Post-Construction Cleaning
Post-Construction Cleaning near you
A builders clean is the handover between a construction site and a home. It removes render splatter, paint overspray, adhesive, silicone smears, protective film, plaster dust, sawdust and the fine grey film that settles on every horizontal surface in a house where cutting has been done. It happens after a new build, an extension, a bathroom or kitchen renovation, or a insurance repair, and it is usually the last thing standing between a finished job and moving back in.
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The mistake is treating it as an ordinary clean with more dust. It is not. The dust is the renovation's waste, and in an older Australian house some of it is regulated. WorkSafe Victoria's asbestos site explains that many houses built before 1990 contain asbestos cement materials, especially in the eaves, internal and external wall cladding, ceilings, particularly in wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries, and fences. Those are exactly the surfaces a renovation cuts into.
Australian asbestos licensing treats the dust as its own category, not as an afterthought to the sheet it came off. In Victoria a Class B licence covers non-friable asbestos, or asbestos-contaminated dust associated with or derived from the removal of non-friable asbestos, while a Class A licence covers friable asbestos or asbestos-contaminated dust other than the kind derived from non-friable removal. In other words, cleaning up after asbestos work is licensed asbestos work. It is not a cleaner's job.
The stages of a builders clean
- A rough clean during construction, which is really waste removal and sweeping so trades can keep working safely.
- The builders clean proper, once trades are finished: removing debris, adhesive, splatter, overspray and film from every surface.
- The detail or sparkle clean, done after the builders clean, which is the fine pass on glass, tapware, joinery, tracks and skirtings.
- A final dust settle pass a day or two later, because construction dust keeps dropping out of the air for longer than people expect.
- Window and glass work, which often needs its own visit because scraping glass requires technique and the wrong blade leaves permanent marks.
- Floor protection removal and the first proper clean of the new floor, which depends entirely on what the flooring is and what its finish will tolerate.
- Duct and ventilation cleaning where the system was open during the work, which is a specialist service rather than part of the clean.
Why renovation dust is not household dust
In any Australian house built before 1990, the starting assumption has to be that asbestos cement may be present. WorkSafe Victoria's asbestos guidance says many houses built before that date contain asbestos cement materials, especially in the eaves, internal and external wall cladding, ceilings, particularly in wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries, and fences. A bathroom renovation in a 1960s house is a renovation into exactly those materials.
This is the point at which cleaning stops being cleaning. Victoria's asbestos removal licensing puts asbestos-contaminated dust in the licence classes themselves: Class B covers non-friable asbestos or asbestos-contaminated dust associated with or derived from the removal of non-friable asbestos, and Class A covers friable asbestos or asbestos-contaminated dust other than that derived from non-friable removal. The dust has its own legal status. Sweeping it up with a broom and a domestic vacuum is not a shortcut, it is the thing the licensing regime exists to prevent.
Ask the builder, before the cleaners are booked, whether any asbestos-containing material was disturbed, whether a licensed removalist was engaged, and whether a clearance was obtained. If the answer is unclear, stop and resolve it. A cleaning business is entitled to refuse the job, and a good one will.
Who is licensed to deal with what
- In Victoria, a Class B licence holder may perform Class B asbestos removal work, which is non-friable asbestos or asbestos-contaminated dust associated with or derived from the removal of non-friable asbestos.
- A Class A licence holder may perform both Class B and Class A work, which includes friable asbestos and asbestos-contaminated dust other than that derived from non-friable removal.
- Victoria's guidance says asbestos removal work generally must be carried out by a removalist licensed by WorkSafe, or by trained employees of a licence holder, with notification to WorkSafe usually required beforehand.
- It advises engaging a licensed removalist when disturbing large amounts of asbestos cement materials, removing friable asbestos products, or demolishing all or part of a property.
- Licensing is state-based, so check the regulator for your own state or territory rather than assuming Victoria's classes apply unchanged.
- A cleaning business is not an asbestos removalist and should not be asked to act as one, however small the amount of dust looks.
- Keep whatever paperwork the removal generated, including any clearance, with the house records, because it belongs to the building rather than to you.
How a builders clean is actually sequenced
- Confirm the site is finished and that no trade is returning, because one more cut re-dusts the whole house.
- Remove bulk debris and offcuts first, and confirm who is disposing of it, since construction waste is not household waste.
- Work top down: ceilings, cornices, light fittings and the tops of joinery before anything at bench height.
- Remove protective film, tape residue and adhesive from glass, joinery, tapware and appliances, using methods matched to each surface.
- Scrape and detail glass carefully, because a wrongly angled blade on toughened glass leaves marks nothing will remove.
- Vacuum rather than sweep wherever possible, since sweeping puts settled dust straight back into the air.
- Clean inside every cupboard, drawer and cavity, because dust settles inside joinery that was open during the works.
- Return for a second dust pass once the house has been closed up for a day or two, which is the difference between a clean house and a house that looks clean for an afternoon.
What goes wrong on handover cleans
- Scratched glass from scraping, which is the most common and least reversible damage on a builders clean.
- Etched or dulled tapware and stone from an acid product used to shift cement or grout haze.
- Paint pulled off skirtings and architraves when masking tape is removed late or cleaned aggressively.
- Dust reappearing for days, which is normal and is why a second pass should be in the scope rather than a complaint.
- Silicone smears that have cured, which is a trade rectification rather than a cleaning task.
- New flooring damaged by the wrong product, particularly on timber, bamboo and some vinyl planks.
- An older home where nobody asked about asbestos before the sheeting was cut, which turns a cleaning job into a licensed removal job.
- Disputes about who pays, because the builder's contract and the homeowner's expectation of a finished house often disagree about what the final clean includes.
What a builders clean is priced on
- The scale of the works rather than the size of the house, since a single bathroom renovation can dust an entire home.
- How much glass there is, because glass is the slowest surface on any handover clean.
- Whether protective film, tape and adhesive still have to be removed.
- Whether the builder has removed bulk waste, or whether the cleaners are expected to.
- Floor type and finish, which decides both product and method.
- Whether a second dust pass is included, which it should be.
- Height: raked ceilings, voids and stairwells all need access equipment.
- Whether the property is occupied, since a family living in half a renovated house changes how the work can be staged.
Paperwork to keep, and how LokalMatch fits in
Keep the cleaning invoice with the renovation file, alongside the builder's documentation. If any asbestos-containing material was disturbed, keep the removalist's details, the licence class and any clearance documentation. That paperwork belongs to the house and the next owner will want it, and it is the only durable record that the work was done under licence.
The Australian Consumer Law's guarantees apply to the cleaning service itself. The ACCC says services must be carried out with an acceptable level of care and skill, at least as good as what a competent service provider with average skills and experience would provide, and must be fit for any particular purpose made known. Where the problem is minor the business must fix it free of charge; where it is major, including where the service creates an unsafe situation, you can cancel and seek a refund or keep the service at a reduced price. Scratched glass on a handover clean is exactly the kind of issue to raise immediately and in writing, with photographs.
LokalMatch only makes the introduction. You describe the works, the property, whether the site is finished and whether the building pre-dates 1990, and cleaning businesses that cover your area contact you directly. Those businesses pay LokalMatch for the requests they receive. LokalMatch does no cleaning, quotes no prices and does not vet, rank or recommend any business, so confirming the asbestos position with your builder is still your step.
Post-Construction Cleaning: frequently asked questions
Isn't the builder supposed to leave the site clean?
Usually the contract says something about it, and it usually means less than homeowners expect. A builder's clean is typically waste removal and a broom finish, not a detail clean that makes the house liveable. Read the contract before the works start and, if a handover-standard clean is what you want, say so and get it priced. Trying to negotiate it at the end, when the house is full of dust and everyone wants to be finished, goes badly.
My house was built in the 1970s. Should I worry about asbestos dust after a renovation?
You should ask about it before the renovation, not after. WorkSafe Victoria's asbestos guidance says many houses built before 1990 contain asbestos cement materials, especially in the eaves, internal and external wall cladding, ceilings in wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries, and fences. Ask your builder whether any of those materials were disturbed, whether a licensed removalist was used and whether clearance was obtained. Asbestos-contaminated dust is itself licensed removal work in Victoria, so a cleaning business is not the right trade for it.
Why is dust still appearing a week after the clean?
Because fine construction dust stays airborne far longer than household dust and keeps settling out for days, particularly in a house that has been closed up. It also hides in ceiling voids, cornices, cavities and inside joinery and works its way out with air movement. This is why a good builders clean scope includes a second pass a day or two later. If the house was reopened to trades between the clean and the complaint, that is the explanation.
Can the cleaners take away the leftover building waste?
Sometimes, but agree it beforehand and in writing. Construction and demolition waste is not household waste, it goes to different facilities, and some of it, including anything asbestos-related, has its own disposal rules. Most cleaning businesses are set up to remove light debris and packaging but not to take a trailer load of offcuts, tiles and plasterboard. If bulk waste is still on site, that is a skip bin conversation with your builder.
Will the builders clean remove paint overspray and silicone smears?
Overspray and adhesive, usually yes, with the right solvents and patience. Cured silicone smeared on tile or glass is a grey area: it can often be cut back, but doing so on a new surface risks damage, and a smeared bead is really a defect in the trade's work rather than dirt. Photograph it and raise it with the builder before you ask a cleaner to take it on.
Should I clean the ducts and the exhaust fans too?
If the ducted system was open, running or unsealed while cutting and sanding was happening, it is worth having it looked at, because the dust will otherwise be redistributed every time the system runs. This is a separate specialist service rather than part of a builders clean, and it is booked separately. At minimum, have new filters fitted and the return air grille cleaned before the system is used again.
Sources
Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Last reviewed 22 September 2026. How we write and check our guides
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What affects the cost of post-construction cleaning
Prices depend on the details of your project. We only publish price ranges when they’re backed by real LokalMatch quote data or reliable sources. Until then, here’s what usually changes the price:
- Size of the home and number of bathrooms
- Type of clean: regular, deep, move-in or move-out
- Current condition and how long since the last clean
- How often you book
- Extras like inside the oven, fridge, cabinets or windows
- Pets, stairs and access
How to compare cleaners before you hire
- Ask exactly what's included in a standard clean, a deep clean and a move-out clean, since each company defines them differently.
- Check whether the company carries liability insurance and whether cleaners are employees or contractors.
- Ask whether they bring their own supplies and equipment, and whether they can use products you prefer.
- For recurring service, ask whether the same cleaner or team will usually come.
- For specialty work like carpet, upholstery or pressure washing, choose someone with the right equipment for that job.
Questions to ask cleaners before you hire
- What exactly is included in the clean you're quoting?
- Do you bring your own supplies and equipment?
- Are you insured if something is damaged or someone is hurt?
- Will the same person or team come each time?
- How do you handle keys, alarm codes and access to my home?
- What happens if I'm not happy with part of the clean?
Post-construction cleaning permits and local rules
Some post-construction cleaning work needs a permit or has to meet local bylaws. Rules vary by municipality, so ask your pro whether a permit is needed and who will apply for it — and check with your city or town if you’re unsure.
Permits and licensingGuides about post-construction cleaning
- ✦
House Cleaning guide
House cleaning is one of the few home services in Australia that nobody needs a licence to perform. There is no register of cleaners, no occupational licence and no qualification you can ask to see.
Read guide - ✦
Recurring Cleaning guide
Two very different services get booked with the same phone call in Australia: the standing weekly or fortnightly clean, and the end-of-lease clean that has to satisfy a property manager against a condition report.
Read guide - ✦
Deep Cleaning guide
A deep clean is the visit that reaches everything a standing round never touches: inside the oven and the rangehood, behind and under appliances, the tracks of sliding doors and flyscreens, skirtings, door frames, light…
Read guide
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