What should I inspect after the final clean is complete on my new Ottawa home?

After the final clean is complete on your new Ottawa home, you should do a thorough walkthrough inspection before signing off on the work or allowing movers in. This inspection is your last line of defence against construction residue that could damage new surfaces or compromise your indoor air quality, and it matters in Ottawa, where fine dust from winter construction and tracked-in mud can hide in places you would not expect.

Start at the top and work your way down, just as the cleaning crew should have done. Check all ceiling light fixtures, pot lights, and ceiling fan blades for residual dust. Run a white cloth along the tops of door frames, window casings, and crown moulding — these are easy areas to miss during a final clean. Open every cabinet and closet and inspect the shelves, paying close attention to corners where drywall dust accumulates. In Ottawa's dry winter heating season, this ultra-fine dust penetrates everywhere, so even interior cabinets that were closed during construction may have a film of particulate inside.

Inspect every window carefully. New glass is extremely vulnerable to scratching from construction debris, so look at each pane from multiple angles in natural light. Check for paint overspray, tape adhesive residue, and manufacturer stickers that should have been removed. Examine window tracks and sills — these can collect a lot of fine grit during construction, and a proper final clean should leave them spotless.

Check all flooring on your hands and knees in good lighting. Look for grout haze on new tile, adhesive residue on hardwood, and any scratches that may have occurred during the cleaning process itself. Run your hand across countertops and vanities feeling for grit or sticky spots. Test every plumbing fixture by running water and checking that aerators are not clogged with construction debris, which can happen in a newly plumbed home.

HVAC vents deserve special attention. Remove a vent cover and look inside the duct opening. If duct cleaning was part of your scope and you still see visible dust or debris, it was either not done or not done properly. When a furnace runs during winter construction, dust can end up throughout the ductwork, so if duct cleaning was not in your quote, it is worth asking about it separately.

Finally, check exterior areas including the front porch, garage floor, driveway, and any decks or patios. Construction debris, mortar splatter, and paint drips on exterior surfaces should all be addressed in a comprehensive final clean. If you find deficiencies, document them with photos and contact the cleaning company right away. Before you book, ask whether they will return to address missed areas at no additional charge. If you need a professional crew to handle your final clean or a re-clean, the Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com lists cleaning contractors in the Ottawa area who can help.

---

Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Cleanstruction
• RenoMotion Inc.
• Grunt Work 4 Grunts
• JMY Renovations
• Titley Construction