There’s nothing worse than bringing in contractors to do a construction project only to find that once they’ve finished the job, they’ve left their mess behind. Construction site cleanup is part of the construction industry and it can be a complicated job, but someone has to do it. You can make your life easier by cleaning as you go to begin with, and that should help reduce the burden of final cleaning to some degree. While it’s impossible to cover every aspect of a proper construction cleanup project, a good place to start would be to remove trash and debris on a daily basis, particularly wood and paint chips that can pose a fire hazard.
There are many construction companies that could use an independent contractor to do the cleaning for them, as it can save a lot of time and money bringing in specialists (depending on the size of the job). It is always advisable to take a tour before the start of the cleanup so that the supervisor finds out exactly what the construction manager’s expectations are regarding the cleanup. This will also help to avoid a poor final product (when the project is complete).
So what does construction site cleanup actually entail? In general, any scratches, hand and finger stains, dust and dirt should be cleaned from the walls and the same goes for moldings, baseboards, windows, door frames and handrails. The ceilings will also need a good dusting and removal of any cobwebs that have arisen. Doors need to be cleaned, which can include the front, back, sides, and top, and don’t forget the hinges. Any masonry will need to be vacuumed and cleaned per instructions. All carpets in the project will also need to be vacuumed. Wood, tile or marble must be polished, waxed and sealed. You will need to clean the rails, frames and glass of the windows. Be sure to clean any light fixtures and ceiling fans that tend to collect dust. Wall and ceiling vents, and floor vents will also need to be vacuumed, and in the case of floor vents, they will need to be removed so that you can vacuum as deep as the fixtures will allow. Electrical outlets and switches should be cleaned as they can accumulate dust and hand stains. That’s just the basic cleaning of the interior, it doesn’t include the specific cleaning required in a bathroom, kitchen, or entryway. Not to mention mirrors and cabinets throughout the home, as well as removing unnecessary manufacturer’s stickers.
On the subject of manufacturers, you should not forget the importance of which cleaning chemicals should and should not be used. Only manufacturer recommended cleaning products should be used as the wrong chemical can cause irreparable damage and will set your project back as you will have to replace damaged items, especially delicate stone items such as marble, granite and quartz. You most likely won’t be able to do all of the cleaning yourself, depending on the type of project, you may need to call in the professionals to finish your floor as it will require sealing and waxing. Now that you’ve taken care of the inside, you can start to focus on cleaning the outside.