You’ve just finished a renovation or a new build — the hard work is done, but the space is covered in a fine layer of dust, paint flecks and construction debris. A standard clean won’t cut it. A post-construction (or “builders”) clean is a specialised job that gets a property from “trades have left” to genuinely handover-ready. Here’s what it involves and how it differs from a regular clean.
What is a builders clean?
A builders clean is a deep, detailed clean carried out after construction, renovation or fit-out work. Its job is to remove the by-products of the build — fine dust that settles everywhere, adhesive and silicone residue, plaster splatter, paint overspray, stickers on windows and appliances, and general debris — so the property is safe, spotless and ready to move into, sell or hand over to a client.
Why it’s different from a standard clean
Regular cleaning maintains a lived-in home. A builders clean deals with problems a normal clean never encounters:
- Construction dust gets everywhere — inside cupboards, on top of doors, in window tracks, over light fittings and through the whole air space. It needs repeated passes to fully lift.
- Sticky residues — silicone, adhesive, plaster and paint need careful removal without scratching new surfaces.
- Protective coverings and stickers on new windows, appliances, tapware and glass all have to come off cleanly.
- New surfaces are delicate — the right products and technique matter, or you risk marking benchtops, glass and fresh paint.
The stages of a post-construction clean
On bigger projects a builders clean happens in stages:
- Rough clean: removing large debris and rubbish once the trades are mostly done, so the space is safe to work in.
- Builders (deep) clean: the main event — dust removal top to bottom, residue and sticker removal, and a full detailed clean of every surface.
- Final / detail clean: a last pass just before handover to catch any dust that has re-settled and polish everything to presentation standard.
Post-construction cleaning checklist
- Remove all construction debris, offcuts and rubbish.
- Dust and wipe every surface, including high areas, ledges, vents and the tops of doors and cupboards.
- Remove stickers, labels and protective film from windows, glass, appliances and fixtures.
- Clean inside all cupboards, drawers and wardrobes.
- Remove paint, silicone, adhesive and plaster residue from floors, glass and surfaces.
- Clean windows inside and out, plus tracks and frames.
- Detail kitchens and bathrooms — sinks, tapware, tiles, benchtops and appliances.
- Vacuum and mop all hard floors; vacuum or steam clean carpets.
- Final polish of glass, mirrors and stainless steel.
Why not just do it yourself?
It’s tempting to save money and clean up after the build yourself, but construction dust is relentless — it re-settles for days, and one wrong product can scratch a new benchtop or leave streaks on glass. A professional builders and construction cleaning team has the right equipment (including proper dust extraction) and knows how to handle new surfaces safely, so the finish actually lasts to handover day.
When to book your builders clean
Book once all the trades have finished and any final touch-ups are done — cleaning before the last of the work is complete just means dust settles all over again. If you’re on a tight handover or settlement date, line the clean up in advance so the property is ready exactly when you need it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a builders clean the same as an end of lease clean?
No. A builders clean removes construction dust and residue from a new or renovated space, while an end of lease clean returns a lived-in rental to agent standard. They use different techniques and checklists.
How long does a builders clean take?
It depends on the size of the project and how much residue there is, but expect it to take noticeably longer than a standard clean — a proper detail on a new home is a full day’s work for a team.
Do you clean windows and remove stickers?
Yes — sticker and film removal, and cleaning glass and tracks, are a core part of any builders clean.
Brantjes Property Solutions provides post-construction and builders cleaning across South-East and Eastern Melbourne, getting new builds and renovations handover-ready. Call us for a quote.
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