Turnkey apartment painting in Warsaw: price, timeline and scope

How much turnkey apartment painting costs and what drives the price

The turnkey price depends on the area of walls and ceilings, the state of the surface and the number of coats. Even walls in a single colour are the cheapest option; filling holes, levelling after tile removal or applying gypsum filler are separate operations that raise the cost. Paint materials (paint, primer, filler) are billed separately, while protective film and small fixings are usually part of the labour. Current rates for each stage are in the table below.

Carrying materials up without a lift and removing construction waste are counted separately — mention it in the request so the pro can budget the time.

What it costs and how to book: wall painting prices in Warsaw.

How the job goes on site: step by step

1. Inspection and measuring. The pro checks the walls in daylight and side light, marks cracks, stains and unevenness, measures the area and sets the scope.
2. Covering. Furniture is moved to the centre and covered with film, the floor is protected, sockets and skirting are masked with painter’s tape.
3. Surface prep. Flaking paint is removed, holes and cracks are opened up and filled, filler is applied and sanded where needed.
4. Priming. Without primer the paint goes on patchy and peels sooner, they prime the whole area and let it dry.
5. First coat. Tradespeople paint the ceiling, then the walls; corners and edges are cut in with a brush, flat areas rolled.
6. Second coat and check. Once dry, they apply the second coat and check under side light so no thin spots or streaks remain.
7. Clean-up. Tradespeople remove film and tape, move the furniture back and take away the waste from their work.

Common client mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Painting over a dirty or greasy wall. Kitchen film and dust stop the paint bonding: the wall must be washed and primed.
• Skipping primer. Without primer you use more paint and the finish is patchy. Primer is cheaper than an extra coat of paint.
• One coat to save time. A rich or dark colour in one coat almost always shows through. Plan for two.
• Cheap paint for wet rooms. Kitchens and bathrooms need washable or moisture-resistant paint, otherwise stains and mould appear within months.
• Not testing the colour on the wall. A shade looks different on a small swatch and a large wall: do a test patch.
• Painting over a crack without opening it. Just covering it makes the crack return. It has to be opened, taped and filled.
• Rushing the second coat. Over an undried first coat the paint drags and leaves roller marks.

What to prepare before the pro arrives

• Clear access to the walls, move light furniture away from the perimeter.
• Take pictures, shelves, mirrors, curtains and rails off the walls.
• Clear windowsills and surfaces of anything loose.
• Decide on the colour and type of paint (matt, washable, for wet rooms).
• If the paint is already bought, have it ready and estimate the area.
• Find a spot to temporarily move large furniture.
• Roll up rugs or be ready to have the floor covered.
• Provide access to water and electricity.
• Keep pets in another room.
• Say so in the order if there is no lift and materials need carrying up.
• Check parking near the building: it saves time on site.

A case from practice in Warsaw

In Wola, clients were moving into a flat left by previous tenants: streaked walls, felt-tip drawings in the kids’ room, a yellow film above the hob in the kitchen and a couple of cracks by the window. They wanted to “just repaint it white in a day”. Tradespeople showed that white would bleed through the marker and the film, so they did it differently: they sealed the problem spots, washed and primed the kitchen, opened and filled the cracks. Tradespeople primed and painted the whole flat (58 m²) in two coats, bedrooms in a warm white, the kitchen in washable paint. Tradespeople finished in two days including clean-up. A week later the clients rented the flat to new tenants with no touch-ups. The takeaway: a “one-day” paint job is only realistic on even, clean walls; where there are stains and defects, it is more honest to budget the prep than to redo it later.

Frequently asked questions

Who does the work and how

The painting is done by working painters with ratings and reviews on the platform, not random people. They arrive with their own tools, protective film and painter’s tape; all they need from you is access and a decision on the colour. Furniture and floors are protected, and the scope and limits are agreed during the inspection, so there are no surprises on volume or price. Post a request in the HandyMan24 app: painters will advise on the scope and send their offers.