Input benchmark – plasterboard installation
The main activities for businesses in this industry are fixing and finishing of plasterboard sheets for buildings and other structures. Products and services provided by plasterboard installers include the installation of plasterboard, cornices and ceiling roses.
These benchmarks do not apply to businesses providing solid or wet plastering, decorative plaster finishing and cement rendering of buildings.
Use these benchmarks to calculate expected income based on the labour and materials used.
They apply to plasterboard installers who:
- purchase their own materials
- work directly with household customers.
We developed the benchmarks with advice from the Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries of Australia and New Zealand Inc (AWCI) and trade participants. They represent the industry norm.
Consider your own personal circumstances when using the benchmarks to assess your situation.
These benchmarks are current at April 2015.
To give feedback on how we use these benchmarks, email us at BusinessSegmentPublishing@ato.gov.au.
On this page
Input benchmark guide
You can use this benchmark to compare and check your business performance to the plasterboard installation industry average.
Remember:
- All dollar amounts include GST.
- Prices charged may vary between states and regions.
- Add 10 – 20% for extra charges for installation of battens, back blocking and wet area or fire-rated materials.
The table below is not relevant to plasterers who do solid plastering.
Input benchmarks for plasterboard installers
Coverage rate (square metres) for every 100 square metres of plasterboard ordered, allowing for wastage
|
95
|
Cost of plasterboard and cornice as a percentage of the price charged to supply and install (varies depending on type and quality of plasterboard installed)
|
30 to 50
|
Average job size – wall and ceiling (square metres)
|
170
|
Average job size – cornice (linear metres)
|
60
|
Days to complete average job, including cornices if required (add half-day to one day for installation of battens and back blocking) – 2 tradespeople
|
4
|
Days to complete average job, including cornices if required (add half-day to one day for installation of battens and back blocking) – 3 tradespeople
|
3
|
Price charged per square metre – plasterboard install only
|
$8 to $16
|
Price charged per linear metre – cornice install only
|
$4 to $6
|
Price charged per square metre – supply and install (mid-range) – standard plasterboards
|
$15 to $20
|
Price charged per linear metre – supply and install (mid-range) – cornice
|
$5 to $10
|
Sales turnover
Use this benchmark to:
- estimate your income
- compare your income against the plasterboard average
- check that your records accurately reflect your income.
Remember:
- All dollar amounts include GST.
- Add extra charges for installation of battens, back blocking and wet area or fire rated materials.
- Add a further 5% if charging client for excess plasterboard ordered to cover wastage.
Sales turnover – income guide for plasterboard installers
Income guide – plasterboard installation
|
2 tradespeople
|
3 tradespeople
|
Amount of plasterboard installed per year (square metres)
|
9,350
|
12,410
|
Amount of cornice installed per year (linear metres)
|
3,300
|
4,380
|
Price charged per square metre install plasterboard – labour only
|
$8 to $16
|
$8 to $16
|
Price charged per square metre supply and install plasterboard (mid-range)
|
$15 to $20
|
$15 to $20
|
Price charged per linear metre install cornice – labour only
|
$4 to $6
|
$4 to $6
|
Price charged per linear metre supply and install cornice (mid-range)
|
$5 to $10
|
$5 to $10
|
Sales turnover range install plasterboard and cornice – labour only
|
$88,000 to $169,400
|
$116,800 to $224,840
|
Sales turnover range including supply and install plasterboard and cornice (mid-range)
|
$156,750 to $220,000
|
$208,050 to $292,000
|
Average labour charge per day
|
$200 to $350 per tradesperson
|
$200 to $350 per tradesperson
|
Jobs completed per year
|
55
|
73
|
Days to complete average job
|
4
|
3
|
Days worked per year
|
220
|
220
|
The table below sets out average job size.
Plasterboard (square metres)
|
170
|
Cornice (linear metres)
|
60
|
Plasterboard installation examples
Income within the benchmarks
Samuel runs a plasterboard installation business and has one subcontractor working for him. They work on household jobs only.
Samuel normally charges $20 per square metre for supply and installation of basic plasterboard and $5 per linear metre for cornice. Samuel reviews the statements from his supplier which show that he has purchased 9,800 square metres of plasterboard, allowing for 5% wastage he determines that he installed 9,310 square metres of plasterboard. His records show 3,200 linear metres of cornice installed.
As his supply and installation charges are consistent with the benchmarks, he uses the benchmark guide to calculate that his total sales should have been $202,200.
Samuel's records show reported income of $201,000, which is within the benchmarks and close to his estimate. This leaves him confident in his record keeping.
End of exampleIncome less than expected
Karen has a plasterboard business and uses a three-person crew on each job. She installs only. Karen normally charges $15 per square metre for plasterboard and $5 per linear metre for cornice. Her crew can install 180 square metres of plasterboard and 60 linear metres of cornice every three days to earn $3,000 ($1,000 per day). This is close to the installation rate benchmark.
Checking her business records, Karen finds she has recorded income of $160,000 for the year. Using her benchmark earnings of $1,000 per day, Karen estimates she would have worked 160 days to earn $160,000. However Karen has had a busy year and is sure she worked more than that.
She reviews her quote books and finds 20 jobs where she was paid cash and she charged $60,000 for these jobs. With these additional jobs, Karen calculates that she worked for about 220 days and she recalculates her income for the year at $220,000 which is consistent with the benchmarks.
Karen asks her bookkeeper for advice on keeping better records.
End of example