Older Sydney homes: asbestos comes before the builders clean
Many homes built or renovated before 1990 contain asbestos. Do not dry sweep or vacuum material that might contain it, and use a licensed asbestos removalist if it needs to go, because anything that may contain asbestos isn't part of a cleaning job. Building dust can also carry fine silica, so never dry sweep it or blow it around with compressed air, and never use a household vacuum, even one with a HEPA filter. If a house built before 1970 had lead paint disturbed, keep children and pregnant women away, and don't sweep up the dust.
What's different about after-builders cleaning in Sydney
Old terraces and semis
Sydney's terraces date back to the early 19th century, so renovation dust here can come from very old paint and plaster. Tell the business the home's age and what was opened up.
Apartment renovations
With 31% of homes in Greater Sydney in flats and apartments in the 2021 Census, a lot of building work happens over someone else's ceiling. Check what your strata allows, and book the lift for the clean as well as the trades.
Newer kitchens
Australia banned the supply and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs from 1 July 2024, and stone already installed isn't an ongoing risk. Cutting dust left behind from concrete, brick and tile is still silica dust, so it gets the same care.
Rubbish stays with the builder
Rubbish removal isn't part of a cleaning job on Cleaner Scout. Ask your builder to clear offcuts, drums and packaging first, so the business can get to every surface.
The usual Sydney after-builders cleaning list
- Fine dust on every surface, including inside cupboards and drawers.
- Window frames and tracks.
- Light fittings.
- Floors.
- Paint and plaster spots on hard surfaces.
Warning signs in a Sydney builders clean quote
- A plan to blow the dust out with compressed air or a leaf blower.
- Dry sweeping the whole place to start with.
- An ordinary household vacuum for building dust.
- An offer to pick up broken sheeting that might contain asbestos. That's a job for a licensed removalist.
Questions that sort out Sydney after-builders cleaners
- How do you deal with fine dust? Listen for mopping, wet wiping or a Class M or H vacuum with a HEPA filter.
- Will you need a second visit once the dust has settled?
- Does your quote include the insides of cupboards and drawers?
- What won't you touch?
Where we'd start after a Sydney renovation
Wait until the trades and their rubbish are gone, and if the home was built or renovated before 1990, get any doubtful material checked before anything is swept. Then ask the business exactly how they'll handle fine dust, and get the answer in writing with the quote.