Your Complete Plasterer Hiring Checklist

Hiring a tradesperson should be straightforward. In practice, the plastering industry — like most trades — has enough variation in quality, experience, and professionalism that it pays to know what you're looking for before you commit.
This checklist covers the key things to verify, the questions worth asking, and the red flags that should give you pause.
## Before You Contact Anyone
**Know your scope.** The more clearly you can describe the work, the more accurate your quotes will be. "I need the plastering done" is a starting point. "I need a 4m x 3m bedroom replastered, including ceiling, with new cornice to match the existing profile in the hallway" gives a plasterer what they need to quote accurately.
**Know your timeline.** Plastering has to happen at a specific stage of any build or renovation — after framing, insulation, and rough-in trades, and before painting. Know when you need it done and communicate that clearly.
**Set a realistic budget.** Plastering is skilled labour and quality material. If every quote comes back significantly higher than you expected, the expectation may need adjusting — not the quotes.
## Licence and Insurance — Non-Negotiables
**Public liability insurance.** Any plasterer working in your home should carry public liability insurance. Ask for a current certificate of currency. If they can't provide one, don't proceed.
**Trade registration.** In Victoria, plastering work is covered under the Building Act and practitioners operating above a certain threshold are required to hold appropriate registration. For larger projects, ask whether the contractor holds the relevant registration with the Victorian Building Authority.
**Check the VBA register.** The Victorian Building Authority maintains a public register of registered building practitioners. It takes two minutes to check and confirms whether the registration is current.
## Questions to Ask Before You Commit
**How long have you been plastering?** Experience in the trade matters. A plasterer with ten or more years across a range of project types — new builds, renovations, repairs, heritage properties — brings a depth of knowledge that a newer entrant simply hasn't had the time to develop.
**What types of projects do you typically work on?** A plasterer whose work is predominantly new residential builds may approach a heritage renovation differently to one with extensive restoration experience. Match the plasterer's background to your project type.
**Can I see examples of your finished work?** Ask for photos — and ideally, references from recent jobs. Photos taken in good light conditions showing finished, painted walls are more informative than work-in-progress shots. If possible, ask to visit a completed project.
**Who will actually do the work?** Some plastering businesses quote the work and subcontract the execution. This isn't necessarily a problem, but you should know who will be on site and whether they're employed directly or engaged as a subcontractor.
**How do you handle defects or issues after the job is finished?** A professional plasterer will have a clear answer to this. They'll inspect their own work before calling it complete, and they'll return to address anything that doesn't meet the standard. Vague or evasive answers here are worth noting.
**What's included in the quote?** Make sure you understand what is and isn't covered. Does the quote include materials or labour only? Does it include cornice? Cleanup? Touch-ups before handover? Get it in writing.
## Red Flags to Watch For
**No written quote.** A verbal price is not a quote. Any professional plasterer will provide a written scope and price. If they won't, move on.
**Significantly lower than all other quotes.** The cheapest quote is sometimes just competitive pricing. It's also sometimes an indicator of inexperience, unlicensed work, or a scope that doesn't include everything you think it does. Ask why the price is lower before accepting it.
**Reluctance to provide references or examples.** An experienced plasterer with a track record of quality work will have examples readily available. Reluctance to share them is a signal worth taking seriously.
**No ABN.** Any legitimate plastering business will have an ABN. You can verify it in seconds at abn.business.gov.au. Cash-only, no-ABN arrangements offer you no recourse if something goes wrong.
**Pressure to decide immediately.** Good tradespeople are busy. They don't need to pressure you into a same-day decision. If you're being pushed to commit before you've had time to consider, that's a red flag.
**Unwilling to provide a certificate of insurance.** This one is simple. No certificate, no engagement.
## Getting the Most from Your Quotes
Get at least three quotes for any significant plastering job. This gives you a realistic sense of market pricing and allows you to compare scope as well as price.
When you receive quotes, compare them carefully. Are they quoting the same scope? Are materials included in all of them? Is the same number of coats specified? Differences in price often reflect differences in scope or approach rather than overcharging or undercharging.
## After You've Chosen
Get the scope of work confirmed in writing before work starts. A simple email exchange confirming the scope, price, timeline, and payment terms is sufficient for smaller jobs. For larger projects, a formal contract is worth having.
Keep communication clear throughout the job. If something doesn't look right to you, say so — a professional plasterer will take your concern seriously and explain what you're seeing.
Inspect the work in raking light before you sign off. Run a light along the wall at a low angle. Imperfections that are invisible in direct light show up clearly this way. Do this before the painter arrives, not after.
Plastering, done well, is invisible. Done poorly, it's all you see. The checklist above won't guarantee a perfect outcome, but it will significantly improve your odds of finding a plasterer whose work you'll be happy with long after the job is finished.