Plasterboarding for homeowners and builders

Homeowners, small building firms, carpenters and project managers who need a reliable boarding sub-contractor.

Price per square metre or per room, or a day rate. Taping and jointing, and supplying the boards, can be added to the quote.

• Measuring and cutting accurately
• Working at height on stilts or platforms
• Neat finishing and jointing
• Quoting jobs and managing your time

• Public liability insurance, and check whether customers or main contractors ask for a minimum level
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, which many sites require, so check what builders expect
• If you work as a sub-contractor, check how the HMRC Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) applies to you
• Dust and heavy lifting, so wear a suitable mask and plan for manual handling
• Older buildings may contain asbestos, so check before drilling or removing anything

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £1,000 to £4,000, depending on the tools, stilts or platforms, safety kit and insurance you need. Your costs will vary with how much you already own.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on how many hours you work, the jobs you win and whether you work for homeowners or builders. This is revenue before your own costs.

Check public liability insurance and any minimum level customers or contractors ask for, and whether sites expect a CSCS card. If you sub-contract, check how HMRC's Construction Industry Scheme applies. Check for asbestos in older buildings, and plan for dust and manual handling.