Love Your Renovation: Post-Construction Cleaning Tips
It’s that time of year - the time for renovations galore!
Even more so this year as people use their travelling funds for home improvements as we continue through COVID adjustments.
And with each of these renovations comes the dreaded renovation dust! Thick, sticky, heavy dust that lasts and lasts.
The dust that renovation companies often promise to keep to a minimum. To contain. To try and control.
The truth is - no renovation company can truly control the dust that comes with renovations. Yes - some things can be done to contain it. But, there will always be a need for a proper post-renovation deep clean. This helps to ensure the renovation experience won’t fall flat.
So, what are some of the things to consider when looking for a renovation that ends in relaxation...not grumbles over dust floaties?
Minimal Dust is Still Dust
There really should be three things in life that are guaranteed: DUST, death, and taxes. There’s no way around it. Dust will always be a part of your renovation.
To support your overall renovation experience, ask what procedures the construction company has in place for keeping dust to a minimum (e.g.coverand protecting floors/windows, safely blocking vents, etc.). This will help contain the dust from flowing through to the rest of your house. The hazard here is if dust is not contained, it will require deeper cleaning beyond the room(s) where the renovation was completed. Ventilation systems carry this thick dust from room to room. If not accounted for, you could be looking at a hefty cleaning bill just to ensure all the dust is removed and your air quality is decent.
Other items to inquire about are:
what type of cleaning post-renovation is included in the contracting company’s scope?
if cleaning is not included in the renovation scope, what is their solution for cleaning?
do they have a relationship with a cleaning company for this specific reason?
Recognize that even if there is minimal dust that’s all contained, it will still be a frustration if it is not properly taken care of, taking away from the renovation itself.
Renovations have Cleaning Stages
One of the biggest misconceptions is that there are stages in renovation cleanings.
Renovation dust takes time to settle. Even minimal dust.
The clients we support with post renovation/construction cleaning (this includes our renovation partners who coordinate on behalf of their clients) are best supported in stages. An example of what this staged cleaning process looks like includes:
Construction Clean. Here, most of the cleaning is done. This clean allows the trades to see what deficiencies there are to fix. (Oh yes - cleaning helps to identify where any knicks are, where things are misaligned, etc.). This clean also collects the majority of the renovation dust. Depending on the renovation itself, we may also complete the inside windows at this point, or leave it to the Final Clean.
Final Clean. Here is when we come in and again vacuum and wipe everything down (once trades have finished all final touches). This removes any final dust that settled since the initial construction clean and is to be completed prior to occupation (if possible).
Trade Tools Always Matter
We can vacuum until we’re blue in the face, but if we don’t take care of that vacuum and change the bag, then we are merely spewing these heavy, sticky dust particles right back into the air.
I’m not sure why renovation dust is unlike everyday dust, with its ability to linger long after it’s wanted, but it is. I do know that a simple wipe down is not going to cut it for post-construction cleans in getting rid of this dust. Neither will a simple rag.
An invested post-renovation cleaning company will show up with the following each time:
A good vacuum that they know how to properly use. Learn more about this here. We highly recommend that the vacuum is HEPA-equipped for proper filtering of the dust particles.
A scraper. Even the best painters will always have a couple of spots that fly through the air. Our fresh eyes allow us to spot and then remove these mini splatters with ease.
Quality products. At Clean Club Calgary, we do not use a lot of harsh cleaning agents. Rather, we show up with our dish soap, Tide, Bar Keeper’s Friend, a bit of bleach, and a whole lot of elbow grease. These are the products that we find get the best results.
Brushes, dusters, and our microfiber cloths. These tools should be able to trap dust and fully remove it rather than merely pushing it around. To learn more about our favourite cleaning tools, click here.
With the right tools (and the proper training), cleaning augments the home renovation, creating a positive overall experience for you, the homeowner! The ultimate reward? You get to simply enjoy the renovation...not any lingering dust.
Right now, the construction industry is in full swing, working all hours to complete the projects so many Calgarians are investing in post-COVID. It’s important to work with a renovation company that understands the importance of the entire experience, beginning to end of a renovation. Someone who recognizes the need for a cleaning relationship that is high quality, can work with a flexible schedule, and collaborate with your construction crew for a coordinated clean.
Remember, you’re renovating for a reason and I’m certain it’s not to sit in a pile of dust at the end of everything.
If you’re in the middle of a renovation and are now thinking about a post-renovation clean, reach on out for a customized quote.
If you are a renovation company yourself and are looking for a cleaning company to support you with this aspect of your customer experience, let’s connect for a deeper chat.