20. Exterior Cleans

Cleanliness is next to Godliness! Your new home has several times in which the exterior will be cleaned. Each contractor has an obligation (contractual) to clean the job site at the completion of their job and some need to clean every day. Your builder will have an exterior clean contractor who will clean the home at various stages. Listed are the minimum cleans you can expect. Some builders might break up the cleans slightly different but these are the basics.

Clean 1; Form Clean - after the slab is poured and the forms are racked the lot is cleaned. Concrete over pour is picked up and all trash is removed. This clean can also have your flat work clean in it. If your builder installs flat work prior to dropping his frame package this will be the case. If this is the case the clean will take place after your flat work forms are racked. Now the lot is ready for your rough grade.

Clean 2; Frame Clean - This is done when the frame, cornice, shingles and mechanical roughs are complete. So you can see this clean could be done in stages depending on the home's size. The clean crew will pick up all returnable material and stack in designated location for return and haul all other unusable material away and sweep home. There should be no trash in home. You should have clean floors.

Clean 3; Drywall Clean - When your drywaller has completed the finish work and/or texture, (depending on your region of country) the clean crew will pick up all trash and sweep home. Your drywaller and texture crew both should scrap your floor to remove all of the drywall mud that might of fallen. Your drywaller should have two piles of trash, one in the front and one in the rear.

Clean 4; Brick/Masonry Clean - Your contractor will stack any usable bricks in a pre-determined location for the home owner and/or for unforeseen repairs and haul the unusable away. Around the foundation the mortar in the yard should be racked up and removed. You should be ready for your flat work installation after this clean if it wasn't installed at slab pour.

Clean 5; Trim Clean - This clean is done when cabinets, interior trim, interior paint and mechanical trims have been completed. Your vinyl, floor tile and wall tile are also included in this clean. Your home should get another sweep with this clean also. Every contractor should clean and sweep when they finish their job. When this clean is completed your home looks like a home and should just need some fine tuning and final selections.

Clean 6; Carpet Clean - When your homes punch is complete, your appliances are installed and carpet is completed this clean takes place. The interior cleans are complete and your landscape is finished. Your contractor will power wash your flat work, (some builders have the flat work cleaned by the interior clean crews).

Clean 7; This is a miscellaneous clean. If you have repairs on your home prior to move in, anything needs to be changed out or whatever, this makes sure that it can be taken care of.

Every contractor has clean up responsibility for their work. In most cases they will use a pile in the front yard or the garage. In rare cases the rear yard will also be utilized.
No matter, the lot and home should always look organized.