Plasterer Estimate Template
A plasterer estimate forecasts the price before work starts: 8 lines for repair cracked lath-and-plaster walls in a 1920s living room and veneer-plaster a new 14x12 ft ceiling, totalling $2,735.60, with labour the largest share (89%). It states its assumptions and stays valid for 30 days. Edit the lines and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for a plasterer: repair cracked lath-and-plaster walls in a 1920s living room and veneer-plaster a new 14x12 ft ceiling. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Fox Hollow Plastering
823 Market Street
Salem, MA 01970
billing@example.com
(512) 555-0123
Estimate
Prepared for
Avery Lindqvist
140 Orchard Drive
Madison, WI 53703
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protect floors, trim and furniture | 1 room | $120.00 | $120.00 |
| Reattach loose plaster with plaster washers and adhesive | 6 hr | $65.00 | $390.00 |
| Cut out failed areas and fill with base coatScratch and brown coats over existing lath | 40 sq ft | $14.00 | $560.00 |
| Finish coat over repaired areasLime putty finish blended to existing | 40 sq ft | $6.00 | $240.00 |
| Hang blueboard on new ceiling | 168 sq ft | $2.20 | $369.60 |
| Two-coat veneer plaster on ceiling | 168 sq ft | $4.50 | $756.00 |
| Plaster, lime, bonding agent and mesh tape | 1 lot | $210.00 | $210.00 |
| Cleanup and debris removal | 1 each | $90.00 | $90.00 |
- Subtotal
- $2,735.60
- Estimate total
- $2,735.60
Notes
A plaster estimate should separate repair hours from new square footage, name the plaster system and finish texture, and state whether painting after cure is included.
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Plasterer estimate at a glance
| Scope estimated | Repair cracked lath-and-plaster walls in a 1920s living room and veneer-plaster a new 14x12 ft ceiling |
|---|---|
| Estimate total | $2,735.60 before tax |
| Valid for | 30 days from the estimate date |
| Deposit | Larger jobs commonly take a third up front for materials and scheduling; small repairs are paid when the finish coat is done. |
| Labour (6 lines) | $2,435.60, 89% |
| Materials (1 line) | $210.00, 8% |
| Fees (1 line) | $90.00, 3% |
| Priced in | sq ft |
Estimate breakdown for repair cracked lath-and-plaster walls in a 1920s living room and veneer-plaster a new 14x12 ft ceiling
| Item | Type | Est. quantity | Est. amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protect floors, trim and furniture | Labour | 1 room | $120.00 |
| Reattach loose plaster with plaster washers and adhesive | Labour | 6 hr | $390.00 |
| Cut out failed areas and fill with base coat | Labour | 40 sq ft | $560.00 |
| Finish coat over repaired areas | Labour | 40 sq ft | $240.00 |
| Hang blueboard on new ceiling | Labour | 168 sq ft | $369.60 |
| Two-coat veneer plaster on ceiling | Labour | 168 sq ft | $756.00 |
| Plaster, lime, bonding agent and mesh tape | Materials | 1 lot | $210.00 |
| Cleanup and debris removal | Fees | 1 each | $90.00 |
| Estimated total | $2,735.60 |
What to write on a plasterer estimate
A plaster estimate should separate repair hours from new square footage, name the plaster system and finish texture, and state whether painting after cure is included.
Materials and products are $210.00 of this $2,735.60 estimate (8%), so say how long those prices hold: supplier prices can move before the job starts.
Prices new veneer plaster or full lath-and-plaster by the square foot of wall and ceiling, while repairs to old plaster are usually billed by the hour plus materials.
Assumptions behind each line
Write these next to the 8 lines so the customer sees what the $2,735.60 depends on.
- Protect floors, trim and furniture: 1 room at $120.00 per room ($120.00); extra room at the same rate.
- Reattach loose plaster with plaster washers and adhesive: 6 hr at $65.00 per hr ($390.00); extra hr at the same rate.
- Cut out failed areas and fill with base coat: 40 sq ft at $14.00 per sq ft ($560.00); extra sq ft at the same rate.
- Finish coat over repaired areas: 40 sq ft at $6.00 per sq ft ($240.00); extra sq ft at the same rate.
- Hang blueboard on new ceiling: 168 sq ft at $2.20 per sq ft ($369.60); extra sq ft at the same rate.
- Two-coat veneer plaster on ceiling: 168 sq ft at $4.50 per sq ft ($756.00); extra sq ft at the same rate.
- Plaster, lime, bonding agent and mesh tape: 1 lot at $210.00 ($210.00); another grade or brand changes this line.
- Cleanup and debris removal: a flat $90.00.
Changes, overruns and change orders
If the customer adds work, put it on a signed change order first. Here one more hr of "Reattach loose plaster with plaster washers and adhesive" adds $65.00, or 2.4% of the estimate.
A 10% rise in material prices would add $21.00 to this job, which is why many plasterers limit how long an estimate stays valid.
Tips from interior plastering billing
- Name the system and the coats applied, such as scratch, brown and finish over wood lath or two-coat veneer over blueboard, because the customer is paying for a build-up that cannot be seen once it is painted.
- Write the drying time before painting on the invoice, since lime and gypsum finishes need to cure and a painter who primes too early can cause the failure that gets blamed on the plaster.
- Bill restoration of ornamental work such as cornices, ceiling medallions or run moldings as its own line by the linear foot or piece, because it takes far longer per foot than flat wall repair.
- For houses old enough to have lead paint on the surfaces being opened up, note whether lead-safe work practices were followed, as that work needs extra containment and cleanup time.
Checking the labour rate
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Plasterers and Stucco Masons $26.93 (employees, not contractor rates).
The sample's $65.00 per hour for "Reattach loose plaster with plaster washers and adhesive" is 2.4 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Turning the plasterer estimate into an invoice
-
Get it approved
Ask Avery Lindqvist to sign or reply in writing to estimate EST-3448.
-
Record the changes
Update quantities to what was actually used across the 8 lines.
-
Switch the document type
Change Estimate to Invoice in the tool; the lines and parties stay.
-
Deduct what was paid
Enter any deposit as amount paid so the balance due is correct.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a plasterer estimate?
Describe the job (Repair cracked lath-and-plaster walls in a 1920s living room and veneer-plaster a new 14x12 ft ceiling), list each line with an estimated quantity and rate, total it ($2,735.60 in the sample), state how long it is valid and what it assumes, then send it as a PDF for approval.
Is a plasterer estimate binding?
An estimate is a forecast, not a fixed price, so the final invoice can differ when the work or materials change. Rules vary by country and state; to stay safe, get written approval before billing noticeably more than the $2,735.60 you estimated.
How long should a plasterer estimate be valid?
Thirty days is common and is what this template uses. With 8% of the price in materials, a shorter validity protects you if supplier prices rise.