---
title: "Measurement of plaster work and cornice"
subject: "Estimating and Costing"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_7/estimating_and_costing:measure-plaster-cornice"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/measure-plaster-cornice
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Measurement of plaster work and cornice

Estimating and Costing · Chapter 2: Method of Estimating

- Asked in: 2067 Poush (old course), 5 marks; 2067 Asar (old course), 4 marks (asked 2 times)
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/measure-plaster-cornice
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/chapter-2

## Question

How are the following items of work measured? i) Plaster work ii) Cornice work.

## Short answer

Plaster work is measured in m², length × height per face; openings 0.5–3 m² deduct one face, >3 m² deduct both; reveals measured only for openings >3 m². Cornice work is measured in running metre along the centre line, stating girth and profile; large cornices may be measured in m³ or m².

## Answer

#### i) Plaster work
- **Unit:** m² (measurement and payment).
- **Method:** the length and height of the wall surface are measured on each plastered face (floor to ceiling or the top of the plastered area). Each face is measured separately, as internal and external plaster have different mortar mixes and thicknesses.
- **Deductions (IS 1200 Part 12):** openings up to 0.5 m² - no deduction; 0.5 to 3 m² - deduct one face only; above 3 m² - deduct both faces. Reveals are not added for openings up to 3 m², and are measured and added for larger openings.
- Plaster of skirting, dado, ceiling, band, and curved surfaces is measured separately where the rate differs. The thickness (12 or 15 mm), the mortar (1:4, 1:6) and the type of surface (brick, concrete) are stated in the item.
- Example: wall 5 m x 3 m with a door 1 m x 2.1 m on both plastered faces: area = 2 x (5 x 3) - 2.1 (once, as the opening is 0.5 to 3 m²) = 27.9 m².

#### ii) Cornice work
- **Unit:** running metre (m) for a cornice of given profile and girth. Where the cornice is large, it may be measured in m³ for masonry/concrete and m² for plaster.
- **Method:** the length is measured along the centre line of the cornice, over the wall faces on which it runs, without deduction for corners; the size (girth, projection, depth) and the mortar are stated in the description.
- Plastering of the cornice surface is measured along its girth, m x girth in m², unless included in the running metre item.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Plaster work is measured in
   A. m²
   B. m³
   C. m
   D. kg
   Answer: A. Area of surface. (Key point: Plaster unit)

2. Wall 5 m x 3 m, door 1 m x 2.1 m, plaster both faces. Net plaster?
   A. 25.8 m²
   B. 27.9 m²
   C. 30 m²
   D. 28.5 m²
   Answer: B. 30 - 2.1 = 27.9. (Key point: Plaster example)

3. Cornice of a given profile is measured in
   A. m²
   B. kg
   C. running metre
   D. m³ always
   Answer: C. Along centre line. (Key point: Cornice unit)

4. For plaster, an opening of 0.5 to 3 m² is deducted from
   A. both faces
   B. no face
   C. ceiling
   D. one face only
   Answer: D. IS 1200 Part 12. (Key point: Deductions)

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