Carpet always goes in last, but I could see some discretion with wood floors that are protected.

And as a customer - if I didn’t want my wood floors installed until the
very end why can’t that request be granted - especially if they TOLD me
that would be last! ?

If it was agreed that floors go in last, that's when the floors go in. If your contractor pressures you to do otherwise, it is up to you to stand up to him and refuse. There is no "request to be granted" ... you made an agreement and you can insist that he stick to it. But since it has already moved past that point, insist that the floors are cleaned and protected before work progresses further. And yeah, I wouldn't want construction work taking place on top of my brand new wood floors either ... common sense.

Order of operations is bottom up, top down. After the rough stuff, the first of the finishes is the ceilings and floors, then covered and protected. Floors go in Before cabinets, or trim.

In my wet rooms (kitchen, bathrooms, laundry) tile floors went in first. On dry land (rest of house) wood floors went in last. Painter came back to touch up after wood floors went in.

I would tell the contractor that I wanted the floors cleaned up and covered yesterday or he was going to be buying me new floors. You're not paying for used flooring.

Are those planks installed? With all that crap all over them?? I'd be raising hell with the contractor - those floors should be completely COVERED.

I dont blame you a bit. I would be livid. I hope you have told them, no extra people, and no construction, until the floors are cleaned perfectly and covered with rosin paper and carboard.

Whatever is done, don't clean with any liquids. Drywall or concrete dust may harden in the distressed/chattered areas and could remain there permanently A dry stiff nylon brush would work best.

I had to vacuum every crevice in my hardwood floors with the soft-brush vacuum attachment, by hand, when I moved into my house. (Just running the vacuum over it won't pick that fine dust up...)

Once all the dust was gone, I had to get down on my hands and knees, and hand wash those floors three times with a damp rag, before they were acceptable.

It was extremely hard, tedious work. Yes I should have made sure the GC handling my build had it done instead....but it was the end of the build and frankly I just wanted it over with. Plus his idea of clean and mine were very different things.

Mine did all come out and eventually cleaned up nicely but it was a very hard job.