Post-construction cleaning for new homes, remodels and build-outs
Houston never stops building. Every new home in a Katy or Cypress subdivision and every tenant build-out downtown ends the same way: a layer of fine dust on everything, stickers on every window, and a closing or move-in date.
Construction cleaning comes in three passes, and builders usually book them separately. The rough clean happens after drywall and paint, before flooring and fixtures: debris out, floors swept, the worst of the dust vacuumed so trim carpenters and flooring crews are not working in it. The final clean happens when the trades are done: every surface vacuumed with HEPA filtration and wiped by hand, window stickers and labels removed, paint and grout haze cleaned from tile, fixtures polished, cabinets wiped inside and out, and floors cleaned to the manufacturer's instructions for that flooring. The touch-up clean comes right before the walkthrough or the closing, after the punch-list crews have been through.
Drywall dust is the hard part. It is fine enough to sit in cabinet hinges, outlet covers, light fixtures and air returns, and a dry rag only pushes it around. We vacuum first with HEPA machines, then damp-wipe, then vacuum again. Window glass is scraped carefully with a fresh blade for paint and adhesive, never on low-E coatings or tinted film without checking the manufacturer's guidance first.
We work for builders, remodelers, general contractors on commercial build-outs, and homeowners who have just finished a kitchen or bathroom remodel. For a builder, we can schedule cleans across a whole phase of a subdivision and work to the superintendent's calendar.
On the checklist
- Rough cleandebris removed, floors swept, heavy dust vacuumed between trades
- Final cleanHEPA vacuum and hand wipe of every surface, inside cabinets and drawers
- Glassstickers, paint and adhesive removed, frames and tracks cleaned
- Tile and fixturesgrout haze and caulk smears removed, fixtures polished
- Vents and fixturesair returns, registers, light fixtures and fan blades de-dusted
- Touch-up cleanafter the punch list, before the walkthrough or closing
Houston price ranges for 2026
| Job | Typical range | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| Final clean, new home, per sq ft | $0.25 – $0.45 per sq ft | Level of dust and debris |
| Rough clean, new home, per sq ft | $0.10 – $0.20 per sq ft | Debris haul-off extra |
| Touch-up clean before closing | $150 – $350 | Usually a few hours |
| Kitchen or bath remodel cleanup | $200 – $500 | Size of the work area |
| Commercial build-out final clean | $0.20 – $0.40 per sq ft | Ceiling height, glass, fixtures |
| Window sticker and paint removal | $6 – $15 per window | Both sides |
Construction cleans are priced from plans or a site visit. Builders with several homes in a phase get a fixed price per plan.
From recent visits
Questions about post-construction cleaning
When should post-construction cleaning be booked?
The final clean should happen after every trade is finished, but before the walkthrough. Book a touch-up clean after the punch list if there will be a gap.
Can you remove paint from windows without scratching them?
Yes, with a new blade, plenty of lubricant and the right angle. Coated, tinted or film-covered glass is checked against the manufacturer's guidance before we scrape.
Do you haul away construction debris?
Small amounts during a rough clean, yes. Dumpsters and large debris are the builder's responsibility.
Can you clean while trades are still working?
Rough cleans, yes. A final clean while trades are working usually needs to be repeated, so we recommend waiting.
Do you clean after a home remodel?
Yes. Remodel dust spreads through the house, so we clean the work area in detail and do a dusting pass of the rooms around it.
Do you work for builders on several homes at once?
Yes, and we price per plan so the superintendent knows the cost for every lot.