Dincel Wall Cost: What You’ll Really Pay on Site

Dincel walls are now common on basements, retaining walls, lift shafts and cores across New South Wales. As more projects specify Dincel in Australia, questions about Dincel wall cost have become more urgent and more detailed. Builders, engineers and developers want more than a rough “$ per square metre”.

Dincel supplies the walling system. Independent contractors install it. The final cost per square metre depends on wall type, site conditions, labour productivity and concrete and reinforcement costs. There is no single fixed Dincel wall rate that applies to every job in Sydney or regional NSW.

We’ll explain how Dincel wall costs are built up, how installation rates affect labour cost per m², and why some walls are more expensive than others. We’ll also compare Dincel with blockwork and traditional concrete and set out what information you need to get an accurate quote.

Quick Answer: What Does A Dincel Wall Cost?

There is no single fixed cost for a Dincel wall per m² for projects in NSW. The final rate changes from job to job. Dincel wall cost depends on:

• Wall type (straight walls, basements, lift shafts, stairs, façades)

• Total wall area and height

• Site access and staging

• Labour productivity of the installation crew

• Local concrete, reinforcement and access costs

Straight, repeatable walls are usually cheaper per m² because crews work faster. Complex walls with openings, heavy reinforcement or tight access are more expensive per m² because installation is slower.

Any “flat” Dincel $/m² you hear on site is a rough guide only. A reliable number for budgeting must be calculated from your drawings and wall schedule.

If you want a project-specific Dincel wall cost for your job in NSW, send Murs Projects your plans and we will prepare an installation cost estimate based on your actual wall types and site conditions.

What Makes Up Total Dincel Wall Cost?

Dincel wall cost is the sum of materials, labour and project conditions. To set a realistic budget, you need to understand each part and how it behaves on site.

For most projects in NSW, the main cost components are:

• Dincel panels and accessories

• Labour to install the walls

• Reinforcement and concrete

• Access, safety and site conditions

• Engineering, QA and compliance

Each item can move the final $/m² up or down. The sections below explain how.

Dincel Panels And Accessories

Dincel supplies the walling system as a material package.

Typical inclusions:

• Wall panels sized to your height and thickness

• Starters and end caps

• Corner profiles and joiners

• Fixings and accessories specified in the design

Panel supply is usually priced on a per m² basis, with thicker walls and higher performance requirements sitting at the higher end of the range. Complex layouts with many corners and short wall runs can also increase material usage and offcuts.

For budgeting, you treat panel and accessory supply as the base material cost. Dincel wall installation, concrete and other items sit on top of this figure.

Labour to Install Dincel Walls

Labour is often the largest and most variable part of Dincel wall cost. Key drivers:

• Installation rate in m² per hour for each wall type

• Number of workers in the crew

• Hourly labour rate, including on-costs

• Supervision and site coordination requirements

Straight, repeatable walls allow installers to reach higher m²-per-hour rates. Complex walls with many openings, heavy reinforcement or difficult access slow crews down. The same wall package can have a very different labour cost if productivity on site changes.

Reinforcement and Concrete

Dincel walls still rely on reinforcement and concrete to form the structural element. Cost inputs include:

• Vertical and horizontal reinforcement bars or mesh

• Chairs, ties and other reinforcement accessories

• Concrete supply, based on wall volume (m³)

• Concrete pump hire and labour to place and vibrate the mix

Wall thickness, height and structural role determine how much steel and concrete you need. Shear walls, basement walls and lift shafts often require more reinforcement and careful concrete placement, which increases cost.

When you price Dincel, you should include reinforcement and concrete as a separate line so you can compare it fairly with blockwork and conventional concrete options.

Access, Safety and Site Conditions

Site conditions have a direct impact on the cost of Dincel wall installation. Common factors:

• Formed deck versus ground or sloping terrain

• Crane availability for panel and reinforcement handling

• Scaffold, edge protection and working platforms

• Pump line lengths and truck access

• Restricted working hours or staged access in live environments

Tight inner-Sydney sites, deep basements and high-rise projects often require more handling, setup and safety measures. This adds time and cost, even if wall area stays the same.

Allowing for access and safety in the Dincel wall budget helps avoid variations once construction starts.

Engineering, QA And Compliance

Dincel walls must comply with structural, fire and waterproofing requirements on the project. Typical cost items:

• Engineering design and certification for wall layouts

• Shop drawings or setout details

• Inspections during installation and concrete placement

• Records, photos and QA documentation for handover

These tasks may sit with the project engineer, the installer, or a mix of both, depending on contract structure. They still carry real time and cost.

Typical Dincel Wall Installation Rates by Wall Type

Dincel publishes approximate installation rates in m² per hour for a 2-person crew, with an optimum rate (good conditions) and a minimum rate (slower but still acceptable).

Higher m² per hour means lower labour cost per m². Lower m² per hour means higher labour cost per m².

Approximate Dincel Installation Rates (2-Person Crew)

Note: These rates are a starting point for budgeting and are always subject to actual site conditions and crew experience.

Basement Perimeter and Retaining Walls

Basement perimeter walls achieve some of the fastest Dincel installation rates because layouts are usually simple and continuous.

Using corner panels such as 200P-3 or 200P-4 helps maintain the higher end of the productivity range.

Straight Party Walls and Corridor Walls

Straight party walls with no openings share the same rates as basement perimeter walls and are typically the most efficient above-ground application.

Corridor walls with a single door frame drop to 10–5 m²/hour because openings interrupt the installation sequence. If doors are created later by cutting, you can use the higher straight-wall rates instead.

Stair Walls

Stair walls sit in the middle of the productivity range at 15–10 m²/hour.

They require coordination around landings and a door opening across multiple walls, which slows crews compared with long straight runs.

Lift Shafts and Shear Walls

Lift shafts and other shear walls are slower again at 7.5–5 m²/hour.

They usually include solid walls with a single door opening and require horizontal reinforcement placement and tight tolerances around lift equipment.

Façade Walls with Windows and Openings

Façade walls with two formed and propped windows also sit at 7.5–5 m²/hour.

Productivity drops due to window heads, props and additional detailing. If balcony door overheads are omitted or windows are cut afterwards, you can cost them closer to the straight-wall rates. Using metal “C” channels can significantly improve installation speed on these elements.

How To Calculate Labour Cost Per M² From Install Rates

Labour cost per m² is driven by two numbers:

1. The installation rate (m² per hour for a crew)

2. The crew hourly cost (total cost per hour for that crew)

The basic formula is:

Labour Cost Per M² = Crew Hourly Cost ÷ Installation Rate (m²/hour)

Use the steps below to turn Dincel’s installation rates into a real labour $/m² for your project.

Step 1: Know Your Wall Area

Calculate the wall area from your drawings:

• Wall Area (m²) = Wall Length (m) × Wall Height (m)

Do this for each wall type (straight walls, basements, lift shafts, façades). This lets you apply different labour rates where productivity changes.

Step 2: Choose an Installation Rate

Use the installation rates for the relevant wall type, for example:

• Straight party wall: 15–25 m²/hour

• Lift shaft: 5–7.5 m²/hour

For budgeting, use a conservative rate (closer to the minimum) unless you know you have ideal access and an experienced crew.

Step 3: Apply Crew Hourly Cost

Estimate the total hourly cost of the installation crew (including super, insurances and on-costs). Dincel notes that typical Australian formwork/carpentry labour sits around AUD $50–$85 per man per hour.

Example for a straight wall:

• 2-person crew at $70/hour each → $140/hour crew cost

• Installation rate (minimum) = 15 m²/hour

• Labour cost per m² = 140 ÷ 15 ≈ $9.30/m²

This is your labour-only cost per m² for that wall type.

Dincel shows that charging $20/m² for straight walls at 15 m²/hour equals $300/hour for a 2-person crew, which is well above typical industry labour costs. This confirms that a $20/m² labour rate for straight walls on a formed deck is commercially reasonable.

Step 4: Add Materials, Concrete And Access

Once you know labour $/m², add:

• Panel and accessory supply per m²

• Reinforcement and concrete (converted to $/m²)

• Allowances for pump, crane, scaffold and safety

This gives you a total Dincel wall cost per m² for each wall type, ready to plug into your budget.

If you send us your drawings and wall schedule, we can run this calculation by wall type and return a project-specific set of Dincel labour and total $/m² figures for your NSW job. Contact us to get started.

Why Some Dincel Walls Cost More Per M² Than Others

Not all Dincel walls sit in the same cost band. Two projects can have the same total wall area and still land on very different $/m² figures. The main differences come from geometry, structural role, site logistics and design coordination.

When you understand these factors, you can separate “cheap square metres” from “expensive square metres” in your budget instead of averaging everything into one rate.

Geometry and Complexity

Wall shape has a direct effect on installation speed.

Simple examples:

• Long, straight runs with consistent height

• Few corners and junctions

• Minimal steps or level changes

Complex examples:

• Many corners and short segments

• Varying heights and setdowns

• Multiple openings in a small area

Structural Requirements

The structural role of the wall changes how much steel, concrete and checking is required. Cost drivers include:

• Load-bearing vs non-loadbearing walls

• Shear walls resisting lateral loads

• Higher fire ratings or acoustic performance

• Increased reinforcement density and lap lengths

  
  

Site Logistics

Even a simple wall design becomes expensive if the site is difficult. Common NSW impacts:

• Tight inner-city sites with limited laydown area

• Deep basements with long pump lines

• Restricted crane access or no crane at all

• Shared access on live sites or mixed-use developments

Design and Coordination

Design coordination affects how smoothly Dincel installation fits into the overall build. Risk factors:

• Late changes to wall layouts or openings

• Service penetrations that are not locked in early

• Clashes with slabs, beams, stairs or façade details

• Incomplete or unclear setout information

  
  

When installers must stop to resolve clashes or wait for decisions, productivity drops. Rework, cutting and patching also add cost.

Dincel Wall Cost Versus Blockwork And Traditional Concrete

Dincel, blockwork and conventional concrete walls share similar cost inputs: materials, labour, concrete and access. The differences sit in how many trades are involved and how long the work stays on the programme.

Partner With Murs Projects For Your Dincel Wall Installation

Accurate Dincel wall costing depends on correct installation rates, clear wall grouping and realistic allowances for access, reinforcement, concrete and QA. Murs Projects focuses on Dincel wall installation in Australia, using proven rates by wall type so builders and developers can compare Dincel directly with blockwork and traditional concrete.

We provide supply-and-installation of structural walling systems based on your drawings and wall schedule. Call us at 61 420 203 076 for a project-specific Dincel wall installation quote for your site in NSW, QLD or VIC. You will receive clear Dincel wall cost figures for your next project.