Walls
- Single and double-layer partitions
- Fire-rated and acoustic walls
- Wet-area sheet and cement sheet
- Bulkheads and box-outs
ASMM / ANZSMM · Plastering · NPWC 12 WF / 14 CF
Plasterboard & Plastering Estimating
Wall and ceiling linings, steel framing and finishing measured in m² and lineal metres
Plasterboard is measured by area, but the price depends on board type, number of layers, fire and acoustic ratings, stud centres, ceiling heights and level of finish.
We measure walls and ceilings from the plans and reflected ceiling plans, keep each wall type and rating apart, and give you quantities for board, framing, insulation and labour.
m² by lining typeWalls and ceilings
Fire & acousticFRL walls separated
Levels of finishLevel 3 to 5
FramingSteel and timber
Deliverables
What You Actually Receive
| Deliverable | Format | Detail level |
|---|---|---|
| Wall linings | Excel, m² | Sorted by board type, number of layers and wall type |
| Ceiling linings | Excel, m² | By ceiling type and height |
| Steel and timber framing | Excel, m | Studs, tracks, furring channels and noggings |
| Cornice and set | Excel, m / m² | By level of finish |
| Insulation | Excel, m² | Acoustic and thermal batts |
| Priced estimate | Excel + PDF | Supply and installation, with GST on its own line |
Australian Framework
How This Work Fits Into the Australian Standards
Every estimate is structured to the trade sections used for tendering and to the elements used for early cost plans, so one set of quantities serves both.
| Trade section (ASMM / ANZSMM) | Element (NPWC / AIQS) |
|---|---|
| Plastering / Tiling / Floor Covering / Painting | 12 WF Wall Finishes |
| Plastering / Tiling / Floor Covering / Painting | 14 CF Ceiling Finishes |
Scope Coverage
Plasterboard Work We Measure
Every wall type and ceiling in the building.
Ceilings
- Suspended grid and plasterboard
- Direct-fix ceilings
- Bulkheads and shadowlines
- Access panels
Framing
- Steel stud framing
- Furring and ceiling channels
- Timber noggings
- Door and window framing
Finishing
- Cornice and plaster set
- Level 4 and 5 finishes
- Corner beads and trims
- Render and solid plaster
Acoustic & fire
- Acoustic insulation
- Fire collars and sealants
- Fire-rated linings
- Sound-rated ceilings
Our Process
Start a Project →
How We Prepare Your Estimate
Five steps from your drawings to a plasterboard and plastering number you can defend in a scope review.
-
01
Scope review
An estimator reads the architectural plans, reflected ceiling plans, wall types and fire and acoustic specification before touching a takeoff tool, and lists every assumption, exclusion and missing item as a query for you to confirm. Nothing is priced on a guess.
-
02
Digital measurement
Quantities are measured digitally in Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift or On-Screen Takeoff, in metric: square metres of lining by board type, lineal metres of framing, cornice and set, and numbers of access panels. Each measurement sits on a named layer, so the marked-up PDF you receive is a visual audit trail.
-
03
Pricing
We price the quantities using current Australian supplier quotes, subcontract rates and published benchmarks such as Rawlinsons, adjusted for your postcode and state. If you give us your own rates or a preferred supplier schedule, we use those.
-
04
Senior QA review
Before anything is sent, a second estimator compares the takeoff with the drawings and verifies the measuring rules, deductions, wastage allowances and productivity assumptions.
-
05
Delivery
Excel and PDF files reach your inbox within one to two days for standard jobs. One round of changes is included, and we remain available for tender queries and scope questions after the tender.
Tooling
Software We Work In
You do not have to hold a licence for these tools. We do the measuring with them and hand over the results.
Bluebeam Revu
Measuring, marking and comparing drawings on screen.
PlanSwift
Takeoffs made from ready-built assemblies, with quantities you can export.
On-Screen Takeoff
Layer-based measuring on big commercial drawing sets.
Rawlinsons-benchmarked rates
Up-to-date Australian unit rates, compared with supplier and subcontractor quotes.
Microsoft Excel
The final file, set out to match your cost codes and trade sections.
If you use Buildsoft, CostX, Estimate One, Procore or your own template, let us know and we will prepare the file so it imports straight in.
Turnaround & Pricing
Cost and Delivery Time
We quote a fee for each project before starting, in AUD excluding GST. We never bill by the hour, and you are never charged more than the quote.
Small / residential scope
24 hoursSingle houses and renovations.
Typical fee A$350 to A$850
Mid-size commercial
24 to 48 hoursOffices, retail and apartment fit-outs.
Typical fee A$850 to A$1,800
Large / complex
48 to 72 hoursHospitals, schools and large developments.
Typical fee A$1,800 to A$3,600
Monthly takeoff package
OngoingA set number of estimates every month, with your jobs placed first in the queue.
Flat monthly rate from A$2,200/mo
Cost vs. Capacity
Why Builders Hand Plasterboard & Plastering Estimating to Us
A full-time estimator is a salary, super, software seats and training. A plasterboard and plastering takeoff from us is a per-project cost that only appears when you are actually tendering.
- No software licences. Takeoff and cost-data subscriptions cost thousands of dollars per user each year. With us, you use ours.
- Tender more, more selectively. Most builders do not lose jobs through bad pricing. They lose them because they run out of time to reach enough tenders before closing.
- Site time stays site time. Items get overlooked when estimating at 9pm after a long day on site.
- Independent accuracy check. Even builders with in-house estimators use us to sanity-check large or unfamiliar plasterboard and plastering scopes before they submit.
- Moves up and down with how busy you are. Five takeoffs in a busy month and none in a slow one. You never carry a fixed cost.
Who We Work With
Made for Anyone Pricing Plasterboard
Plasterers and fixers
m² and framing takeoffs.
Builders
Subcontract checks.
Fit-out contractors
Partition packages.
Suppliers
Board and framing lists.
Developers
Per-unit lining costs.
Quantity surveyors
Internal walls element costs.
Sample Output
Sample Line Items
Every estimate has this much detail: quantities tied to elements and measured in metric, never lump sums.
| Item | Unit | Qty | Material | Labour | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 mm standard plasterboard for walls | m² | 1,240.0 | $ | $ | $ |
| 16 mm fire-rated board | m² | 320.0 | $ | $ | $ |
| Ceiling lining, 10 mm | m² | 480.0 | $ | $ | $ |
| Steel studs, 64 mm | m | 2,420 | $ | $ | $ |
| Cornice, 90 mm | m | 620 | $ | $ | $ |
| Acoustic batts | m² | 640.0 | $ | $ | $ |
These example items show only the layout and units. They do not come from a client project.
FAQ
Common Questions
Do you list fire-rated walls separately?
Yes, by FRL and wall type.
Do you price levels of finish?
Yes, from Level 3 to Level 5.
Can you cover suspended ceilings?
Yes, including grid and tiles.
Do you include framing?
Yes, steel or timber.
Which states and territories do you cover?
Every one. Prices are set for your project postcode and state, so a job in Darwin and a job in Melbourne get their own unit costs instead of one national average.
What does it cost?
A fee is quoted per project, in AUD excluding GST, before any work starts. You approve it in writing first. There is no hourly billing and no invoice larger than the quote.
How fast is turnaround?
Standard scopes ship in 24 to 48 hours. Large packages take 48 to 72 hours. If you are against a closing time, say so when you upload and we will tell you honestly whether we can meet it.
Are my project details kept confidential?
Yes. We keep drawings, specifications and tender figures private, and if you prefer we will sign your NDA before we receive any documents.
Ready to Get Started?
Ready for Your Next Plasterboard & Plastering Tender?
Send your drawings along with a short note on what the job covers. A fee and delivery date come back the same working day, and the finished estimate follows within one to two days of your approval.