Why builders' dust keeps coming back
Renovation dust is not like household dust. It is so fine that it floats for hours, then settles in window tracks, inside wardrobes and in the joints of the floor. You mop, it dries, and the next morning a white film is back.
This happens because the cleaning is done in the wrong order: floor first, shelves afterwards, or a dry cloth that only moves dust from one place to another. Paint, silicone and plaster residue will not come off with an ordinary product either, and if scraped badly they scratch new glass or a new wooden floor.
A proper post-construction clean means you move in once, instead of wiping the home down every day for weeks.
What the clean includes
We work on everything left in sight and on whatever the dust has reached inside:
- Fine dust on smooth walls, reachable ceilings, skirting boards, sockets, switches and radiators.
- Floors: full vacuuming, then several mopping passes until the water runs clear.
- Builders' residue: paint drops, plaster splashes, cement and silicone on surfaces that allow it.
- Windows and doors: frames, tracks, handles and every pane that can be reached safely from the floor.
- Kitchen and bathrooms: cupboards inside and out, worktops, sanitaryware, taps and tiles.
- Built-in wardrobes and shelving, inside, where dust builds up unseen.
Our team does not use long ladders or work at height, so we only clean panes that can be reached safely from the floor. Our window cleaning service covers ordinary windows in the same way.
Before we start we need to know what kind of residue is there. Under our service conditions, builders' residue that was not announced in advance may need more time or materials, or that part may not be cleanable on the day.
Top-to-bottom order
The order decides whether the dust comes back. We follow the Japanese 5S method, which Sojiya applies to every job, adapted to a building site:
- Seiri, sort: plastic sheeting, cardboard and protections no longer needed are set aside, so no area stays covered.
- Seiton, set in order: we plan the route room by room, starting with the one furthest from the door.
- Seisō, clean from top to bottom: ceilings and lamps first, then walls, frames and furniture, and the floor always last.
- Seiketsu, check: we go over the usual dust traps in good light: window tracks, skirting boards and drawers.
- Shitsuke, keep it that way: we tell you how to look after the place in the first days, while some dust is still settling from the air.
With this order every surface is cleaned only once, and the dust that falls ends up on the floor, which is the last thing to be vacuumed and mopped.
What is not included: rubble
Sojiya is a cleaning company, not a building contractor. So some things are outside an after builders clean:
- We do not remove rubble, cement bags, broken tiles or leftover material. The company that did the works must take these away.
- We do not do bricklaying, painting or touch-ups.
- We do not handle hazardous waste or building chemicals.
- Our team does not move heavy furniture or appliances. Leave them where you want them before we arrive, or tell us in the quote request if you need help.
Ideally, when we arrive the space is clear of material, with electricity and water working. That way every hour goes into cleaning.
How many hours to plan, and price
Cleaning after renovation is booked only as a one-off service. The price is per hour and depends on the size of the space and how much dust and residue was left behind.
| Item | Price (excl. IGI) |
|---|---|
| One-off service, per hour (travel, materials and products included) | €38.27/h |
It is a fixed price with no hours discount, up to a maximum of 8 hours per visit. The minimum is one hour. We do not price per square metre: every renovation leaves a different state, so we prefer a clear number of hours.
As a guide, a small flat after painting is usually done in one visit; a full renovation with a new kitchen and bathrooms may need more hours or two days. You can compare with our other rates on the page about the one-off hourly rate.
If the works were small and you simply want the home to feel new, a deep clean may suit you better. And if you later want someone to come every week, the recurring rate is from €16.99/h (excl. IGI).
Where we work
We do after builders cleaning in all seven parishes of Andorra: renovated flats in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany, chalets in La Massana and Ordino, and new homes in Canillo.
How to ask for your quote
Fill in the contact form, choose one-off service and after builders. Tell us the size in square metres, what was renovated and the date the works finish. We reply in writing with the estimated hours and the price, with no obligation.