Painting a new-build flat in Warsaw — the first colour of your home
A flat from a developer in “ready-to-finish” state: the walls are levelled and skimmed but bare and grey. Painting in a new build is the first colour in your new home: we prime the fresh surface and paint two coats. There’s no old paint or wallpaper, so the work is cleaner and faster than in older stock. We also help with the colour choice — it sets the whole feel of a flat in Wola, Wilanów or Bielany.
How much painting a new build costs and what drives the price
Fresh developer walls are usually already prepared for paint, so most often we charge for primer and two coats — cheaper than painting older stock with prep. If you want different colours per room or accent walls, there’s extra work to separate them. Paint is billed separately, while film and fixings are part of the labour. Rates are in the table below.
| Service | min | max |
|---|---|---|
| Protection of furniture, doors, windows and floors with film | 10 zł/m² | 15 zł/m² |
| 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 |
If you’re moving furniture in or another install is running at the same time, tell us and we’ll plan the order so we don’t paint into dust.
How the job goes on site — step by step
- Inspecting the developer’s walls: we check the skim is even, with no dips or runs.
- Protecting the floor, windows and sills with film — in a new build they’re already finished.
- De-dusting and priming the whole area: fresh skim pulls paint hard without primer.
- Local touch-ups of small flaws with filler if the developer left unevenness.
- Two coats: ceiling, then walls; checking under side light.
- Clean-up: we remove film and tape and take away the waste.
Common new-build mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- Painting without primer. Fresh skim absorbs unevenly — without primer you get patches and overuse.
- One coat on light colours. Even white over grey skim shows through in one coat.
- Not protecting new windows and floor. Splashes on glazing and sills are hard to remove.
- Rushing while the block has construction dust. Dust from neighbours’ renovations settles on fresh paint.
- Tricky colours without a test patch. On a large wall a shade looks different from the catalogue.
- Ignoring shrinkage cracks. New blocks can have fine cracks — better to tape them.
What to prepare before the pro arrives
- Decide on the colour (and different colours per room if you want).
- Clear the rooms if furniture is already in.
- Tell us which surfaces are finished (floor, windows, doors).
- Provide access to water and electricity.
- Say whether other work is running at the same time.
- Check the walls are dry (some time has passed since handover).
- Have the bought paint ready if you already have it.
- Confirm the lift and parking — often an issue in new blocks.
A case from practice in Warsaw
A couple got a developer flat in Bielany in “ready-to-finish” state: walls prepared, but with a couple of skim runs and a shrinkage crack by the window. They wanted a warm white in the rooms and a soft grey-green in the bedroom. We sanded the runs, taped and filled the crack and primed everything. We painted two coats, the bedroom as an accent. We covered the floor and windows with film and stained nothing. We finished in two days. The clients moved furniture in a day later, into a clean painted flat. The takeaway: a new build is faster than older stock, but priming and protecting finished surfaces are just as essential.
Frequently asked questions
Do new-build walls need priming?
Definitely. A developer’s fresh skim absorbs unevenly; without primer the paint goes on patchy.
Can you paint right after getting the keys?
Yes, if the walls are dry and prepared. If there are runs and cracks, a light touch-up comes first.
How fast do you paint a new flat?
A small one in one or two days: there’s no old paint, so it goes faster.
Are different colours per room more expensive?
A little: there’s separation work and more paint changes, but it doesn’t fundamentally change the quote.
Will you help choose the colour?
Yes, we suggest neutral and accent options and do a test patch on the wall.
What about shrinkage cracks?
We tape and fill the fine ones before painting — otherwise they show through.
Will you protect the new floor and windows?
Yes, we cover and mask with film — it’s part of the prep.
Do you buy the paint?
Whatever is easier. We work with yours or advise what to get. Materials are separate.
Will you clean up after yourselves?
Yes, we remove film and tape and take away the waste.
Do you cover my district?
We work across all of Warsaw — Wola, Wilanów, Bielany, Ursynów and others. Leave a request.
Who does the work and how
The work is done by pros from the handyman service. In a new build we help with the colour, protect the finished floor and windows, prime and paint evenly. We agree the scope and price at the inspection. Leave a request and we’ll suggest a colour and fit the timing to your move.