After a renovation, painting is the finishing touch that hides all the rough work: electrical chases, filled plumbing holes, plasterboard joints, dust on the walls. The point here isn’t just to paint, but to do it over an already-finished floor, new windows and doors without staining anything. We come once the main work is done: we de-dust, prime, level small flaws with filler where needed and paint two coats. We work both in new flats in Wola’s new builds and after a gut renovation in the older stock of Śródmieście.
How much painting after a renovation costs and what drives the price
The price depends on the state the walls were left in after the rough work. If the surface is already skimmed and ready for paint, we charge for primer and two coats. If chases, joints and unevenness remain, filling and sanding are added, and those are separate operations. Separately we budget protecting the finished floor, windows and doors with film. Paint and materials are billed separately, while protective film and fixings are part of the labour. Rates per stage are in the table below.
| Service | min | max |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning and washing walls before painting | 15 zł/m² | 25 zł/m² |
| Filling holes and damages | 20 zł/m² | 35 zł/m² |
| Priming before painting | 15 zł/m² | 25 zł/m² |
| Gypsum putty application | 55 zł/m² | 90 zł/m² |
| Painting walls / ceilings in one color (2 coats) | 30 zł/m² | 45 zł/m² |
| Protection of furniture, doors, windows and floors with film | 10 zł/m² | 15 zł/m² |
Construction dust and post-renovation debris are removed by arrangement; carrying paint up without a lift is also counted separately.
How the job goes on site — step by step
- Inspection after the rough work. We check what’s left: chases, joints, screw heads, dust, local unevenness.
- Protecting the finished surfaces. The new floor is covered, windows, doors, radiators and sockets are masked — at this stage the main thing is to stain nothing.
- De-dusting. After construction the walls are dusty; we sweep and de-dust, otherwise the paint won’t bond.
- Local filling. Chases, joints and flaws are levelled with filler and sanded flush.
- Priming. We prime the whole area — fresh filler and plasterboard pull paint unevenly without primer.
- Two coats. Ceiling, then walls; we check under side light so joints and repairs don’t show through.
- Clean-up. We remove film and tape, clear our dust and leave the room clean.
Common mistakes after a renovation (and how to avoid them)
- Painting over dust. After construction the walls are dusty; without de-dusting the paint peels.
- Skipping primer on plasterboard and filler. Fresh surfaces absorb unevenly — without primer you get patches.
- Not protecting the new floor and windows. Paint splashes on laminate and glazing are hard to remove; film is cheaper than a redo.
- Painting right after wet filling. Damp plaster needs to dry, otherwise stains and peeling appear.
- One coat over plasterboard joints. Filled seams almost always show through one coat — you need two.
- Rushing before construction dust is cleared. Dust settles on fresh paint and leaves a rough finish.
What to prepare before the pro arrives
- Finish the “wet” and dusty work (chasing, drilling, screed) before painting.
- Remove large debris and tools from the rooms.
- Decide on the colour and type of paint.
- Tell us which surfaces are already finished (floor, windows, doors) so we protect them.
- Provide access to water and electricity.
- Check that fresh plaster/filler has had time to dry.
- Clear access to the walls and ceiling.
- Tell us about the lift and parking if materials need carrying up.
A case from practice in Warsaw
In a new build in Wola the clients had finished the rough renovation: wired the electrics, fitted windows and doors, laid laminate, handed over walls ready for paint but with dust and a couple of unlevelled plasterboard joints. They wanted to “just paint it white”. First we de-dusted everything, covered the floor and windows with film, levelled the joints and screw heads with filler and sanded them. We primed and applied two coats. Under side light we confirmed the seams weren’t visible. It took two days and the laminate and windows stayed clean. The clients moved furniture in the next day. The takeaway: after a renovation, half the job isn’t painting but de-dusting, protecting finished surfaces and levelling joints; without that, fresh walls give away every flaw of the build.
Frequently asked questions
Can you paint straight after a renovation?
Yes, if the wet work is done and the plaster has dried. A damp surface can’t be painted — it will stain.
Do new walls need priming?
Definitely. Plasterboard and fresh filler absorb unevenly; without primer the paint goes on patchy.
Will you protect the new floor and windows?
Yes, we cover the floor and mask windows, doors and radiators with film — it’s part of the prep.
Will you level chases and plasterboard joints?
Yes, we fill, sand and prime them locally before painting so the seams don’t show.
Will you clear the construction dust?
We de-dust the walls before painting; removing large debris is by arrangement.
How many coats are needed after a renovation?
Usually two — over joints and fresh filler one coat almost always shows through.
Do you buy the paint?
Whatever is easier. We work with your paint or advise what to get. Materials are separate.
How fast do you paint a flat after a renovation?
A small one in one or two days if the walls are already levelled. With joint filling it takes a bit longer.
Will you clean up after yourselves?
Yes, we remove film and tape, clear our dust and leave the room clean.
Do you cover my district?
We work across all of Warsaw — Wola, Mokotów, Ursynów, Praga and others. Leave a request with your address.
Who does the work and how
The work is done by pros from the handyman service. After a renovation, care matters: we protect the finished floor, windows and doors, de-dust and level the joints so the finish looks even. We agree the scope and price at the inspection — it’s immediately clear what was left ready for paint and what needs finishing. Leave a request and we’ll assess the state of the walls after the rough work and arrange a time.