Quoting app for plasterers in Victoria
Board, set, cornice and render. Sumitt builds a tidy plastering quote in minutes, then texts your client a link to accept, e-sign and pay the deposit.
Every rule and rate below for Victoria is read from Sumitt's own tables when this page renders, not written for it.
The rules in Victoria that Sumitt already knows
Every rule below is read, when this page renders, from Sumitt’s own law tables: the ones the quote builder, the variation composer, the extension-of-time notice and the payment-claim generator run on, and its table of the Security of Payment Acts of the states it builds no claim for. Sumitt warns and never blocks, and the page moves the day a table does.
Deposits in Victoria
In Victoria the Domestic Building Contracts Act and its deposit cap do not apply to plastering under a contract for only that work (Domestic Building Contracts Regulations 2017, r 7). For such a contract, a deposit of about 10% is common practice, not law.
Check it applies to your contract.
Sumitt's default deposit is 10% of the total including GST. Sumitt warns you when a deposit goes over 10%, the common practice figure, and it never changes the deposit you set.
Licence line in Victoria
Sumitt carries a licence line for Victoria at $10,000: a quote over it with no licence number on file gets a warning in the builder, because work over that value may need a licence there. Whether your trade's work is licensed in Victoria is yours to check. It warns, it does not block.
Security of Payment claims in Victoria
Sumitt turns an overdue invoice into a payment claim under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic). The client has 10 business days to give a payment schedule, or less if the contract says so.
The claim carries the endorsement wording the Act requires.
Check when you can serve a claim, and the last day to serve one, with the Building and Plumbing Commission: https://www.bpc.vic.gov.au/builders/security-of-payment/making-a-payment-claim-under-the-sop-act.
In Victoria the Act does not cover a contract with a homeowner for only plastering on their home, unless they are in the business of building residences and the contract is entered into in the course of, or in connection with, that business, or the work is part of or incidental to work under another construction contract (Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002, s 7(2)(ba)). Sumitt asks who the invoice is addressed to and says so before you serve one.
Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic)
Variations in Victoria
In Victoria the Domestic Building Contracts Act and its variation rules, ss 37 and 38, do not apply to plastering under a contract for only that work (Domestic Building Contracts Regulations 2017, r 7). On a contract with other building work in it, they bind a major domestic building contract, one under which the builder will receive more than $10,000 (Domestic Building Contracts Regulations 2017, r 6).
For a change you ask for, give the owner a notice that describes it, says why, says its effect on the work as a whole and whether a permit must change, estimates any delay, and states its cost and its effect on the contract price (s 37(1)). Do not give effect to it until the owner gives you a signed consent attached to a copy of that notice, unless the exception in s 37(2)(b) for a building notice or order applies.
For a change the owner asks for, give the owner a notice of its effect on the work as a whole and on any permit, any delay, and its cost and its effect on the contract price (s 38(3)). Do not give effect to it until the owner gives you a signed request attached to a copy of that notice (s 38(5)), unless you reasonably believe it needs no permit change, causes no delay and adds no more than 2% to the original contract price (s 38(2)).
Those are ss 37 and 38 as they stand. On a contract entered into once the Domestic Building Contracts Amendment Act 2025 commences (on a day proclaimed, or on 1 December 2026 at the latest), a variation needs an agreement in writing, in English and readily legible, signed by or on behalf of both of you, giving its date, a detailed description, the reason, any permit amendment, any delay, and its cost and its effect on the contract price (the new s 37(2)); the new s 38 sets the exceptions, a building order or urgent work.
Without a variation you both signed, the price of the extra work is your word against the owner's. The signed variation is the record that proves it. Check when you can recover money for a variation with Consumer Affairs Victoria: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/licensing-and-registration/builders-and-tradespeople/running-your-business/domestic-building-contracts/changing-a-domestic-building-contract-price.
On a major domestic building contract, the owner's signed consent or signed request before you give effect to the variation is a statutory element as ss 37(2) and 38(5) stand, with their exceptions; on a contract entered into once the Domestic Building Contracts Amendment Act 2025 commences, it is a variation agreement signed by both of you before you vary the plans or specifications (the new s 37(3), subject to the new s 38). Either way it is not just good practice. Sumitt flags a running job that has an unapproved variation on it.
Sumitt structures the variation, records your signature as you send it and collects the owner's at the link, a record you keep, not legal advice. Where your contract sets its own variation process, follow it too.
Domestic Building Contracts Regulations 2017 (Vic) r 7; Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic) ss 37 and 38; Domestic Building Contracts Regulations 2017 (Vic) r 6
Extensions of time in Victoria
In Victoria the contract sets the extension-of-time window. Sumitt's notice defaults to 10 calendar days from the day the delay ended, shows the countdown, and asks you to check the contract's own figure.
A template you serve in your own name, not legal advice. Your contract's own extension-of-time clause governs the window and the grounds, so check it and keep a copy of everything.
Sumitt provides software and templates, not legal, financial or tax advice. Check what applies to your contract.
What the work costs in Melbourne / VIC metro
Sumitt's Melbourne / VIC metro card is the national card: materials and labour both at 1.00. Outside the metro the Regional (freight + travel) card applies: materials 1.08, labour 1.03.
| Job | Cost | Floor | Healthy | Premium | Healthy, Melbourne / VIC metro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hang & set plasterboardper m² · benchmark scope: 80 m2 of plasterboard | $54 | $63 | $77 | $89 | $77 | Check your rate |
National figures per unit, ex GST, derived from Sumitt’s 2026 rate cards priced over the benchmark scope shown under each job; the last column prices the same scope on the Melbourne / VIC metro card. Cost is the benchmark cost of doing the work before any margin, and Floor, Healthy and Premium are the sell rates that land those margins. Not a survey of what anyone else charges, and nothing here reflects what any Sumitt user charges. How to read it, and the method, are on the index.
Built for plasterers
Every figure here is read from the Plastering rate card, takeoff engine and hazard library inside Sumitt when this page renders, so it cannot say more than the product does.
The rate card
23 lines in 8 groups, 6 with a grade or billing basis to pick. Size field: Wall/ceiling area (m²). Every rate editable.
- Plasterboard
- Setting & finishing
- Compounds & fixings
- Cornice & trims
- Render
- Repairs
- Access & plant
- Labour
The takeoff engine
Say it like this and the engine prices it off your card, deterministically.
- “60 m2 walls 13mm standard with 20m cornice”
- “hang and set 120 m2 and render the front fence 10 m2”
- “80 m2 of plasterboard”
The safety pack
A SWMS drafted from the job you priced, with the plastering hazard set:
- Sheet hanging
- Setting & sanding
2 site questions to confirm before sign-off.
You review it against the site, edit it and sign. Sumitt prepares the paperwork; it does not make your business compliant.
The full breakdown, with the graded options, the line-triggered hazards and the PPE, is on the plasterers page.
Straight answers
What deposit can plasterers take in Victoria?
In Victoria the Domestic Building Contracts Act and its deposit cap do not apply to plastering under a contract for only that work (Domestic Building Contracts Regulations 2017, r 7). For such a contract, a deposit of about 10% is common practice, not law. Check it applies to your contract. Sumitt's default deposit is 10%. Sumitt warns you when a deposit goes over 10%, the common practice figure, and it never changes the deposit you set. Not legal advice.
Is there a licence threshold for plasterers in Victoria?
Yes. Sumitt carries a licence line for Victoria at $10,000: a quote over it with no licence number on file gets a warning in the builder, because work over that value may need a licence there. Whether your trade's work is licensed in Victoria is yours to check. It warns, it does not block. Not legal advice.
Can plasterers make a Security of Payment claim in Victoria?
Yes. Sumitt turns an overdue invoice into a payment claim under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic). The client has 10 business days to give a payment schedule, or less if the contract says so. In Victoria the Act does not cover a contract with a homeowner for only plastering on their home, unless they are in the business of building residences and the contract is entered into in the course of, or in connection with, that business, or the work is part of or incidental to work under another construction contract (Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002, s 7(2)(ba)). Sumitt asks who the invoice is addressed to and says so before you serve one. Not legal advice.
Do variations need to be in writing in Victoria?
In Victoria the Domestic Building Contracts Act and its variation rules, ss 37 and 38, do not apply to plastering under a contract for only that work (Domestic Building Contracts Regulations 2017, r 7). On a contract with other building work in it, they bind a major domestic building contract, one under which the builder will receive more than $10,000 (Domestic Building Contracts Regulations 2017, r 6). For a change you ask for, give the owner a notice that describes it, says why, says its effect on the work as a whole and whether a permit must change, estimates any delay, and states its cost and its effect on the contract price (s 37(1)). Do not give effect to it until the owner gives you a signed consent attached to a copy of that notice, unless the exception in s 37(2)(b) for a building notice or order applies. For a change the owner asks for, give the owner a notice of its effect on the work as a whole and on any permit, any delay, and its cost and its effect on the contract price (s 38(3)). Do not give effect to it until the owner gives you a signed request attached to a copy of that notice (s 38(5)), unless you reasonably believe it needs no permit change, causes no delay and adds no more than 2% to the original contract price (s 38(2)). Those are ss 37 and 38 as they stand. On a contract entered into once the Domestic Building Contracts Amendment Act 2025 commences (on a day proclaimed, or on 1 December 2026 at the latest), a variation needs an agreement in writing, in English and readily legible, signed by or on behalf of both of you, giving its date, a detailed description, the reason, any permit amendment, any delay, and its cost and its effect on the contract price (the new s 37(2)); the new s 38 sets the exceptions, a building order or urgent work. Without a variation you both signed, the price of the extra work is your word against the owner's. The signed variation is the record that proves it. Check when you can recover money for a variation with Consumer Affairs Victoria: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/licensing-and-registration/builders-and-tradespeople/running-your-business/domestic-building-contracts/changing-a-domestic-building-contract-price. Sumitt prices the variation and collects the client's e-signature, and flags a running job with an unapproved variation. Not legal advice.
Sumitt provides software and templates, not legal, financial or tax advice.
Made for AU plasterers. Board, set, cornice and render costed properly.