diff --git a/src/zona/builder.py b/src/zona/builder.py
index 31140c8..de16bf5 100644
--- a/src/zona/builder.py
+++ b/src/zona/builder.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import shutil
 from datetime import date
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -50,9 +51,7 @@ class ZonaBuilder:
                 if path.name.endswith(".md") and not path.is_relative_to(
                     layout.root / "content" / "static"
                 ):
-                    logger.debug(
-                        f"Parsing {path.name} as Markdown document."
-                    )
+                    logger.debug(f"Parsing {path.name}.")
                     item.metadata, item.content = parse_metadata(path)
                     if (
                         item.metadata.draft
@@ -140,6 +139,13 @@ class ZonaBuilder:
                     util.copy_static_file(item.source, dst)
 
     def build(self):
+        # clean output if applicable
+        if (
+            self.config.build.clean_output_dir
+            and self.layout.output.is_dir()
+        ):
+            logger.debug("Removing stale output...")
+            shutil.rmtree(self.layout.output)
         logger.debug("Discovering...")
         self._discover()
         logger.debug("Building...")
diff --git a/src/zona/config.py b/src/zona/config.py
index 63baac0..4bd7a42 100644
--- a/src/zona/config.py
+++ b/src/zona/config.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class MarkdownConfig:
 
 @dataclass
 class BuildConfig:
-    # clean_output_dir: bool = True
+    clean_output_dir: bool = True
     include_drafts: bool = False