Post-Renovation Cleaning

Post-Renovation Cleaning in Montreal — Turn Your Construction Zone Back Into a Home

Renovations improve your home, but the cleanup they leave behind is a different story entirely. Construction dust is remarkably persistent — it settles on every surface, gets inside cabinets you thought were sealed, infiltrates ventilation systems, coats light fixtures, and finds its way into corners you didn't know existed. Paint splatters mark your floors, adhesive residue sticks to countertops, and fine gypsum dust creates a film over everything.

Standard cleaning products and household vacuums aren't designed to handle this. You need a specialized post-renovation cleaning service.

Sparkling Stays provides professional post-renovation and post-construction cleaning designed to remove fine dust, debris, paint residue, adhesive marks, and all traces of construction work so your newly renovated space is actually livable. We transform construction zones back into clean, comfortable homes.

What's Included in Post-Renovation Cleaning

Post-renovation cleaning is significantly more intensive than a standard deep clean. Construction creates a unique type of mess that requires specialized techniques and equipment. Here's what we cover:

Dust Removal — The Foundation of Post-Renovation Cleaning

• HEPA-filter vacuuming of all surfaces, floors, walls, and ceilings
• Wet-wiping of all hard surfaces to capture remaining fine dust (dry dusting alone just redistributes construction dust)
• Inside all cabinets, drawers, and closets — even those that were closed during renovation
• Behind and under appliances, furniture, and fixtures
• Vent covers, air returns, and accessible ductwork openings
• Light fixtures, ceiling fans, and electrical plates
• Baseboards, trim, crown moulding, and door frames throughout
• Windowsills, tracks, and frames
• Stairway banisters, spindles, and risers

Floor Care

• HEPA vacuuming of all floors (carpet, hardwood, tile, laminate)
• Wet mopping and scrubbing of hard floors
• Removal of construction adhesive, grout haze, and mortar residue from tile floors
• Paint splatter removal from hard floors (using appropriate solvents that won't damage finishes)
• Carpet vacuuming with multiple passes using HEPA filtration
• Floor corners, edges, and under-baseboard areas detailed

Paint and Adhesive Removal

• Paint splatters removed from floors, countertops, fixtures, and glass
• Adhesive residue (from tape, plastic sheeting, and protective coverings) dissolved and wiped
• Sticker and label residue removed from new fixtures, appliances, and windows
• Caulk residue cleaned from surrounding surfaces
• Grout haze removed from newly tiled surfaces

Kitchen — Post-Renovation

• Interior and exterior of all cabinets (new and existing)
• Interior of all appliances — new appliances often have manufacturing residue, dust from shipping, and sticker adhesive
• Countertops scrubbed and sealed-surface care
• Backsplash grout haze removal and tile cleaning
• Sink, faucet, and fixture polishing
• Range hood and filter cleaning
• Floor scrubbing including grout lines

Bathrooms — Post-Renovation

• Tile and grout haze removal on walls and floors
• New fixture polishing and sticker/label removal
• Tub, shower, and glass enclosure cleaning
• Vanity and countertop cleaning
• Toilet cleaning and sanitization
• Exhaust fan cover cleaning
• Chrome and hardware polishing

Windows and Glass

• Interior window glass cleaning (paint splatters, dust film, sticker residue)
• Window frame and track cleaning
• Glass door cleaning
• Mirror cleaning and polishing
• Removal of protective film residue from new windows or glass

Final Detailing

• Light switch and outlet plate wiping
• Door handle and hardware polishing
• Closet rod and shelf wiping
• Laundry area cleaning
• Garage or storage area sweeping (if part of the renovation zone)

Types of Renovations We Clean After

The scope of post-renovation cleaning varies dramatically based on the type of project:

Kitchen Renovation

Kitchen renovations are among the messiest. Demolition creates heavy dust, new countertop installation leaves stone or quartz dust, tile work generates grout haze, and new cabinet installation produces sawdust. Our cleaning addresses all of these, plus the interior of new cabinets (which arrive with sawdust, packing materials, and manufacturing residue).

Bathroom Renovation

Bathroom renovations involve heavy tile work, which means significant grout haze, mortar residue, and dust. Plumbing work often leaves behind metal filings and pipe residue. New fixtures come with stickers and protective coatings that need removal.

Basement Finishing

Finishing a basement typically involves framing, drywall, flooring, and electrical work — all of which generate enormous amounts of dust. The enclosed, often poorly ventilated nature of basements means dust settles everywhere and lingers.

Full Home Renovation

Gut renovations or whole-floor renovations require the most intensive cleaning. Drywall dust from framing and finishing is the dominant challenge, but you'll also encounter paint, adhesive, grout, sawdust, and general construction debris. Multiple cleaning sessions are often necessary.

Single Room or Small Project

Even a small project — replacing flooring in one room, painting a bedroom, updating a bathroom vanity — generates dust and debris that spreads beyond the work area. Don't underestimate the reach of construction dust.

How Post-Renovation Cleaning Works

1. Assessment: We visit your property (or you send photos) to evaluate the scope of the renovation, the type of construction work performed, and the amount of dust and debris present. 2. Quote: We provide a detailed quote based on the size of the space, the type of renovation, and the level of cleaning required. 3. Scheduling: We recommend scheduling at least 24 to 48 hours after the last construction activity to allow airborne dust to settle. This makes our cleaning more effective. 4. Cleaning: Our team arrives with professional equipment — HEPA vacuums, specialized cleaning solutions, scrapers, and all necessary tools. We work methodically from top to bottom, room by room. 5. Quality check: We do a final walkthrough to ensure every surface has been addressed. In some cases, a second cleaning session is recommended (see below).

Multi-Phase Cleaning for Large Renovations

For major renovations (full gut, whole-floor, or multi-room projects), a single cleaning session may not be sufficient. Here's why:

• Settled dust re-circulates: When you turn on HVAC systems or open windows after the initial cleaning, dust that settled in ductwork and hidden areas becomes airborne again.
• Dust continues to settle: For 48 to 72 hours after construction ends, airborne particles continue settling on surfaces.
• Layer-by-layer approach: The first cleaning removes the bulk of dust and debris. The second cleaning (typically scheduled 3 to 5 days later) catches what resettled and addresses detail work.

For most large renovations, we recommend a two-phase cleaning: - Phase 1: Heavy-duty dust removal, floor cleaning, debris removal - Phase 2: Detail cleaning, final wiping, interior cabinet/appliance cleaning, finishing touches

Pricing Context

Post-renovation cleaning costs more than standard deep cleaning because it takes significantly more time, requires specialized equipment, and involves more intensive labor. Factors affecting price:

• Renovation scope: A bathroom renovation costs less to clean after than a full home gut
• Square footage of affected area: Larger areas take more time
• Type of construction: Drywall work creates the most dust; tile work creates grout haze; painting creates spatters
• Current condition: How much cleanup the contractor did before leaving matters
• Number of cleaning phases: Single-session vs. multi-phase cleaning
• Special requirements: Paint removal from delicate surfaces, grout haze on large tile areas, and similar detail work

We provide a transparent quote after assessing your specific situation. No hidden fees.

What to Expect from Your Contractor

Before hiring a post-renovation cleaning service, you should know what your contractor is responsible for:

• Debris removal: Contractors should remove all construction materials, scrap wood, packaging, and large debris
• Rough cleaning: Many contractors do a basic sweep or vacuum before leaving, but this is far from sufficient
• Protection removal: Contractors should remove plastic sheeting, tape, and floor protection

Our post-renovation cleaning picks up where the contractor leaves off. We handle the fine dust, residue, and detailed cleaning that construction crews don't do.

Montreal-Specific Renovation Cleaning Tips

• Condo renovations: Many Montreal condo buildings have strict renovation rules — construction hours, elevator booking for debris removal, noise limits, and required deposits. Make sure your cleaning is also scheduled within permitted hours.
• Old buildings and lead paint: If you're renovating an older Montreal building (pre-1970s), there may be concerns about lead paint dust. We use HEPA filtration for all post-renovation cleaning, which captures lead particles, but if lead paint was disturbed, consider having a lead assessment done as well.
• Heritage properties: Montreal has many heritage properties with original features (mouldings, woodwork, stained glass). Our cleaning approach is careful and non-abrasive, preserving these elements.
• Winter renovations: Renovating during Montreal's winter means windows are closed and dust has nowhere to go. Post-renovation cleaning for winter projects is typically more intensive because dust concentrations are higher in sealed environments.
• Permit and inspection timing: If your renovation requires a city inspection, scheduling your post-renovation cleaning before the inspection can help present the work at its best.

Service Areas

Our post-renovation cleaning service covers:

• Montreal Island (all boroughs)
• West Island (Dorval, Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, Beaconsfield, DDO, Pierrefonds)
• Laval (all sectors)
• South Shore (Longueuil, Brossard, Saint-Lambert, Boucherville, Saint-Hubert)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How soon after construction ends should I schedule the cleaning?

We recommend waiting at least 24 to 48 hours after the last construction activity. This allows airborne dust to settle on surfaces where we can capture it. Cleaning too soon means we're fighting against dust that's still in the air.

Q: Will one cleaning session be enough?

For small projects (single room, bathroom, minor updates), one session is usually sufficient. For larger renovations (kitchen gut, full floor, multiple rooms), we often recommend two sessions — the first to handle the bulk of dust and debris, the second (3-5 days later) to catch resettled dust and do detail work.

Q: Can you remove paint from my hardwood floors?

Yes, in most cases. We use appropriate solvents and careful scraping techniques that remove paint without damaging the finish. For extensive paint damage, we'll assess whether our cleaning can resolve it or if floor refinishing is needed.

Q: Should the contractor clean before you arrive?

Ideally, yes. The contractor should remove all construction debris, materials, and do a rough sweep. Our service handles the detailed cleaning that contractors aren't equipped to do. If the contractor didn't clean at all, let us know — we can accommodate, but it may require more time.

Q: Do you clean air ducts?

We clean vent covers, air returns, and accessible ductwork openings. Full duct cleaning (interior of the entire HVAC system) is a specialized service that requires different equipment. We can recommend duct cleaning professionals if needed. However, we strongly recommend having ducts cleaned after a major renovation — construction dust in your HVAC system will continue to circulate for months.

Q: What if there are still workers on-site?

We prefer to work after all construction is complete. Cleaning while work is still ongoing means our cleaning gets undone. If there are minor finishing tasks still happening, we can coordinate, but the best results come from cleaning after all construction and painting is done.

Q: Can you handle both residential and commercial post-renovation cleaning?

Yes. We clean after renovations in homes, condos, apartments, offices, retail spaces, and other commercial properties. The approach and pricing may differ based on the environment.

Q: Do you bring all the equipment?

Yes. We bring HEPA vacuums, specialized cleaning solutions, scrapers, microfiber cloths, mops, step ladders, and all necessary tools. You don't need to provide anything.