies.

Which one is not protected by most homeowners insurance?

Areas Not Covered on The Homeowners' Insurance Policy.
  • Flooding. ...
  • Damage caused by mold. ...
  • Expensive artwork and jewelry. ...
  • War. ...
  • Nuclear hazard. ...
  • Damage caused by a power surge or outages. ...
  • Dog bites. ...
  • Damages caused by neglect or poor maintenance.

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