Cleaning
After-builders cleaning
Whether this needs a licence in Ireland
No licence required
Taken from the statute below; not yet reviewed by a lawyer
After-builders cleaning: what the job involves
Removing the fine plaster, sanding and sawdust that settles on every surface after building work, and cleaning paint, plaster and stickers off new glass, tiles and floors. Dust keeps falling for days, so a proper clean often has a second pass.
Also asked for as: post construction cleaning · renovation cleaning · new build clean · sparkle clean
How the job is usually done
- Walk through with the customer and agree what is in, especially if the builder has done a rough clean
- Vacuum dust from top to bottom with a filtered vacuum, starting with ceilings, lights and tops of doors
- Wipe walls, skirting, sills, frames, doors and switches, and clean inside cupboards and wardrobes
- Remove labels, paint spots, plaster and adhesive from glass, tiles and sanitaryware
- Clean windows inside and frames
- Wash floors more than once as the dust settles
- Return for a final touch-up if agreed
After-builders cleaning: what is included
Usually included
- Dust removal from all surfaces, inside cupboards and on frames
- Removal of labels, paint spots and plaster from glass and fittings
- Windows inside
- Floors washed and vacuumed
Usually not included — agree it separately
- Removing builders’ rubbish, rubble or packaging — that needs a permitted waste collector
- Cleaning outside windows above the ground floor
- Carpet shampooing
- Fixing scratches or damage left by the build
Materials and who supplies them
- HEPA-filtered vacuums, microfibre cloths and scrapers — the cleaner’s
- Products safe for new tiles, grout, stone and wooden floors — the cleaner’s
How long it takes
A day for a room or two after a small job; two or three people over one or two days after a full renovation or extension.
When to book
Book it for the day after the last trade leaves, and before furniture, carpets and curtains go back in.
After-builders cleaning: the rules in Ireland
What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.
Anybody who takes waste away from your home for payment must hold a waste collection permit, and you are responsible for giving your waste only to a permitted collector. Collectors must show the permit number on their vehicle; you can check it with the National Waste Collection Permit Office.
Applies to: the cleaner who removes rubbish, and the householder who hands it over
Waste Management Act 1996 and Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations; local authorities and the NWCPO · sdcc.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
Maintenance and repair of a building, including routine cleaning of it, is charged at the reduced rate of VAT (13.5%) by a VAT-registered business, subject to the two-thirds rule on materials.
Applies to: the contractor, if VAT-registered
Revenue — Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010, Schedule 3 · revenue.ie · Checked 9 October 2026
What after-builders cleaning costs, and why
What jobs on Talqero came to
Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.
What affects the price
- How much dust is left, and whether the builders did a rough clean first
- Floor area and the number of rooms, windows and glass doors
- Paint, plaster or adhesive that has to come off glass, tiles or floors
- Whether rubbish and packaging also need to go
- A return visit for the dust that settles later
Paperwork to ask for at the end
- An invoice listing the rooms cleaned and anything that could not be removed
Safety
- Fine plaster and concrete dust is harmful to breathe; cleaners should use filtered vacuums, not brushes
- Builders’ waste can hide sharp offcuts, screws and broken glass
- Wait until all trades have finished, or the clean will need doing again
After-builders cleaning: before you hire
Questions to ask a tradesperson
- Do you use filtered vacuums for builders’ dust?
- Will you come back for the dust that settles later?
- Is rubbish removal included, and do you hold a waste collection permit?
- How will you remove paint from glass without scratching it?
What you can do yourself
Light dusting after a small job is manageable; after a renovation, fine plaster dust needs filtered vacuums and several passes that a professional crew does far faster.
What to put in your task
- What building work was done?
- How many rooms need cleaning?
- Has the builder already done a rough clean?
- Is there rubbish or packaging to take away?
- Are there paint, plaster or adhesive marks on windows or floors?
Photos that help
- Each room as it is now
- Close-ups of paint, plaster or adhesive on glass, tiles or floors
- Any rubbish or packaging still on site
After-builders cleaning by county
Choose your county for after-builders cleaning close to home.
- After-builders cleaning in Dublin
- After-builders cleaning in Cork
- After-builders cleaning in Galway
- After-builders cleaning in Kildare
- After-builders cleaning in Limerick
- After-builders cleaning in Meath
- After-builders cleaning in Tipperary
- After-builders cleaning in Donegal
- After-builders cleaning in Wexford
- After-builders cleaning in Kerry
- After-builders cleaning in Wicklow
- After-builders cleaning in Mayo
- After-builders cleaning in Louth
- After-builders cleaning in Waterford
- After-builders cleaning in Clare
- After-builders cleaning in Kilkenny
- After-builders cleaning in Westmeath
- After-builders cleaning in Laois
- After-builders cleaning in Cavan
- After-builders cleaning in Offaly
- After-builders cleaning in Sligo
- After-builders cleaning in Roscommon
- After-builders cleaning in Monaghan
- After-builders cleaning in Carlow
- After-builders cleaning in Longford
- After-builders cleaning in Leitrim
Cleaning
Need after-builders cleaning? Describe the job.
Post it once, free. Professionals near you reply with their own price and when they could start. You choose, and pay them directly.
Questions about after-builders cleaning
Does after-builders cleaning need a licence in Ireland?
No licence is required for this work in Ireland (source: www.cru.ie). Ask instead for references and photographs of similar jobs.
Why is there still dust after the clean?
Fine plaster and sanding dust stays in the air and settles over several days. A good after-builders clean includes a second pass, or a return visit a few days later.
Will the cleaner remove the builders’ rubbish?
Only if agreed, and only if they hold a waste collection permit. Otherwise the builder, a skip or a permitted collector should take it.
Should the builder not leave it clean?
Most building contracts include a builders’ clean, which is a sweep and rubbish removal. A sparkle clean ready to move into is usually separate, so check what your builder’s price included.