Post-construction dust is not normal dust

Post-construction dust is not normal dust

By Dennis Mutiso · 30 May 2026 · Health & Safety

When people move into a new build and find themselves coughing for weeks, the cause is usually still in the air. Construction dust is finer than household dust and it settles far more slowly.

Why sweeping makes it worse

A broom lifts fine particles back into the air, where they stay suspended for hours before resettling on the surfaces you just cleaned. The same is true of a domestic vacuum without a HEPA filter — the particles pass straight through the bag and out of the exhaust.

Crystalline silica, from cement and concrete cutting, is the one to take seriously. It's a recognised respiratory hazard with long-term effects, not just an irritant.

What a proper handover clean involves

• Debris removal before any cleaning starts
• HEPA extraction from ceilings and voids downward
• Wet wiping rather than dry dusting on all surfaces
• Ducts, vents and light fittings cleared
• Repeat pass after 24 hours to catch late settlement
• Floors sealed last, once airborne dust has gone

That last pass is the step most contractors skip, and it's the one that decides whether the unit still looks clean a week after handover.