An old centre with rules of its own
Much of the centre falls within a heritage protection zone, which restricts façade colours, tile types and window frames. Working here means finding out what is and is not allowed before the first hammer blow.
Post-Construction Cleaning in Loulé
In Loulé post-construction cleaning turns up a great deal in restoration work in the historic centre — old houses where the work leaves render dust everywhere and original floors that cannot be treated like new ceramic. Hydraulic tiles and old terracotta are damaged irreversibly by acidic products.
We get there the same day · Free site visit and quote
Loulé, as seen by the people who work there
Loulé is our base. It is the town where our office is, where the equipment is kept, and where we know the streets well enough to know where a scaffolding van can park without getting in anybody's way.
The town grows between the old quarter at its centre and the newer housing on the edges, with the barrocal — the limestone hill country — rising to the north and the plain dropping away towards the coast. Two worlds sit side by side here: flats and houses from the eighties and nineties in the newer parts, and old buildings with thick walls, barrel tiles and worked parapets in the historic centre.
In Loulé we get everything: from the landlord who needs a flat repainted between tenants to the full refurbishment of a family home in the centre.
What we find in Loulé
Narrow streets with difficult access
No lorry fits down the streets of the centre and there is no room for a cherry picker. A lot of what we do there involves carrying material up by hand and putting up narrow façade scaffolding.
Rising damp in older houses
Stone masonry walls built without a damp-proof course draw moisture up from the ground. Painting over it without dealing with the source gives you blisters within months.
Post-Construction Cleaning: what we do
- Removal of fine debris and packaging — Leftover material, cardboard, protective plastic and tape left behind by the trades.
- Complete dust removal — Ceilings, walls, air ducts, the inside of cupboards and every surface plaster dust settles on.
- Removal of construction residue — Cement, mortar, flooring adhesive, silicone and expanding foam, with the right product for each material.
- Glass and window frames — Paint and cement splashes on glass, removal of protective film and cleaning of tracks full of residue.
- Floors treated according to material — Every floor has its method: microcement, timber, natural stone and ceramic are not washed the same way.
- Second pass included — We come back a few days later for the residual dust that always settles after the first clean.
How the work goes
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1
Assessment once the builders are out
We look at which materials were used and what residue is left, because that determines the products to use.
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2
The heavy work first
Fine debris, protective coverings and anything removed by hand, so we are not spreading dust during the fine clean.
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3
Technical cleaning
Removal of adhered residue, top to bottom, room by room.
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4
Finishing and second pass
Polishing of glass and surfaces, and a return visit a few days later for the dust that has settled since.
Frequently asked questions about post-construction cleaning in Loulé
Do you actually work in Loulé, or do you travel in from elsewhere?
Loulé is our base — it is where our office and equipment are. We get there the same day and we know the town in detail.
What usually goes wrong with this kind of work in Loulé?
Much of the centre falls within a heritage protection zone, which restricts façade colours, tile types and window frames. Working here means finding out what is and is not allowed before the first hammer blow. It is the situation we come across most often in Loulé, and it is why we look at the job before quoting.
When should you come in after the building work?
After the last trade has left and the touch-ups are done. If we come in before the painter finishes, the work has to be repeated — and nobody wants to pay twice.
Why is there dust again the next day?
Because plaster dust stays suspended in the air and in the ducts for days. It is normal, and it is why we always include a second pass.
Can you get cement off flooring without damaging it?
Yes, with diluted acidic product and neutralisation afterwards. What you cannot do is apply acid to limestone or marble — there we use a mechanical method, slower but safe.
Post-Construction Cleaning in Loulé
Tell us what you need and we will come and look. We get there the same day and the visit is free.