You just finished a renovation, an addition, a new build, or a contractor walkout. The unit looks done. Then you walk in and there is drywall dust on every horizontal surface, paint specs on the windows, grout haze on the tile, and a fine grit underfoot that no amount of vacuuming alone will fix.
That is what post-construction cleaning solves. It is the most demanding category of residential cleaning, and the pricing reflects that. Here is what it actually costs in Toronto, Scarborough, Etobicoke and North York in 2026.
Why post-construction is harder than regular cleaning
Three reasons:
- Drywall dust is microscopic and electrostatic. It bonds to surfaces and resettles after you wipe. You cannot skip the wet-pass after vacuuming or it comes back in 24 hours.
- Paint and grout residue on glass, fixtures and tile needs solvent or razor work, not a microfiber wipe.
- The dust cycle. A single clean is rarely enough. Pros do two or three passes spaced over 5-7 days because dust kicked up by HVAC keeps resettling.
If a cleaner quotes you a regular-clean rate for a post-construction job, they have not done one before. Walk away.
What honest post-construction cleaning costs in the GTA
For a standard 1,500-2,000 sqft residential post-construction clean (2-3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, no carpet replacement):
| City | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto core | $550 | $725 | $950 |
| Scarborough | $475 | $625 | $825 |
| Etobicoke | $525 | $700 | $895 |
| North York | $525 | $700 | $895 |
Anything under $400 for a 1,500 sqft post-construction is the bait-and-switch tier. They do a single dust-pass, leave dust on windows, leave grout haze, and the client ends up paying a different company to fix it. Above $1,000 is overpriced unless you have specialty stone, custom millwork, or 3,000+ sqft.
What real post-construction scope must include
Whole unit: vacuum every surface twice (HEPA filter), wet-pass all baseboards and door frames, wipe all light fixtures and ceiling fans, wipe inside all closets and pantries, dust all blinds and window treatments.
Windows: inside and outside where reachable, paint specs removed with razor where safe.
Kitchen: inside cabinets and drawers wiped, appliance interiors and exteriors, range hood degreased, backsplash and grout cleaned, sink polished.
Bathrooms: tile and grout haze removed, fixtures polished, mirror razor-cleaned, vanity inside and out, exhaust fan cover.
Floors: vacuum, mop, second mop after 24-hour resettle if budget allows.
What I charge in each city
For full transparency, here is our flat-rate post-construction pricing for 1,500-2,000 sqft residential, all scope above included:
- Toronto — $725 flat scope here
- Scarborough — $625 flat scope here
- Etobicoke — $700 flat scope here
- North York — $700 flat scope here
Timing matters
Book the post-construction clean for 2-3 days after the contractor finishes, not the same day. Paint and adhesives still off-gas for 48 hours, and HVAC running pushes settled dust back into the air. Cleaning while that is happening is wasted labour. Hold off, run the HVAC on max, let everything settle, then book the clean.
For move-in coordination: do post-construction Day 1, let it settle overnight, do a second light pass Day 2 if budget allows, move furniture Day 3. Skipping the settle day costs you a second clean within 30 days when the dust resettles.
What to avoid
- Hourly billing for post-construction. Always go flat rate. Hourly creates an incentive to drag the job.
- No 24-hour re-clean guarantee. Real post-construction cleaners offer a free re-pass within 24-48 hours because dust resettle is normal.
- "All-in-one renovation + cleaning" contracts. The cleaning gets de-prioritized at end-of-project. Hire a dedicated cleaner separately.
Bottom line
For a 1,500-2,000 sqft residential post-construction clean in the GTA in 2026: budget $625-$725 flat rate from a real, insured post-construction crew. Below $475 you are getting half a job. Above $950 you are paying for branding.
If you want a flat-rate quote in 60 seconds with no follow-up call, run our form at procleaningpros.ca/get-quote.
Rumy Reyal runs Pro Cleaning Pros, a family-operated cleaning company based in Scarborough serving the GTA.
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