Asbestos in an older Brisbane house: check before sweeping
A home built or renovated before 1990 may contain asbestos, mainly in wall and floor sheeting, roofing and pipes. The Queensland Government says not to dust, sweep or vacuum dust or debris that may contain it, so check with your builder before any cleaning starts. Anything that may contain asbestos isn't part of a cleaning job on Cleaner Scout. In a house built before 1970 where lead paint was used, don't sweep up the dust or use an ordinary vacuum on it either.
After-builders cleaning in Brisbane, Queenslanders included
Closing in under the house
The space under a Queenslander is often enclosed to add living area. If that's your project, the dust won't stay downstairs, so ask for a quote that covers both levels.
Getting a rental ready
Owners between tenants: in Queensland, the entry condition report is prepared on or before the day the tenant moves in (s 65(2)). Book the clean before it's written, so the report records the home at its cleanest.
Rubbish comes first
Rubbish removal isn't part of a clean, so the builder clears their materials before the cleaner starts. Brisbane's kerbside collection is for heavy and large household items, so don't count on it for the leftovers from a job.
Dust, cupboards and tracks: a Brisbane builders clean
- Fine dust on every surface
- Inside cupboards and drawers
- Window frames and tracks
- Light fittings
- Floors
- Paint or plaster spots on hard surfaces
Why silica dust needs care in Brisbane renovations
Concrete, bricks, tiles, mortar and engineered stone all contain crystalline silica, and breathing in the fine dust can cause serious illness. WorkSafe Victoria says never to use compressed air, dry sweeping or high-pressure water to clean it up, because that's likely to put it into the air.
The safer ways are low-pressure hosing, mopping, wet wiping or a HEPA filtered Dust Class M or H vacuum. SafeWork NSW says a household vacuum should never be used where silica dust may be present, even with a HEPA filter.
Ask Brisbane after-builders cleaners how they handle dust
- Do you take on after-builders jobs often, or mostly house cleans?
- How do you deal with fine dust, and what kind of vacuum do you use?
- Is the inside of every cupboard and drawer in the quote?
- What do you need finished and cleared before you start?
- Can I have what's included in writing?
Book the Brisbane builders clean once the site is clear
Wait until the last trade has gone and the rubbish has left the site. If the house was built or renovated before 1990, ask your builder what was cut, drilled or disturbed, and get any doubtful material checked before anyone cleans. Once that's settled, book the clean and ask how the business handles fine dust.