Service Keepers has been providing clients with new construction clean-up for quite some time; we just have not talked that much about it. However, with all the building and renovation occurring in South Florida, and the prospects that 2021 will be a good year for our economy, we want our site visitors to know we offer this service, starting by sharing what new construction cleanup is all about:
New construction cleanup is the cleaning up of newly constructed or renovated homes and commercial facilities. This cleanup is necessary before these facilities can be lived in or put into use.
Further, there are typically three phases to new construction cleanup. In most cases, all three are necessary.
These three phases of new construction clean-up are the following:
Phase one. This is also known as the “rough clean.” Phase one is performed once the contractor has installed all the necessary framing, plumbing, and electrical work in a facility. It typically consists of the removal of larger debris, trash collection, removal of stickers from windows and doors, along with a general sweeping or vacuuming of the area using a wet/dry vacuum cleaning system.
Phase two. Of the three “phases,” this is the most intensive. Phase two involves the detail cleaning of kitchens, bathrooms, and restrooms including fixtures; vacuuming and cleaning high and low surfaces; further removal of stickers from all fixtures; cleaning walls and glass areas; the cleaning of baseboards, door frames, and windows; and cleaning and finishing hard surface floors if necessary.
Remember, we are cleaning a facility that has been under construction for several weeks, even months. So, dust, soil, and debris will be found just about everywhere. The goal in phase two is to make the facility move-in ready. However, there is one more step in the process.
Phase three. This is the “final clean,” or the “punch clean.” Often, the general contractor, building owner or manager, and the cleaning contractor will have a “punch list” to make sure all areas of the newly constructed facility have been cleaned. These are checked off, or punched, after inspection ensuring these areas have been attended to.
Phase three cleaning may also focus on exterior cleaning, something that has received only moderate attention thus far. Doing so ensures the building is ready for use, inside and out.
New Construction Clean-Up Equipment Needs
Now that we have a good overview of new construction cleaning, we need to talk about the tools involved because there are many. The following are some of the tools cleaning contractors may need in order to provide new construction cleanup services:
· Hard hats for all workers
· Reflective or high visibility safety vests
· Gloves and goggles
· In some cases, uniforms and protective clothing
· Mops and mop buckets
· Air movers (used to dry just cleaned floors and carpets)
· A large, industrial use, wet/dry vacuum cleaner
· An automatic scrubber to clean hard-surface floors. New floors often have a film applied to the floor during the manufacturing process. This film must be removed before the floor can be finished. Automatic scrubbers remove this film along with any soil build-up on the floors.
· Professional vacuum cleaners and carpet extractors. If an older carpet in a renovation has been retained, the carpet should be cleaned using a carpet extractor. Carpet extraction deep cleans carpet, removing soils, dust, and debris.
As you can see, there is quite a bit involved to new construction cleanup and hiring a cleaning contractor to perform this service is not always easy. Here are some tips that can help:
· Get several bids.
· Ask for references.
· Do not hire a “newbie.” New construction cleanup is complicated. Look for a cleaning contractor that has ample experience providing this service.
· Select the contractor with a “fair price.” The low bidder and the high bidder should be avoided. High and low bids often reflect inexperience performing this type of work. A fair bid will be somewhere in the middle and is likely the contractor that should be selected.
Interested in learning more? Then get in touch today. We’re Service Keepers and we’re here for you.
