Construction projects are designed to enhance your commercial facility, but if you don’t clean up afterward, your building will be anything but better off. Dust, debris, and misplaced materials are commonplace during and after any construction process, no matter how big or small. Letting these materials linger undoubtedly diminishes your facility’s appearance. More importantly, however, this loose debris can create numerous health and safety hazards. If there’s one thing to focus on after a construction project, then, it’s post-construction cleaning. Proper construction clean-up consists of many tasks, and no area or surface should be overlooked. With all this in mind, here’s what to do after a major construction project at your commercial facility.

What to Do After a Major Construction Project

Haul Away Construction Debris

As a good rule of thumb, construction debris removal should start big and get smaller over time. Larger pieces of debris should be removed from the premises early on in the clean-up process for several reasons. For starters, heavier chunks pose a more immediate safety threat to workers and nearby occupants. Moreover, large debris is easily visible, so little effort is required to locate it and take care of it. Additionally, the longer these bigger post-construction materials hang around, the more they contribute to further debris (i.e., smaller pieces falling off of larger chunks of concrete or brick). Lastly, large debris often conceals and obstructs smaller detritus that must also be removed – these areas are much easier to access when the big pieces have been taken away. Most construction sites will have large debris hauled away during the project so there’s less to worry about when the project is complete.

Dust and Deep Clean Interior and Exterior Surfaces

After you’ve gotten rid of the larger pieces of post-construction debris, plenty of dust will remain in its wake, coating surfaces both inside and outside your building. Dust more easily clings to porous surfaces like concrete, fabric, and untreated wood, so these should be inspected and cleaned first. Cleaning exterior surfaces is often best accomplished via pressure washing, though certain surfaces may require manual scrubbing or a more intense cleaning method such as abrasive blasting. More caution must be taken when cleaning interior spaces to prevent damage to objects and furniture. Different cleaning solutions are necessary for different surfaces and rooms. When dusting interiors, start with the highest-up surfaces (e.g., ceilings, fans, shelves) and work your way down, as dust will land on surfaces below.

Wash Windows Inside and Out

Windows can quickly become filthy during a major construction project. Because these surfaces are supposed to be transparent, any dust, dirt, and debris that clings to them is readily apparent. Cleaning both sides of your building’s windows is essential for restoring their shine and allowing the highest amount of natural light to enter (this is crucial for keeping energy costs low and morale up). Cleaning the outsides of windows presents a larger challenge, especially for taller buildings, as ladders, scaffolding, and other elevation devices are required for cleaning crews to access each and every pane. Fortunately, this equipment is usually readily available for cleaning crews since they’re also used for construction purposes.

Thoroughly Clean Floors

As mentioned earlier, interior dust and debris ultimately fall to the floor during the cleaning process. Knowing this, the floors inside your building are among the most important surfaces to thoroughly clean following construction – they should also land towards the end of your construction clean-up checklist to avoid redundancies. The cleaning processes you employ for your floors will depend on their composition. Soft, porous floors (i.e., carpeting) will attract the most dust and require a combination of high-powered vacuuming, shampooing, and steam cleaning for the best results. Hard floors may require sweeping/dusting, vacuuming, wet mopping, deep scrubbing, burnishing/buffing, stripping, waxing, grout restoration, and more. Each and every floor, no matter its size or type, must receive some form of deep cleaning after a major construction project to maximize indoor air quality (IAQ).

Remove Stickers from New Appliances

Though certainly not as important as the post-construction tasks listed above, this task shouldn’t be overlooked. After a construction clean-up crew has removed every ounce of dust and debris from the facility, they should run through the work area and take off any stickers or unnecessary labels still attached to brand new equipment. This final touch delivers an air of completion to the project, cementing a fresh start for the facility. Those in charge of facility management should make sure that warning labels and other important stickers stay put, of course – these are necessary to remain compliant, ensure proper equipment use, and keep all personnel safe.

Don’t Let the Dust Settle After Construction

Your latest construction job might be over with, but that doesn’t mean there’s no more work to do. Thorough construction clean-up is a key component of any construction project. At The Budd Group, we take cleaning seriously, knowing just how crucial it is to a facility’s reputation, appearance, and safety. The construction clean-up services we offer include but are not limited to:

• Interior and Exterior Window Cleaning

• Dusting and Washing All Newly Built and/or Renovated Surfaces

• Removing Stickers on New Fixtures and Appliances

• Hauling Construction Debris

• Heavy Lifting

• Ladder Work

• Interior Glass, Marble, and Tile Cleaning and Polishing

• Dusting and Washing Ceilings and Walls

• Deep Cleaning and Dust Removal

• Vacuuming, Carpet Cleaning, and Floor Care

To learn more about our services and values, give us a call today at 800-221-8158!