After Builders Cleaning in Ilford (IG)

The builders have packed up, but there’s still a film of dust on every surface, paint spots on the glass and grit in the window tracks. Our after builders cleaning in Ilford gets your home or business from building site to usable space, with a room-by-room clean planned around the work you’ve had done. We cover properties across IG, from loft conversions and kitchen extensions to full refits of flats, shops and offices.

Send us a few photos and a quick description of the work, and we’ll come back with a clear quote. Call 020 4652 5129 or get a free quote online.

Why renovation dust needs more than a quick vacuum

Plaster and sanding dust is much finer than household dust. It hangs in the air for hours after work stops, then settles on every flat surface, including ones you’d never think to check. A standard home vacuum often blows the finest particles straight back out or clogs within minutes.

We clean from the top down, so dust that falls from door frames and light fittings is picked up later rather than landing on a floor that’s already done. We vacuum first and wipe second. Dry-wiping gritty dust across gloss paint, new worktops or glass can leave fine scratches, so we lift the loose dust before any cloth touches the surface.

That’s the main difference between a proper post renovation clean and a tidy-up. It’s also why the job often takes longer than people expect.

What’s included in a builders clean

Every job starts from an agreed checklist built around your property and the work that was done. A typical clean covers the following.

Throughout the property

• Dust removal from walls, ceilings, coving and cornicing where reachable
• Tops of doors, door frames, architraves and skirting boards
• Light switches, sockets, radiators and radiator valves
• Window sills, frames and the inside of window tracks
• Internal glass, mirrors and glazed doors
• Vacuuming and damp-mopping hard floors, including edges and corners
• Vacuuming carpets and rugs to lift surface dust

Kitchens

• Inside and outside of all cupboards and drawers
• Worktops, splashbacks and cupboard handles
• Outside of appliances, plus extractor hood surfaces
• Sinks and taps, including light paint or plaster spots where safe to remove

New kitchens collect dust inside every unit, so cupboards need to be empty. If you’ve already moved things in, let us know and we’ll plan around it.

Bathrooms

• Tiles, grout lines and light grout haze on new tiling
• Shower screens, baths, basins, toilets and taps
• Extractor fan grilles and the tops of cabinets
• Light silicone smears and sticker residue on new fittings

We keep separate cloths for bathrooms and kitchens on every job.

Extras, limits and when cleaning isn’t the answer

Some tasks need separate agreement because they take specialist equipment or extra time. Tell us when you enquire and we’ll include them in the quote.

Usually quoted as extras:

• Deep carpet extraction after dust has worked into the fibres. Our carpet cleaning service can follow the builders clean once the room is finished.
• External windows and high-level glazing, such as skylights in a loft conversion. See our window cleaning page.
• Oven interiors if a cooker was used during the works.
• Removing protective film from new windows and doors.

What a clean can’t fix:

• Heavy paint, mortar or cement. We’ll remove light splashes where the surface allows it. Thick, dried-on deposits may need the trade who caused them, or a specialist.
• Damaged finishes. Scratched glass, stained grout or chipped units won’t come good with cleaning, and we’ll tell you rather than risk making it worse.
• Damp and mould from structural problems. We can clean visible marks, but they’ll come back until the cause is fixed.
• Hazardous materials. We don’t handle asbestos or chemical waste. If we find anything suspicious, we stop and tell you.
• Rubble and waste. We clean. Skips, bulky waste and leftover materials need clearing first.

How a post renovation clean works

1. Tell us about the job. Send photos of each room, the type of work done and roughly how big the property is. For larger commercial sites, we may suggest a walkthrough first.
2. We agree the checklist and price. You’ll get a room-by-room scope and a price agreed upfront, with any extras listed separately.
3. We arrange access. We’ll confirm arrival time, keys, alarm codes and parking before the day.
4. We clean. Our vetted, insured cleaners bring the supplies and equipment, including vacuums suited to fine dust.
5. We do a final check. Before we leave, we walk through against the agreed tasks. If something in scope has been missed, contact us promptly and we’ll arrange to put it right. We’ll confirm how that works when you book.

What you need to sort before we arrive

• Make sure all trades have finished, including painters and electricians
• Leave the electricity and water on, with working lights in each room
• Clear rubble, offcuts, tools and leftover materials
• Empty cupboards in new kitchens and bathrooms where possible
• Tell us about any delicate finishes: natural stone, lacquered wood, brushed metal or specialist paints

Fine dust keeps settling for a day or two after the last sanding. If you can, leave a short gap before the clean and keep windows open to help it clear.

How long does an after builders clean take?

It depends on the size of the property and how much dust is left. Refreshing one room after a bathroom refit might take a few hours. A full house after an extension and loft conversion could take a full day with a team, or more.

Photos help us give you a realistic estimate. If you’re planning around a move-in date or a shop reopening, tell us the deadline and we’ll plan around it where we can.

What changes the price

We don’t quote blind, because two “three-bed renovations” can be completely different jobs. The price depends on:

• Size of the property and number of rooms affected
• How much dust and residue is left, which depends on whether the builders cleaned as they went
• The task list, including cupboard interiors, paint spot removal and grout haze
• Specialist methods or extras, such as carpet extraction or external glass
• Access, including stairs, lifts, parking and working hours

You can read more about how we put quotes together on our pricing page. The quote is free and there’s no obligation.

Working in homes, flats and business premises

Occupied homes. Plenty of people in Ilford live through their renovation. We can work room by room around you, but dust travels, so we’ll agree which areas are off limits and in what order we clean.

Terraces, flats and loft conversions. Many properties around Ilford are older terraces or flats with tight stairs. Tell us about narrow access or top-floor flats without lifts so we can plan equipment and timing.

Parking. Many streets have permit parking or limited space. Let us know if there’s a driveway, a visitor permit or the nearest place we can unload.

Shops and offices. For a retail unit or office refit, we’ll schedule around your opening date and any other trades still on site. Commercial jobs often need out-of-hours access, so we’ll agree key handling and alarm arrangements in advance.

Pets and allergies. Keep pets away from the work area for their safety and ours. If anyone in the household has allergies or prefers particular products, tell us before the visit. Eco-friendly product options are available on request, and we check they’re suitable for each surface.

Getting it right on new surfaces

New finishes are often the most expensive part of a renovation, and the easiest to damage with the wrong product.

• We check before we scrub. Natural stone, marble and some engineered worktops can be etched by acidic cleaners. We use products suited to the material.
• Test patches first. On paint splashes, adhesive residue or grout haze, we try a small hidden area before working across the whole surface.
• Blades only where safe. A scraper on toughened glass can lift paint spots. On coated or low-E glass, it can cause damage, so we’re careful about where we use one.
• Fresh paint needs time. Recently painted walls can mark easily. We dust them gently rather than wiping hard.
• Product instructions followed. We rinse where needed, so kitchen worktops and bathroom surfaces are safe to use straight after.

Why people choose us for builders cleans

The difference is in the planning. We ask what was done, which surfaces are new and what the deadline is, then build the checklist around that. You know what’s included before we arrive, and the final walkthrough is checked against the same list. If you’ve got a post-tenancy turnaround, landlord handover or shop launch around Ilford, that clarity matters.

After builders cleaning FAQs

How soon after the builders finish should I book? Usually a day or two after the last trade leaves. That gives the finest dust time to settle so it doesn’t land on surfaces we’ve just cleaned. If you’re on a tight deadline, we can come sooner and plan a quick second dust pass if needed.

Do you bring your own equipment? Yes. We bring cleaning supplies and vacuums suited to fine dust. If you’d like us to use particular products on certain surfaces, tell us when you book.

Will you remove paint splashes from windows and floors? Usually, if they’re light and the surface allows it. We test first. Heavy or dried-on paint, mortar and cement may need specialist removal, and we’ll tell you if that’s the case.

Can you clean while the builders are still working? We can, but it’s rarely worth it, because the dust comes straight back. A rough clean mid-project and a full clean at the end often works better for long jobs.

Do you take away building waste? No. We clean the property, but rubble, offcuts and leftover materials need clearing before we start.

Can you clean carpets after renovation? Yes, as a separate service. We’ll vacuum carpets as part of the builders clean, and deep extraction can be added once the rooms are finished.

Do you cover commercial refits? Yes. We clean shops, offices and other commercial premises after refits, and we’ll schedule around your opening date where possible.

Get your renovation finished properly

You’ve spent the money on the work. Let us clear the dust so you can actually use the space. Send us photos and details, and we’ll put together a checklist and a price agreed upfront.

Call 020 4652 5129 | Email us