Post Construction Cleaning Rates, Examples & How to Choose the Best Company

Written by: Ashley Smith

Ashley is an accomplished writer with a B.A. in journalism from the University of NH. She reports on major developments across business, technology, and the professional cleaning industry.

Reviewed by: Karen Lawes Maguire

Karen is the founder and CEO of CleanerMatch.com, a leading cleaning industry website. With 10+ years experience, she's an expert on new cleaning technologies, regulations, and best practices.

Last Updated: Jan 15th, 2024

The construction process leaves a big mess, both inside and outside of the building. Someone has to clean it up, but most contractors don't have the spare time and labor. Post-construction cleaning services specialize in making a property sparkle under a tight deadline.

According to Steve Hansen of TheJanitorialStore, post construction cleanup pricing averages:

• "10 to 15 cents a square foot" for a rough clean
• "15 to 30 cents a square foot" for a final clean
• "6 to 12 cents a square foot" for a touch-up or light clean

Table of Contents

1. Post Construction Cleaning Rates
2. Cost Examples
3. Choosing a Post-Construction Cleaning Service
4. Free Post Construction Cleaning Estimates

Commercial Post Construction Cleaning Rates

• Per Square Foot: Some cleaning companies charge per square foot of cleaned space. On average, post-construction cleaning costs can range from $0.10 to $0.50 or more per square foot. Larger or more complex projects may be at the higher end of this range.
• Hourly Rates: Some cleaning companies charge hourly rates for their services. Rates can vary by location but often range from $25 to $50 per hour per cleaner. The number of cleaners needed depends on the size of the project.
• Fixed or Flat Rates: In some cases, cleaning companies may offer fixed or flat rates for standard post-construction cleaning projects. These rates can range from a few hundred dollars for small projects to several thousand dollars for larger ones.
• Custom Quotes: Many factors can affect the final cost, including the extent of debris, the need for specialized cleaning (e.g., high ceilings, delicate surfaces), and any additional services required (e.g., window cleaning, HVAC cleaning). For this reason, most professional cleaning companies provide custom quotes after assessing the specific needs of the project.

The cost of post-construction cleaning depends on the size and difficulty of the job, the cleaning service you choose and your geographic location.

Post Construction Cleaning Cost Examples

Here are some real-world examples of what companies paid for post construction cleaning services:

• "For cleaning a completed 5,000 square foot office building before the tenant moved in, the general contractor paid us $2,000. Our crew performed dust removal, floor scrubbing, window cleaning, and hauled away construction debris."
• "A homebuilder paid our cleaning company $3,500 to deep clean a newly finished 3,000 square foot luxury house before the homeowners moved in. We cleaned all surfaces, appliances, fixtures, vents, and did detailed touch ups."
• "For cleaning a finished 10,000 square foot medical office post construction, the developer paid us $6,000. Our services included debris removal, disinfecting, window cleaning, exterior pressure washing, and thorough floor cleaning."
• "A construction company hired us at $10,000 to clean a completed 25,000 square foot big box retail space prior to tenant build out. We power washed the exterior, swept the parking lot, removed construction dust, and scrubbed floors."
• "For comprehensive interior and exterior cleaning of a newly built 50,000 square foot warehouse, the contractor paid $18,000. This involved extensive industrial grade pressure washing and floor cleaning."
• "A commercial builder paid us $30,000 for intensive cleaning of a finished 100,000 square foot office highrise including all common areas, garage, exterior windows, and tenant spaces before occupancy."

The examples show costs ranging from thousands for small scale projects to tens of thousands for large commercial construction cleaning projects depending on square footage.

Choosing a Post-Construction Cleaning Service

• Shop around before deciding on a cleaning service. Ask other contractors for referrals and interview several companies before selecting one.
• Do some background research on any company you're thinking of hiring. At the very least, check the company's track record with the Better Business Bureau.
• Make sure any cleaning service you hire is fully licensed, bonded and insured. Some states require post-construction cleanup services to have a contractor's license. And in some states, the contractor can be fined if the cleaning service is not licensed.
• Get a quote in advance and get it in writing. Make sure it includes a list of tasks to be completed so there's no confusion later on.

Sources:

• NCCER: How to Properly Clean a Site Post-Construction
• Post Contruction Cleaning Checklist

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