Overview
Drywall jobs are boarding plus taping, and the taping is where the time goes
Drywall jobs split into two halves. Boarding goes up fast: cut, fix, screw, repeat. Taping and jointing is the slow half, three coats with sanding between, and that's where the labour bill is hidden. A quote that just gives a per-square-metre rate for 'drywall' hides the split and lets the customer think the whole job moves at boarding speed. It doesn't. Add insulation between the studs, a vapour barrier, or any kind of acoustic upgrade and the quote needs separate lines or the customer thinks you're winging it.
QuoteGenio is built so drywall installers can show the boarding and the taping as their own lines. Boards by the sheet at supplier price, screws and corner beads by the bag, insulation by the roll, taping and jointing by the square metre at the slower rate. Labour split between boarding day and finishing day. Send via WhatsApp from the site, take a deposit on acceptance, raise the final invoice when the last coat is sanded. The customer sees why the second half of the job costs as much as the first.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every type of drywall partition and interior walling business.
The problem
The quoting headaches every drywall installer knows
Drywall quotes hinge on linear metres, board thickness, and insulation specs. A missed line equals a lost profit.
Office partitions take hours to spec
Every door, every glazed panel, every service void needs to be measured and priced. Trying to do it on a notepad is how jobs go wrong.
Board counts and stud centres get wrong
Miscounting boards or stud centres on a 40 metre partition run means ordering two extra skips of material out of your own pocket.
Fire and acoustic specs get missed
A 60 minute fire wall and a 30 minute wall are different products at different prices. Quoting the wrong spec either loses you the job or loses your margin.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A faster, cleaner workflow built around how drywall crews actually work, measure, quote, build, invoice.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for partition work
Line items for studs, track, boards, insulation, tape-and-joint, doors, and glazing. Quote the way the wall actually goes up.
Per linear metre pricing
Enter the partition length once and QuoteGenio multiplies the rate. No maths mistakes on a 60 metre office fit-out.
Quote from the site visit
Measure the floorplate, add the lines, send the quote before you leave. Clients are impressed and you're on to the next.
From quote to paid invoice
When the partitions are built and signed off, convert the accepted quote into an invoice in one click and track payment.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how drywall installers actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Drywall Installers choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Drywall Installers build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Drywall Installers job pricing
A rough guide to what drywall installers charge for common jobs. Pricing varies with board spec, wall height, acoustic or fire ratings, and how clean the existing floor and soffit are. Use these as a sanity check when you build your own rate card, not as fixed numbers.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Site measure and detailed quote | R0 - R3,636 |
| Standard partition (per linear metre) | R1,570 - R2,975 / m |
| Acoustic partition (per linear metre) | R2,396 - R4,628 / m |
| Fire-rated partition, 60 minute (per linear metre) | R2,727 - R5,289 / m |
| Dry lining to masonry wall (per sqm) | R744 - R1,405 / sqm |
| Door frame installation (per door) | R2,975 - R6,941 |
| Tape, joint, and sand (per sqm) | R198 - R364 / sqm |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Small residential partition jobs are usually quoted free. A full office fit-out take-off with reflected plans, door schedules, and board counts can take a full day. Commercial drywall contractors often charge R2,479 to R5,784 for a properly itemised quote, refundable against the contract if the job proceeds. It filters out window shoppers.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use per-metre pricing for clean partition runs where height and spec are consistent. Use fixed or provisional sums for doors, glazed panels, service voids, and any work around existing fit-out. Be explicit on the quote about which lines are measured and which are provisional.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's what a clean, itemised quote for a typical office partition run looks like. Notice how studs, boards, insulation, and joint finishing are all separate lines. That level of detail is what wins against a competitor who quotes a single lump sum on the back of a business card.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Office partition run, 28 linear metres with one door
Steel stud and track, 64mm at 600 centres
12.5mm standard board, both sides
Acoustic insulation, 50mm mineral wool
Tape, joint, and sand to level 3
Door frame and standard hollow-core door
Perimeter sealant and fire-stop at slab
Site protection and clean-down
Offcut removal and skip allowance
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel stud and track, 64mm at 600 centres | 28 | R694 / m | R19,436 |
| 12.5mm standard board, both sides | 151 | R231 / sqm | R34,938 |
| Acoustic insulation, 50mm mineral wool | 76 | R149 / sqm | R11,304 |
| Tape, joint, and sand to level 3 | 151 | R264 / sqm | R39,929 |
| Door frame and standard hollow-core door | 1 | R6,941 | R6,941 |
| Perimeter sealant and fire-stop at slab | 28 | R116 / m | R3,239 |
| Site protection and clean-down | 1 | R3,966 | R3,966 |
| Offcut removal and skip allowance | 1 | R2,975 | R2,975 |
| Subtotal | R122,730 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R12,280 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R135,009 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Perimeter sealant, fire-stopping at the slab, door frames and ironmongery, site protection sheets, skip hire and offcut removal, and a level 3 or level 5 finishing spec. Put these on your template once and stop absorbing them out of your margin.
Peer snapshot
How Drywall Installers actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Drywall Installers on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
23
Quotes sent per month
47%
Average quote acceptance
3 min
Median time to send quote
R135,009
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Drywall Installer jobs like this, free
Build your first quote in under 2 minutes. No credit card, no setup fee, no contract.
Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of drywall installers. The same traps come up every time: missed sealing, wrong board spec, and finishing-level disputes. Fix these and your partitions stop bleeding margin.
Mistake: Not specifying the finishing level
Better: Level 2, 3, 4, and 5 are different prices. Level 3 is paint-ready for matt finishes, level 5 is required for gloss or raking light. Put the level clearly on the quote so the painter doesn't reject your work.
Mistake: Forgetting fire-stopping and acoustic seals
Better: A partition without a perimeter seal is acoustically and fire-rated at zero. Add a sealant and fire-stop line per metre on every partition, non-negotiable.
Mistake: Quoting standard board for a wet area
Better: Bathrooms and kitchens need moisture-resistant (MR) board, not standard. Spec the correct board on the quote with the product code so the client can't compare against a cheaper non-MR build.
Mistake: No line for doors and glazing
Better: Doors, frames, and glazed panels are separate trades and separate lines. Never roll them into the partition rate. Price the frame, the door, the ironmongery, and the glazing separately.
Mistake: Quoting height assumption not measurement
Better: Floor-to-soffit height varies across a building, especially under ductwork. Measure the worst case and quote to it, or state the quoted height on the line so any extra is a clear variation.
Mistake: Ignoring skip and dust protection
Better: A partition build generates real waste and dust. Add skip hire, dust sheets, and daily clean-down lines. Commercial clients expect to see them and won't pay for them hidden in the labour rate.
Mistake: No validity period on the quote
Better: Steel stud, board, and insulation prices move with cement and steel indexes. Put a 30 day validity on every quote, and state that material beyond that date is subject to re-quote.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote drywall jobs
Walk the floorplate with the architect's drawings and a tape before pricing. Measure the partition run in linear metres, check the floor-to-soffit height at the worst case (usually under ductwork, where a flat ceiling masks a drop of 200mm or more), and identify every door, glazed panel, and service void on the plan. Decide the spec per run: standard single-board partition, double-board acoustic with mineral wool, 30/60/90 minute fire-rated wall, or dot-and-dab dry lining to masonry. Check whether wet areas need moisture-resistant (MR) board, note slab condition for perimeter fire-stopping, and photograph any existing fit-out that must remain so you know what you are working around.
Itemise steel stud and track per linear metre, 12.5mm board per square metre both sides, acoustic or thermal insulation per square metre, tape-joint-and-sand finishing to the specified level, doors and frames per door, and perimeter sealant and fire-stop per metre. Quote the finishing level explicitly (Level 3 for matt paint, Level 5 for gloss or raking light) because a painter will reject the wrong grade and charge the client to remedy it. Name the fire rating and reference the tested system or manufacturer spec in the line description. List glazed panels, ironmongery, door closers, and site protection and skip allowance as their own lines, because the client will compare your total against a competitor who excluded doors entirely.
Put a 30 day validity on every quote because steel stud, plasterboard, and insulation prices track cement and steel commodity indexes and can shift 5 to 10 percent in a quarter. State on the PDF that material costs beyond the validity trigger a re-quote. For commercial fit-out partitions over $ 7,000 ask for a 20 to 30 percent mobilisation deposit to cover studs, board, and insulation before delivery, then staged progress claims against completed partitions and taped-and-jointed work. Quote height to the worst-case soffit dimension or state the quoted height on each line so any extra run above that is a clean variation rather than an argument on the final invoice.
Send the quote the same day as the site walk so it lands in the project manager's inbox while the programme is still being set. Office fit-out jobs move fast and main contractors reward drywall crews who can turn a take-off around in hours, not days. Build the quote on your phone from the site cabin, share it as a WhatsApp link with the PM, and follow up after a day if you have not heard back. When the architect adds a glazed panel or the client asks for an extra boardroom partition mid-programme, issue a variation inside QuoteGenio with the extra linear metres, doors, and finishing level, and get it signed off in writing before the studs are cut.
FAQ
Common questions from drywall installers
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Set the unit to metres, enter the run length once, and QuoteGenio multiplies the rate automatically. You can mix per metre lines with per sqm lines for dry lining on the same quote.
Yes. Once your quote is built, share it as a secure link via WhatsApp. Your client opens a professional branded document on their phone immediately.
Yes. As you add line items and quantities, subtotals, VAT, and grand totals update in real time. No calculator, no spreadsheet.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. Your client can open it on their phone and accept online. No signup required.
Yes. Convert any accepted quote into an invoice with one click. All the line items carry over, so there's no double entry at the end of the job.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
Level 3 is the standard for matt-painted walls and is what most offices expect. Level 5 (skimmed smooth with a full veneer coat) is required for gloss finishes, raking light conditions, or feature walls. Always state the level on the quote so the painter doesn't reject your work or charge the client extra to remedy it.
Fire ratings (30, 60, 90, 120 minute) each require specific board and stud combinations certified as a system. Quote the fire rating in the line description and reference the tested system or manufacturer spec. Price is typically 20 to 40 percent higher than a standard partition because of the additional board layer and fire-rated sealants.
Yes, always. Board install is its own labour rate and joint finishing is its own rate, usually priced per square metre at level 3. Splitting them means the client can see the cost of the finish and you can quote different finishing levels cleanly on the same job.
Doors, frames, ironmongery, and glazed panels are priced separately from the partition rate. Add them as individual lines per door or per panel, with manufacturer, glass spec, and hardware in the description. It stops the client comparing your total against a competitor who excluded doors entirely.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
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Reviews
Trusted by tradespeople
Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
"Roofs are not cheap. Having itemised quotes with labour and materials split helps clients trust my pricing. My acceptance rate has gone up noticeably."
Marco Davids
Roofer · Cape Town
"My quotes look a lot more professional now. Clients take them seriously and I spend less time formatting documents."
Megan Daniels
Interior Designer · Birmingham
"Quoting per square metre used to take me forever. I have templates set up now that cover lawn, pavers, and planting separately. Cuts my admin in half."
Nathan Walsh
Landscaper · Melbourne
Guides
Guides for Drywall Installers
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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