Interior
- Walls and ceilings
- Doors, frames and trim
- Cupboards and joinery
- Feature walls
ASMM / ANZSMM · Painting & Decorating · NPWC 12 WF
Painting and Decorating Estimating
Inside and outside painting measured in m² by surface, coat and system
Painting is priced by surface and system: new work versus repaint, number of coats, substrate, height and access. A single m² rate for the whole building ignores all of that.
We measure every wall, ceiling, door and trim from the plans and schedules, split each by system and coat, and return the litres, labour hours and access equipment you need.
m² by surfaceWalls, ceilings, trim
By coatPrimer, undercoat, top coats
AS/NZS 2311Painting of buildings
AccessScaffold and lifts included
Deliverables
What You Actually Receive
| Deliverable | Format | Detail level |
|---|---|---|
| Wall and ceiling areas | Excel, m² | By surface, level and system |
| Doors, windows and trim | Excel, No. / m | By type, with coats |
| External surfaces | Excel, m² | Walls, fascias, eaves, roofs and fences |
| Preparation | Excel, m² | Sanding, filling and priming |
| Paint volumes | Excel, litres | By product and coverage rate |
| Priced estimate | Excel + PDF | Supply and apply with GST shown separately |
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
Painting Work We Measure
Every surface that gets a coat.
Exterior
- Rendered and brick walls
- Weatherboards and cladding
- Fascias, eaves and gutters
- Fences and decks
Specialty
- Epoxy and floor coatings
- Anti-graffiti coatings
- Line marking
- Fire-rated coatings
Preparation
- Pressure washing
- Sanding and filling
- Masking and protection
- Lead-safe procedures
Access
- Scaffold and edge protection
- EWPs and lifts
- Rope access
- Working at height allowances
Our Process
Start a Project →
How We Prepare Your Estimate
Five steps from your drawings to a painting number you can defend in a scope review.
-
01
Scope review
An estimator reads the finishes schedule, elevations, room schedules and the painting 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 surface by substrate and coat, lineal metres of trim, and counts of doors and windows. 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 units.
Typical fee A$350 to A$850
Mid-size commercial
24 to 48 hoursOffices, retail and townhouse developments.
Typical fee A$850 to A$1,800
Large / complex
48 to 72 hoursBig commercial and multi-storey buildings.
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 Painting Estimating to Us
A full-time estimator is a salary, super, software seats and training. A painting 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 painting 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 Painting
Painting contractors
Area and system takeoffs.
Builders
Allowances and subcontract checks.
Strata managers
Repaint scopes.
Developers
Per-unit painting costs.
Suppliers
Paint volume lists.
Property managers
Maintenance budgets.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internal walls, 3 coats | m² | 1,420.0 | $ | $ | $ |
| Ceilings, 2 coats | m² | 620.0 | $ | $ | $ |
| Doors, both sides, gloss | No. | 42 | $ | $ | $ |
| External render, 3 coats | m² | 380.0 | $ | $ | $ |
| Scaffold hire | m² | 380.0 | $ | $ | $ |
These example items show only the layout and units. They do not come from a client project.
FAQ
Common Questions
Do you measure by coat?
Yes, each coat and system is a separate line, so new and repaint work are priced correctly.
Do you allow for preparation?
Yes, as a separate line.
Is access equipment included?
Yes: scaffold, EWPs and ladders when needed.
Can you cover repaint of strata buildings?
Yes.
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 Painting 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.