ALTURA Every superintendent asks the same question, usually with a closing date attached. Here are honest numbers, with the caveat that condition matters as much as square footage.
Ballpark Timelines by Phase
For a typical new single-family home or comparable commercial space: a rough clean usually runs a few hours to half a day. The final clean is the long phase — a 2,500–3,500 sq ft home generally takes a full day for a proper crew; larger custom homes and commercial build-outs run one to three days depending on detail level. The pre-turnover polish is typically a half day. Multiply sensibly for multifamily and larger commercial footprints, where crews work in parallel by floor or unit.
What Slows a Final Clean Down
Three things blow up timelines: trades still working in the space (every trade pass re-dusts finished rooms), heavy adhesive and overspray left on glass and fixtures, and no water or power on site. The single best thing a GC can do for the cleaning schedule is sequence the final clean after the last dusty trade is truly out — not "mostly out."
Can It Be Compressed?
Yes, with crew size. A clean that takes one crew two days takes two crews one. That's a staffing and cost decision, not a corner-cutting one — the checklist stays the same. When a closing moves up, tell your cleaning contractor immediately; scaling a crew is easy with two days' notice and hard with two hours'.
Planning a project? Our post-construction cleaning quotes include phase timelines against your construction schedule. Send the details and we'll respond within 24 hours.