There is a big difference to the builders clean done at the end of a job, compared to a cleaners clean when cleaning your home on a regular basis. Building is a messy job, at the end of the building process, a clean is required to make your new home, extension or renovation presentable. But that is where the confusion sets in, a builder’s clean is a very basic clean.
So what should you expect with your builder’s clean?
- The site should be clean and clear of building debris, this means no building materials left laying around except by previous arrangement with the owner and builder. Rubbish is to be taken away and an overall rake up of debris is to take place.
- Floors, including the tiles in wet areas should be vacuumed and mopped where appropriate. Often floor covers come at a later date, if this is the case the builder is responsible for vacuuming or sweeping the concrete floor.
- Shelves and surfaces are to be wiped over. This includes wiping out cupboards, wiping over the bathroom and laundry cabinets. It is important to note, with any new building works, dust will settle and continue to settle for some time after construction is completed. If your clean was not done on the same day as handover, you can expect there to be some dust that will settle.
- Fans and light fittings, should be wiped over. They really shouldn’t require anymore than this, as they are new, however as above it is common for dust to settle on these items for some time after construction is completed.
- Windows and mirrors should be cleaned, this includes a vacuum out of the window tracks (not a thorough clean out with a wet cloth though)
- In some cases in a new build only, fascias and gutters will also be wiped down.
That is all that is required. All builders will have their own understanding of what these guidelines mean for them, as everything is open for interpretation. Don’t be afraid to discuss your builders clean with your builder, if you are disappointed with the quality of the clean prior to hand over. It is important to understand that the house needs only to be presented as clean, not the kind of clean we might see in a display home, but free of building paraphernalia.
Is a builders clean what you expected? Have you previously been disappointed by the quality of a builders clean?
Nicole xxx
At the end of all of major projects i always allow for a builders clean, my customers have never been dispointed, more so blown away!
It really isn’t hard to do it right is it. ?
I totally need this! Our house is (fingers crossed) just two weeks from being finished and is in serious need of an industrial style clean. I thought a builders clean would be a bit more thorough than what you explained but now I know to set my expectations ? Thanks!
Any builder worth his/her weight, will make your house sparkle, however the industry standard is just that, very standard. Best to go in with lower expectations and hope to be surprised. xx
Great article about builders cleaning, love how you mention that some dust is expected to settle if the clean is not done on the same day as handover. This is exactly the reason we prefer our clients to get us in just before handover, unfortunately, this is not always possible on a construction site ?
After Reno our builder did no more than a surface clean. Dust in shelves, cupboards, light fittings, wardrobes. On skirting boards top of doors etc. I have had to go over most of it to make it livable and still finding bits.
Unfortunately its very common and the dust settling can take months. On a recent reno we did on our own home, there was still dust landing for about a month after. So frustrating when all you want is your fresh clean new home. ?