Jobsite cleanliness - what are your expectations?

Question

Hi there, I am rehabbing my first (personal) home - a 1940s BEAST! I've done one major renovation in the past on a rental I owned after a flood. I can swing a hammer and am doing some of the work myself and with qualified friends but have hired out for some bigger and more technical things. My question for ya'll is: what are your expectations around job site cleanliness when you're working with contractors or subs? What do you provide, what do you put in writing, etc...

I'll start:

I provide: contractor's bags and 2 large job site trash cans. I provide brooms, dustpans, a shopvac - and change the bags. At the initial demo, I provide a roll-off dumpster if necessary. I expect: *almost* broom swept, lights off and garbage bagged up at the end of a work-day. Tools in a central location/not strewn about and no confusion on tools: mine vs. theirs (if I'm also working there.) Is that realistic or am I being precious bc it's my home? Couple photos attached for fun - yes that is cat food I found *in* a wall. The other is what the HVAC installers left behind - which was a bummer. More here!

Jerry Lucker · Answer

@Christen G.

I manage by objective, not micro management. As long as work progress is being satisfactorily completed as agreed upon, job site cleanliness I let the contractor manage. They don’t need my OCD oversight.

Christopher B. · Answer

Many moons ago I was OCD about site cleanliness. I would literally vacuum my site multiple times per week for example. I have learned to relax a bit. Lately maybe too much but I haven't had time or desire to be on site much. Optimally the site is swept daily and debris placed in trash. I like to see my materials organized and overages returned sooner rather than later when we feel we are done. I will be hiring a PM here in the next 60 days and site cleanliness will be an important point of emphasis. It is a reflection of the contractor. A clean jobsite is a safer and more productive jobsite. It also encourages subs to be cleaner and helps reduce damage to materials

Kevin Ivey · Answer

Garbage should be in the garbage, tools should be in "place" so they can be found as needed. I keep my work tools with me and pack out at end of my work, so they don't have to try. I also know most contractors I work with have their own plan for garbage/ dump runs as they don't expect a home owner to provide a dumpster. When I have one planned for my work I will let them know so they can possibly adjust a bid, etc..

Precise and organized work areas usually produce precise and organized work.

I also don't think it is something you can "teach" a contractor if it's not their nature.

Precise and organized work areas usually produce precise and organized work.

I also don't think it is something you can "teach" a contractor if it's not their nature.

Account Closed · Answer

@Christen G.

When my crew does a demo we make sure the place is clean.  Broom swept, all debris is in the dumpster and trash and garbage are at the curb.  A pro does it this way.  I'd expect that after demo.

Trenton Miller · Answer

We broom sweep daily, keep all materials in their appropriate locations, and discard garbage in trash bags or disposal bins (if present).  Demolition is typically removed either on Thursdays or Fridays, depending on the amount.

Milind Shastri · Answer

I've experienced that if I allow one contractor to be messy, then the whole place becomes a mess. Remind guys that "you need to clean-up before leaving". Most contractors do this well if reminded multiple times. And you can always send pictures of the mess and remind them that it's in the way of the next guy. Also, a contractor may not clean-up if they don't anticipate you working with them again...so in that case, I'd just take care of it myself.

Evan Polaski · Answer

@Christen G., near broom swept and trash in cans or dumpster.  I have found, a) the other subs are the best enforcers since it isn't coming from the "boss" but a peer.  Signs in visible areas, but primarily at exits reminding people to do the same.

I am a little more lax if I only have one sub in there for a project.  I.e. if my demo team and plumber are done, and drywallers can't start until HVAC is fully run, I am not on my HVAC guy to clean up each night.  If he wants to work over his own mess, while he is the only one on site, I let him.  But if I have multiple teams on site, one sloppy sub quickly spills over to 3 or 4 others.

Tools, most subs of mine are good about tools and rarely leave any on site because we often have plumbers, electricians, framers, hvac all on site at the same time, and no one likes their $100 batteries disappearing.  For that reason alone, the tools never seem to be an issue.

I also typically don't mind throwing on some headphones and grabbing a broom to clean up over the weekend.

Jobsite cleanliness - what are your expectations?

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