What is a Builders Clean?

There is a major difference to a after builders cleaning service which is done at the end of a new build or renovation, compared to a clean which you'd get at your home on a regular basis. Building is a very messy job, and a clean is necessary once the building process is complete to make your new renovation, extension, or new home presentable and clean.

Initial Clean

This is the initial stage of the builder's clean. It involves removing debris, dust, and rubbish from all of the building's surfaces. Usually, this is done part-way through a construction project (e.g. cleaning all of the plaster form the floors so that tiles may be installed). Many builders use this service as well before having their client walk-throughs to detect any trade defects.

Final Detail Clean

This final stage is what really sets apart a professional builders clean from a regular home cleaning. The stage involves removing trade defects such as paint marks from the floorboards, detailing tiles, removing grout haze from tiles, straightening grout lines, splatter from windows and more.

This final detail clean will provide your house with a showroom quality finish. It is very easy to tell when a new house has been given a final detail clean since there is a huge difference.

This stage takes the longest amount of time given all of the detail that is necessary. Unfortunately, there are many cleaning companies that leave that part out of their quotes in order to make their prices appear to be cheaper or due to the fact that they don't know what a professional builders clean should include. Or even worse, there are cases where some cleaners have caused permanent damage to a house by unnecessarily using harsh chemicals without having the necessary experience to do the job right.

So what should you expect with your builder’s clean?

This is a very general outline of what a builders clean should include. You can go here for a more detailed builders clean specification.

• The site should be clear of any building materials and be clean. That means there should not be any building materials laying around other than by previous arrangements with the builder and owner. The debris should be raked up and rubbish hauled away.
• Floors, which includes tiles located in wet areas, should be mopped and vacuumed where appropriate. Floor covers are often put in later, and if that is the case then the builder will be responsible for sweeping or vacuuming the concrete floor.
• Surfaces and shelves should be wiped over. That includes wiping over the laundry and bathroom cabinets and wiping out cupboards. With all new building works, it is important to be aware that dust settles and continues to settle for quite some time after the construction project is finished. If your clean is not done the same day as the handover, there might be some additional dust that settles.
• Light fittings and fans need to be wiped over. No more should really be required since they are news. However, as noted above, it is quite common for dust to continue settling on those items for quite some time after the construction is complete.
• Mirrors and windows should be cleaned, including vacuuming the window tracks out (however, not a thorough clean out using a wet cloth)
• In a new build only in some cases, gutters and fascias will be wiped down as well.