EXAMPLE AT A GLANCE
This fictional Ottawa, Ontario drywall installation example has 6 itemized costs and a C$3,995.00 total before tax or markup. The PDF, quantities, unit rates and scope assumptions match the table below.
Use this completed drywall installation document to see how a specific job becomes a client-facing estimate. The project, business, customer and amounts are fictional. For the 1,000 sq. ft. wall-board installation in Ottawa, Ontario, the example uses the measured trade units shown in its PDF. Residential jobs may mix square feet, linear feet, counts and supplier units; keep each line’s measurement basis visible. Confirm site access, product selections and existing conditions in person. Check any trade or municipal requirements for the actual location, and record changes before issuing a final price. The figures are fictional CAD inputs, not a local price survey.
Project scope: 1,000 sq. ft. wall-board installation
Install and finish 1,000 square feet of wall drywall on prepared framing. Allow 35 sheets of 4-by-8-foot board for purchase, include hanging, joint finishing and cleanup. Ceiling work, insulation and paint excluded.
- Example location
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Prepared by
- Cedar & Beam Builders · fictional business
- Prepared for
- Jordan Taylor · fictional client
- Issued / valid through
- September 25 / October 25, 2026
Measure this work on the actual property before using any quantity. The illustration separates supplied products or materials from installation where the selection could change. A client should be able to compare each line with the agreed work, the selected products and the limits recorded in the notes.
The 6 itemized costs in Canadian dollars
Every row below is taken from the corresponding app-exported PDF fixture. Multiply the quantity by the unit rate to check the amount. These rates were chosen for this fictional example; they are not advertised prices or current averages for Ottawa, Ontario.
| Work item | Quantity | Unit rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall sheets allowance | 35 sheets | C$21.00 | C$735.00 |
| Fasteners and finishing materials | 1 job | C$240.00 | C$240.00 |
| Board hanging labour | 1000 sq. ft. | C$1.15 | C$1,150.00 |
| Joint finishing labour | 1000 sq. ft. | C$1.45 | C$1,450.00 |
| Material handling | 1 job | C$235.00 | C$235.00 |
| Cleanup and debris removal | 1 job | C$185.00 | C$185.00 |
| Subtotal / example total | C$3,995.00 | ||
Two calculation checks:
- Drywall sheets allowance: 35 sheets × C$21.00 = C$735.00.
- Board hanging labour: 1000 sq. ft. × C$1.15 = C$1,150.00.
The PDF shows a 0% tax entry, so the illustrated tax is C$0.00 and the total remains C$3,995.00. This only describes the example. Confirm the applicable tax treatment and any markup for the real job before issuing your estimate.
Assumptions that change the price
Measure wall lengths and heights and document openings. Treat ceilings separately if they are part of the job. Label the estimate’s area as board surface, not room floor area, so the measurement basis stays clear.
A 4-by-8-foot sheet contains 32 square feet. Dividing 1,000 by 32 gives 31.25 sheets before layout and purchasing adjustments. This example allows 35 sheets; that is a specific fixture assumption, not a universal waste factor.
Hanging board and delivering a finished surface are separate stages. Identify joint treatment, corner details, sanding and any texture work included. Agree the required finish with the customer rather than leaving a vague promise of ready-to-go walls.
Outside this example: No framing correction, insulation, ceilings, painting, specialty assemblies or concealed service work.
Confirm site access, product selections and existing conditions in person. Check any trade or municipal requirements for the actual location, and record changes before issuing a final price. An allowance is a stated placeholder, not a promise to cover all work discovered later. If a selected product, quantity or hidden condition changes, update the affected line and explain the revision before proceeding.
Download the actual app PDF
The linked PDF was exported from Estimates for this fictional Canadian project. It carries the project scope, customer, work items, quantities, CAD rates and subtotal used in this table, plus a short note on tax, markup and one key exclusion. The detailed exclusions above remain important when adapting the example. Preview every PDF page, including the final totals and note.
Use the structure for a real job
- Replace Ottawa, Ontario and the example scope with the actual site and customer details.
- Measure the work and confirm the product schedule with the client.
- Replace every fictional CAD rate with your own labour, supplier and subcontractor inputs.
- Check exclusions, approvals, tax, markup and the document’s validity period for the real project.
- Preview the final PDF and recheck the total before sharing.
- Distinguish purchased sheets from installed area.
- Identify walls and ceilings separately.
- Agree the required finishing scope.
- Confirm delivery, staging and debris responsibilities.
Common questions
Should drywall sheets and labour use the same quantity?
Not necessarily. Purchasing is based on sheet layout and allowances; labour may use the measured installed surface. Explain both bases in the estimate.
Does drywall installation automatically include finishing?
Do not assume so. List hanging and finishing explicitly, even if you ultimately present them as a combined package.
For the planning steps behind this document, read the drywall installation estimating guide.
