What's Included in the Price
- Supply of cornice in the chosen profile (cove, decorative, or polystyrene/polyurethane)
- Cutting and fitting at the wall-ceiling junction
- Mitring all internal and external corners
- Adhesive fixing with CSR Gyprock Cornice Cement or polyurethane-based adhesive (important in Brisbane's humidity) and mechanical fasteners where needed
- Filling, sanding, and finishing to a paint-ready surface per AS/NZS 2589:2017 Gypsum Linings
Painting is not included. Ceiling roses, if required, are priced separately per piece ($250–$470 for decorative plaster, plus installation). For existing homes where old cornice needs removing first, the removal and junction repair adds $3–$6 per linear metre.
What Affects the Cost
- Profile type and size. Standard 55mm cove (supply ~$3/m) is the most common in Brisbane and the most affordable. For Queenslanders with high ceilings, 75mm ($5–$6/m) or 90mm ($5–$6/m) cove looks better proportionally. Gyprock Symphony (~$8/m) and Canto (~$9/m) decorative profiles are popular for living and dining rooms without needing specialist ornate work.
- Number of rooms. Multiple rooms bring the per-metre rate down. A single room carries a minimum charge ($250–$400).
- Ceiling height. Queenslanders often have ceilings at 2.7m or higher, which means taller step-ladders or trestle scaffolding for the plasterer. Standard 2.4m ceilings in modern homes are quicker and cheaper to work at.
- Humidity and adhesive. Brisbane's subtropical humidity affects adhesive cure times. During the wet season (November to March), standard water-based cornice cement can take significantly longer to set. Experienced Brisbane plasterers use polyurethane-based adhesives or Gyprock Cornice Cement 45 (45-minute set time) that perform more reliably in humid conditions.
- Old cornice removal. Removing existing cornice often reveals a rough junction underneath that needs repair. Budget for this prep work if replacing rather than adding new.
- Roof cavity access. In high-set Queenslanders, the accessible roof cavity above the ceiling can make cornice work easier because the plasterer can access the top of the wall-ceiling join from above. This practical advantage can reduce labour time compared to slab-on-ground construction where all work is done from below.
Simple cove cornice in a single modern room with standard 2.4m ceilings sits toward $150. Decorative cornice across multiple rooms in a Queenslander with high ceilings, old cornice removal, and junction repair pushes toward $1,350.
Brisbane-Specific Considerations
Brisbane homes tend toward simpler cornice profiles than their southern counterparts. The Queenslander, post-war, and modern housing styles that dominate the city favour cove cornice or square-set rather than the ornate Victorian profiles found in Melbourne and Sydney.
Queenslanders (Paddington, Red Hill, Ashgrove, Woolloongabba, Auchenflower, Bardon). The high ceilings (2.7m to 3m+) in these homes make cornice a prominent visual feature. A standard 55mm cove cornice on a 3m ceiling looks out of scale. A 75mm or 90mm Gyprock cove, or a stepped decorative profile like the Gyprock Canto (90mm), is proportionate and adds visual weight without the cost of full ornate heritage work. The accessible roof cavities in high-set Queenslanders are a practical advantage: your plasterer can access the top of the wall-ceiling junction from inside the roof space, simplifying both installation and the repair of damaged junctions.
Post-war homes (Annerley, Moorooka, Coorparoo, Camp Hill, Holland Park). These 1950s to 1970s homes typically have standard cove cornice that may have cracked at the mitres, yellowed, or been painted over multiple times. Replacing with fresh 55mm or 75mm cove is the most common job in Brisbane's cornice market: straightforward and cost-effective.
Modern homes and renovations (Springfield, North Lakes, Coomera, Redbank Plains, Yarrabilba). Square-set and shadowline finishes are increasingly popular in new builds and contemporary renovations. Square-set looks simple but costs more in labour than cove cornice: the junction needs Level 5 finishing under AS/NZS 2589, which requires a skim coat for uniform texture ($12–$20/m versus $8–$15/m for cove installed). If you are on a tighter budget, cove cornice is a practical and good-looking alternative that also hides minor imperfections at the wall-ceiling join.
Humidity and adhesive selection. Brisbane's climate matters for materials. Gyprock Cornice Cement performs well in standard conditions, but during the summer wet season (humidity regularly above 80%), drying times between coats extend significantly. Polyurethane-based adhesives are more reliable in these conditions. Ask your plasterer what adhesive system they use, particularly if the job is scheduled between November and March.
Hiring a Licensed Plasterer in QLD
In Queensland, the QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission) administers trade licences. Cornice installation falls under the Plastering Drywall class. A QBCC licence is required for work over $3,300 (including GST).
Worth checking:
- A current QBCC licence (verify on the QBCC online register)
- Examples of completed cornice work, particularly mitred corners (this is where quality shows)
- What adhesive system they use for Brisbane's humid climate
- A written quote specifying the profile type and size, number of rooms, linear metres, and whether old cornice removal is included
- Public liability insurance
- For Queenslanders with high ceilings, confirmed experience working at height on taller access equipment
A good plasterer takes pride in their mitre work. The quality of cornice installation shows at every corner, and in a Queenslander with high ceilings, the cornice line is one of the most visible features in the room.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on current licensed plasterer rates in the Brisbane metropolitan area, adjusted for property age and typical cornice profiles in QLD. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential cornice installation including supply, fitting, and finishing to a paint-ready surface. Heritage profiles and custom mouldings may exceed these ranges.