How to Hire Painters in Nairobi: 12 Checks Before You Pay

Searching for painters in Nairobi gives you hundreds of options, from individual fundis on WhatsApp to established painting companies. Prices and quality vary enormously. This checklist, written by working painting contractors, helps you choose with confidence and avoid the most common, expensive mistakes.

Individual painter or painting company?

	Individual painter (fundi)	Painting company
Best for	Single rooms, touch-ups	Whole houses, exteriors, offices, estates
Price	Often lower	Competitive on larger jobs
Crew size	1–2 people	Supervised team; faster completion
Equipment	Basic	Scaffolding, spray machines, sanders
Written quote & timeline	Sometimes	Standard
Accountability	Depends on the person	Business reputation and reviews at stake

The 12-point checklist

1. Check reviews and real photos

Look at their Google Business Profile reviews and ask for photos or addresses of recent jobs similar to yours. Real job-site photos are far more convincing than polished stock images.

2. Insist on a site visit before any quote

A painter who quotes over the phone without seeing the walls is guessing, and the price will “grow” later. Professionals measure every room.

3. Ask for the area in square metres

The quote should list m² per room or elevation. This lets you compare quotes fairly. Understand typical numbers with our guide to painting rates per m² in Kenya.

4. Get the paint brand, product and number of coats in writing

“Two coats of [brand] [product name] vinyl silk” is a specification. “Good paint” is not.

5. Confirm what preparation is included

Crack filling, sanding, sealer on new plaster, damp treatment, skimming: preparation is where cheap quotes cut corners.

6. Compare like with like

If one quote is 40% cheaper, check what is missing: coats, primer, ceilings, doors or materials.

7. Ask who will supervise the job

You want one responsible person you can call, who is on site regularly and signs off quality.

8. Agree timelines

Get a start date and an estimated duration. A 3-bedroom interior normally takes 4–7 working days with a full crew.

9. Agree payment terms

A fair structure is a materials deposit, a progress payment and the balance after the walk-through. Never pay 100% upfront.

10. Ask how they protect your home

Floors, furniture, fittings, switches and windows should be covered or masked. Ask about daily clean-up.

11. Check that they can handle your type of job

Exteriors above one storey need scaffolding and safe working practices. Decorative finishes need specialist skills. Offices may need night or weekend work.

12. Agree a walk-through and touch-ups

Before final payment, walk through every room together and list any snags. A professional crew fixes them before leaving.

Professional painter working on an interior wall in Nairobi — A supervised, prepared site is the clearest sign of a professional painting crew.

Red flags to watch for

Quoting without visiting the site
Refusing to name the paint product
A price far below the market rate
Asking for full payment upfront
No reviews, no photos of real work, no physical address
Pressure to decide immediately

Questions to ask on the phone

Can you visit this week to measure and quote?
Do you supply the paint, and which brands do you use?
How many painters will be on site, and who supervises?
How long will it take, and can you work around my schedule?
What are your payment terms?

What does a good quotation look like?

A professional quote from a painting company in Kenya should include your name and site address, a room-by-room or elevation-by-elevation breakdown in m², the paint products and number of coats, the preparation included, the price for labour and materials (separately or combined), the timeline and the payment schedule. See typical figures in our 2026 painting cost guide.

Why clients choose BrushMasters Painters

BrushMasters Painters Kenya is a Nairobi painting company based at SIMCO PLAZA, Lusaka Road. We are open 24 hours and serve homes, offices and developers across Nairobi and beyond. Every job starts with a free site visit and a written, itemised quotation, and every crew is supervised. Explore our services:

Before the painters arrive: read what a good painting quotation includes and how to prepare your home for painting.

Looking for painters in Nairobi you can trust? Call or WhatsApp 0746 575257 or book a free site visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a good painter in Nairobi?

Ask for recommendations, check Google reviews and photos of recent work, and get at least two itemised quotes after a site visit. A good painter or painting company will measure your surfaces, specify the paint and number of coats, and agree a written timeline and payment schedule.

Should I hire an individual fundi or a painting company?

An individual painter can be cheaper for small jobs. A painting company is usually better for whole houses, exteriors, offices and projects with deadlines, because it provides a supervised crew, equipment such as scaffolding, a written quote and accountability if something goes wrong.

How much deposit should I pay a painter?

A common arrangement in Kenya is a deposit to cover materials (often 30–50%), a progress payment midway, and the balance after the final walk-through and touch-ups. Avoid paying the full amount upfront.

What questions should I ask a painting contractor?

Ask about the total area in m², the paint brand and product, the number of coats, what preparation is included, how long the job will take, who supervises the crew, how they protect floors and furniture, and the payment terms.

What are red flags when hiring painters?

Warning signs include quoting without seeing the site, refusing to name the paint product, a price far below the market rate, asking for full payment upfront, and having no reviews or photos of past work.

How to Find and Hire the Right Painters in Nairobi: A 12-Point Checklist

Individual painter or painting company?