Inspect the Glass First
Walk the building before anyone touches the glass. Note scratches, chips and cracks, and photograph them. That way nobody argues later about whether the damage came from the cleaning or the build.
Ask the glazier or the window supplier if any panes are tempered and if they have care rules. Some coated or tempered glass should not be scraped.
Post-Construction Window Cleaning Checklist
Work through the list in this order, room by room and elevation by elevation.
1. Labels and Film
Peel off stickers, labels and protective film before they bake on in the sun.
2. Tape and Adhesive
Soften what the tape leaves behind and lift it off without dragging grit across the pane.
3. Paint and Silicone
Check for paint spots, overspray and smears of silicone or caulking near the frames.
4. Mortar and Concrete
Splashes on frames and walls need extra care. Plain water will not move them.
5. Frames, Sills and Tracks
Vacuum the dust out of tracks and wipe the frames, or the dust ends up back on the glass.
6. Final Wash
Clean both sides of every pane last, after the trades and the dust are gone.
How Our Crews Clean Post-Construction Glass
We usually clean the glass by hand, with a scraper and a squeegee. We use chemicals only where scraping is not possible, such as mortar on frames or walls.
Upper floors decide the access method. On buildings of 1 to 6 storeys we mostly use water-fed poles with filtered water. From 7 storeys up we use rope access and bosun chairs, or boom lifts and swing stages where the job needs them.
We also clean lobby glass and interior partitions, so the inside of the building is ready at the same time. Read more about our commercial window cleaning in Toronto.
When to Book the Final Window Clean
Book it as late as you can. If painters, flooring crews or landscapers are still working, the glass will get dirty again.
Clean after the last dusty trade has left, and before the final walk-through with the owner or the tenants. On a large building, ask for the work in phases, floor by floor or elevation by elevation. Each area is then handed over clean.
Final Window Inspection Before Handover
Check the glass in daylight from inside and outside. Look at it from an angle, since streaks and haze show up best that way.
Open a few windows and check the tracks. Run a finger along the sills. Make a short list of anything missed and walk it with the crew before they leave.
Post-Construction Window Cleaning Questions
Can’t find your question below? Call us at 1-647-224-2064.
What is post-construction window cleaning?
It is the cleaning of new or renovated glass after the build. It removes labels, tape, paint, silicone, mortar splashes and construction dust from the glass, frames and tracks.
How do you remove construction debris from glass?
We usually clean the glass by hand, with a scraper and a squeegee. We use chemicals only where scraping is not possible, such as mortar on frames or walls.
When should the windows be cleaned after construction?
After the last dusty trade has finished and before the final walk-through. Cleaning too early means the glass gets dirty again.
Do you clean the inside glass too?
Yes. We clean lobby glass and interior partitions as well as the outside of the building.
Can you reach upper floors?
Yes. We use water-fed poles on buildings of 1 to 6 storeys. From 7 storeys up we use rope access and bosun chairs, or boom lifts and swing stages.
Are your crews insured?
Yes. Outwash carries $5 million in liability insurance and WSIB coverage. Every crew member who works off the ground holds Working at Heights certification.
Related Services
See what else we clean when a building is ready for handover.
More tips for builders and property managers are on our blog.
Send Us a Message. We’d Love to Help.
Tell us about your project and we’ll send you a free quote. Prefer to talk? Call us at 1-647-224-2064.
Toronto, Ontario M5C 1C4