After Builders Cleaning Cost in Dublin
How a post construction clean is priced, what changes a quote, what a proper builders clean actually includes, and how to compare two quotes fairly.
How much does after builders cleaning cost?
After builders cleaning is quoted on the size of the property and the state the site is left in, not on an hourly rate. The biggest variables are how much construction dust and residue remains, whether paint, adhesive or plaster splashes need removing, and whether the job is a single clean or a two-stage rough and sparkle.
A post construction clean is a different job from a domestic deep clean, and pricing it like one is the most common reason quotes come back wildly different. Two properties of identical size can take very different amounts of work depending entirely on how carefully the trades cleaned up behind themselves.
This guide explains what actually drives the number, so you can describe your property accurately, compare quotes on the same basis, and spot the ones that will grow on the day.
What changes an after builders cleaning quote
On published prices. We do not publish a fixed price list for post construction cleaning, because the state a site is left in changes the job more than its size does. Send photographs of the property with your enquiry and we will give you a firm price rather than a range that moves on the day.
Rough clean and sparkle clean
Most well-run projects budget for two cleans rather than one. Understanding the difference is the quickest way to work out what you actually need to pay for.
| Rough clean | Sparkle clean | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Once the trades are finished and the site is clear | Immediately before handover, viewing or move-in |
| Purpose | Remove bulk debris, dust and residue so the property is workable | Bring the property to a finished, presentable standard |
| Typical work | Debris removal, gross dust extraction, splash removal, first floor clean | Full detail clean, glass, sanitaryware, fittings, final dust |
| Why it matters | Skipping it means the sparkle clean absorbs the heavy work and costs more | Fine dust keeps settling for days after the rough clean, so this catches it |
If the budget only allows one visit, the sparkle clean is the one to keep, scheduled as late as possible. But be aware a single clean on a heavily soiled site takes considerably longer than a sparkle clean on a property that has already had a rough clean, and it should be priced accordingly.
What a proper builders clean includes
This is where quotes differ most, and where the cheapest one is often cheapest because it covers less. A complete post construction clean should cover the following as standard.
- Removal of construction dust from all surfaces, including high level and ledges
- Paint, adhesive, plaster and silicone splash removal from glass, tiles and sanitaryware
- Sticker and protective film removal from windows, appliances and fittings
- Internal glass cleaned, with external glass agreed separately
- Full sanitaryware and kitchen clean, including inside units where specified
- Floors vacuumed and washed, with the appropriate method for the finish
- Skirting, door frames, sockets, switches and radiators detailed
- Final dust pass once everything else is complete
The dust point that catches people out. Fine construction dust stays airborne and keeps settling for days after work stops. A property cleaned the same afternoon the trades leave will look dusty again by the next morning. Timing the final clean matters as much as the quality of it, which is why the sparkle clean is scheduled as close to handover as possible.
How to compare two quotes fairly
A lower figure covering less is not a lower price. These are the questions that make two post construction cleaning quotes genuinely comparable.
- Is this one visit or a rough and sparkle clean?
- Is paint and adhesive splash removal included, or extra?
- Are windows included, and internal only or both sides?
- Is sticker and film removal from glass and appliances included?
- Is waste and debris removal included, or do we arrange that?
- What happens if the site is left in worse condition than quoted?
- Are you insured for work on a construction or handover site?
That second-to-last question is the one worth pressing on. A quote given from photographs assumes a condition. Ask up front how variation is handled, so a reasonable adjustment does not arrive as a surprise invoice after handover.
Renovation, new build and commercial fit-out
The job changes depending on who is commissioning it. A homeowner after a kitchen extension, a developer handing over units and a contractor closing out a commercial fit-out have different deadlines and different standards to hit.
| Project | What matters most | Usual timing |
|---|---|---|
| Home renovation or extension | Living in the property again quickly, with dust fully cleared | Single clean, sometimes staged if work is phased |
| New build handover | Presentation standard for a buyer walking in for the first time | Rough clean, then sparkle clean timed to handover |
| Landlord or letting | Ready to photograph and let without a second visit | Single sparkle clean, scheduled before viewings |
| Commercial fit-out | Hitting a fixed handover date around other trades | Staged around programme, often out of hours |
If your project is a commercial fit-out rather than a residential renovation, our commercial cleaning services page covers the wider range, and commercial window cleaning is usually worth scheduling alongside a handover clean while access equipment is still on site.
Getting an accurate quote
The fastest route to a firm number is photographs. Send images of each room in its current state, tell us the property size and whether the trades have finished, and say when you need it done by.
If you want the service detail rather than the pricing, our after builders cleaning in Dublin page covers what we do and how we work. If the property is being handed back to a landlord rather than newly built, end of tenancy cleaning is the closer fit.
Common questions about after builders cleaning costs
On the size of the property and the state it has been left in, rather than on an hourly rate. How much dust and residue remains, whether paint and adhesive need removing, and whether you need one clean or a rough and sparkle clean all move the figure more than floor area alone does.
A rough clean removes bulk debris, dust and residue once the trades finish, making the property workable. A sparkle clean is the detailed finish immediately before handover or move-in. Many projects need both, because fine dust keeps settling for days after the rough clean.
It should be, and it is worth confirming explicitly. Removing dried paint, adhesive and plaster from glass, tiles and sanitaryware is slow, careful work and is the item most often left out of a cheap quote then added as an extra afterwards.
As late as possible, and only once every trade is genuinely finished. Fine construction dust stays airborne and resettles for days, so a property cleaned the same afternoon work stops will look dusty again by morning. Timing matters as much as the standard of the clean.
Debris removal as part of the clean is normally included, but bulk construction waste disposal is a separate arrangement and should be confirmed rather than assumed. Ask any provider directly, because it is a common cause of two quotes looking different for no obvious reason.
Yes, and it is the fastest route to a firm number. Send images of each room in its current state, the property size, and your handover date. Photographs show the condition, which is what actually drives the price on a post construction clean.