Facade painting 2026: price per m² in Czechia and when paint is enough

Painting a facade in the Czech Republic costs roughly CZK 250 – 450 per m² in 2026 including materials (primer and two coats), or CZK 180 – 320/m² for labour only, all excluding VAT. Add scaffolding at CZK 100 – 200/m² and, depending on the condition of the walls, algae and mould treatment at CZK 50 – 100/m². A typical family house with 150 – 250 m² of facade therefore comes to about CZK 52,000 – 188,000. Paint only works where the render is sound, though — how to check that is explained below.

This guide helps you decide whether your facade just needs paint and how to get the job done properly. Rates for other facade work — base coat with mesh, render, insulation — split into labour only and supply-and-fix are collected in our facade works price list.

Facade painting price per m²

Item	Labour + materials	Labour only
Facade painting (primer + 2 coats)	CZK 250 – 450/m²	CZK 180 – 320/m²
Scaffolding (hire + erection)	CZK 100 – 200/m²	—
Algae and mould treatment	CZK 50 – 100/m²	—
Reinforcing base coat with mesh (for cracks)	CZK 250 – 450/m²	CZK 200 – 350/m²

Prices are indicative, excluding VAT, for Prague and the surrounding area; renovation of housing usually qualifies for the reduced VAT rate. Within each range the price depends on how complex the house is, its height, the state of the substrate and the paint chosen. All our construction rates are in the 2026 construction price list.

What a whole house costs

Two worked examples. Measure the area as the perimeter times the wall height plus the gables; under Czech practice openings smaller than 4 m² are not deducted, because they add work rather than save it.

Item	Bungalow, 150 m² of facade	Two-storey house, 250 m² of facade
Painting (primer + 2 coats)	CZK 37,500 – 67,500	CZK 62,500 – 112,500
Scaffolding	CZK 15,000 – 30,000	CZK 25,000 – 50,000
Algae treatment (if needed)	CZK 7,500 – 15,000	CZK 12,500 – 25,000
Total	CZK 52,500 – 112,500	CZK 87,500 – 187,500

The lower figure is for a clean facade with no algae, the upper one for a complex house that needs treatment. Repairs to cracks and loose render are extra and should appear as a separate line in the quote.

How much paint to buy: two coats use 0.3 – 0.5 litres per m². For 150 m² of facade that is 45 – 75 litres, for 250 m² it is 75 – 125 litres. The exact coverage is on the manufacturer's data sheet; an absorbent substrate takes more.

When paint is enough — and when it is not

Paint renews the look and protects the render, but it does not repair it. It only makes sense on a sound substrate. The table lists the usual conditions of an older facade and what to do about each:

Facade condition	What to do
Faded or greyish, render is sound	wash, prime, paint
Green algae, mostly on the north side	biocide treatment, then an algae-resistant paint
Hairline cracks in the render	fill, then an elastic or high-build paint
Cracks following the masonry joints, crazing	reinforcing base coat with mesh, then paint or thin-coat render
Render sounds hollow or is falling off	hack off and repair; if widespread, new render
Permanently damp plinth, salt blooms	fix the cause of the damp first; paint will not help
Uninsulated house, insulation planned within a few years	skip painting and put the money into insulation

How to test your facade yourself

• Tap test: walk along the walls tapping with the handle of a hammer. A hollow sound marks a detached patch that must be repaired before painting.
• Hand test: rub your palm across the wall. If coloured powder stays on your hand, the old paint is chalking and needs a thorough wash and the right primer.
• Tape test: press strong adhesive tape on and rip it off sharply. If the old paint comes away with it, new paint would sit on a layer that is already peeling.
• Water drop: if water soaks in instantly, the substrate is very absorbent and without primer the paint will dry patchy.
• After rain: dark patches that take a long time to dry point to damp in the masonry. Paint will not solve that.

Which paint to choose

Paint type	Suitable substrate	Properties
Silicone	most renders incl. silicone render, insulated facades	water-repellent, breathable, stays clean longer; the most versatile choice
Silicate	mineral renders, older houses	very breathable; does not bond to old acrylic paint
Acrylic (dispersion)	sound, newer renders	cheapest, less breathable; not for damp masonry
Elastic, high-build	render with hairline cracks	flexible film bridges fine cracks
Lime	historic lime renders	traditional mineral finish, shorter life, needs renewing more often

The rule that prevents the most expensive mistake: the new paint must be compatible with both the substrate and the old coating. Silicate will not bond to acrylic, and acrylic on a damp old house traps moisture in the wall. If in doubt, paint a test patch. Dark, saturated colours heat up more in the sun, so on insulated facades the system manufacturers limit how dark a shade you may use.

Step-by-step process

1. Survey and tests — tap, tape, absorbency, measuring the area.
2. Scaffolding and masking — windows, sills, paving and plants below the wall.
3. Washing — pressure washing at a sensible pressure and distance; on polystyrene insulation, high pressure at close range can damage the render.
4. Algae and mould treatment — apply biocide and leave it as instructed.
5. Repairs — fill cracks, hack off and make good hollow areas.
6. Primer — evens out absorbency and improves adhesion; must match the paint system.
7. First coat — roller or spray, whole elevations at a time, never stopping mid-wall.
8. Second coat — once the first has dried as per the data sheet.
9. Details and clean-up — reveals, plinth, scaffolding down, handover walk-round.

When to paint: air and wall temperature should not drop below +5 °C, including the night after painting. Avoid strong direct sun, rain and high wind. Spring and early autumn are best.

DIY or a contractor?

Labour is most of the price: out of CZK 250 – 450/m² including materials, CZK 180 – 320/m² is labour. Doing it yourself mainly saves labour; you still need the scaffolding, washing and algae treatment.

• DIY makes sense on a single-storey house you can reach from a mobile tower, on a facade without cracks or hollow spots, and if you are comfortable with a roller.
• Hire a contractor for two-storey houses and tall gables, when the render needs repair, on an insulated facade where paint and primer must match the insulation system, and when you want a warranty on the work.

Allow for time, too. A crew paints a typical family house in a few working days; on your own it usually takes several weekends, and you have to wait for suitable weather between coats or the colour will not come out even across a large wall.

Paint, new render or insulation?

Option	Price per m² incl. materials	When it makes sense
Facade painting	CZK 250 – 450	render is sound, it is about looks and protection
New silicone render	from CZK 1,300	old render is cracked or loose
EPS insulation incl. render	CZK 1,500 – 2,200	uninsulated house, high heating bills
Mineral wool insulation incl. render	CZK 2,200 – 2,800	timber frame, need for non-combustible, breathable build-up

Painting is roughly 3 – 5 times cheaper than insulation, but on an uninsulated house it does nothing for energy bills. If you are considering insulation, materials and payback are compared in facade insulation: polystyrene or mineral wool.

Common mistakes

• Painting over hollow render. It looks good for one winter, then the render falls off together with the new paint.
• Skipping primer. On an absorbent or chalky surface the paint dries unevenly and peels sooner.
• One coat instead of two. Saves material and a day of work, but coverage and lifespan drop.
• Wrong paint for the substrate. Silicate over acrylic, or acrylic on damp old masonry.
• Painting in cold or heat. Below +5 °C the paint does not cure properly; in blazing sun it dries too fast.
• Painting over algae. Without biocide it comes back within a season or two.

Checklist for the quote

• The area is measured and stated in m².
• It is clear whether the price includes materials or is labour only.
• Scaffolding is included or listed separately.
• Washing, algae treatment, primer and two coats are all listed.
• Paint type, brand and colour are specified, ideally with a sample patch on the wall.
• Crack and render repairs have their own line and unit price.
• Masking, clean-up and waste removal are included.

FAQ

How much does facade painting cost per m²? CZK 250 – 450/m² with materials, including primer and two coats, excluding VAT. Scaffolding is extra at CZK 100 – 200/m².

What does labour only cost? CZK 180 – 320/m². You buy the paint and primer yourself; allow 0.3 – 0.5 litres of paint per m² for two coats.

How often should a facade be repainted? A good paint system on sound render typically lasts 10 – 15 years, depending on the paint, the colour and how exposed the wall is.

Can an old facade be painted? Yes, if the render is sound. Hollow and loose areas must be repaired first, damp masonry dried out and the old paint checked with a tape test.

Is one coat enough? No. The standard is primer plus two coats; only then does the paint deliver its stated coverage and lifespan.

Which facade paint is best? Silicone is the all-rounder — it suits most renders and insulated facades. Silicate works well on the mineral renders of older houses, but only if there is no old acrylic paint on the wall.

We paint facades in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. We come out, tap-test and check the substrate, and tell you honestly whether paint is enough or the walls need repair or insulation. Get an indicative price in the calculator below.