In writing
Dust control and debris, in writing
Dust is the part of a remodel nobody budgets for. This is what we do about it on every job, and what we ask of you and your contractor.
Same rules on all three stages
Yours to keep, with the quote
Written so you can check us against it
Seven rules
How we keep dust where it is
- 01
Barriers stay up
Your contractor's zip walls, plastic and floor paper stay in place until the rough clean is done. We clean around them.
- 02
Top to bottom
Ceilings, fans and fixtures first, then walls and sills, then floors last, so we never clean a surface twice.
- 03
HEPA-filter vacuums and damp cloths
No dry sweeping, no leaf blower and no compressed air. Dry methods put the dust back in the air.
- 04
Runners and shoe covers
Floor runners go down from the door, and we put on shoe covers at the threshold of every finished room.
- 05
Test before we use it
We try a cleaner on a hidden spot before using it on a new floor, a stone counter or a finish.
- 06
Registers, not ducts
We wipe vents and return registers. We tell you if we see ducts left uncovered, and we leave duct cleaning to a duct company.
- 07
A raking-light walk-through
Last, we look along sills and glass with a flashlight, with you or by photo, and list anything we did not reach.
Debris
Who takes what out of the house
We carry out our own cleaning debris. Everything the trades made stays with them, so nothing is hauled twice and nothing is left for nobody.
| Stays with your contractor | Leaves with us | |
|---|---|---|
| Dust, sweepings, wipes and tape ends | Stays with your contractorLeft behind if we are not hired | Leaves with usBagged in our own bags and carried out |
| Drywall, wood and tile offcuts | Stays with your contractorHauled in their dumpster or truck | Leaves with usStacked by the door and listed in our walk-through |
| Boxes, foam and packaging | Stays with your contractorTaken away with the job | Leaves with usFlattened and stacked for your contractor |
| Old cabinets, fixtures and demolition debris | Stays with your contractorCovered by their contract | Leaves with usNot hauled by us |
| Paint, adhesive and solvent cans | Stays with your contractorTaken to a proper drop-off | Leaves with usNot touched or moved |
| Floor paper, plastic and tape | Stays with your contractorPut up and kept up during the work | Leaves with usTaken up once your contractor says the work is done |
Limits
What we do not do
Some work after a remodel belongs to a specialist. We say so up front and tell you who to call.
Lead paint dust
If your house was built before 1978 and paint was sanded or scraped, ask your contractor whether the work followed the EPA's lead rules for renovation, because containing sanding dust is their job. We clean after the work. We do not test for lead or clean up lead paint debris.
Mold, asbestos and anything hazardous
If we find it, we stop, leave the room as it is and tell you who to call.
Ducts, furnaces and chimneys
We wipe what you can see. Cleaning inside the system is a job for another company.
Hauling and heavy lifting
We do not remove demolition debris, appliances or furniture. Ask your contractor or a hauler.
Short answers
Questions about dust and debris
Will the dust stay out of the bedrooms?
We cannot promise that dust never travels, but we work from the barriers back, keep the vacuums running and clean the path in and out. If your contractor's barriers were taken down early, tell us before the visit.
Can I turn the heat or air conditioning back on?
Ask your contractor first. We suggest leaving it off until the rough clean is done, then replacing the filter.
Who decides when the plastic comes down?
Your contractor does. We clean around it and take up floor paper and tape once they say the work is done.
Ask us anything about the policy
Send the question with your quote request, or call and ask Emma.