House Construction FAQs in Lahore

The cost depends on your covered area, structure type, finishing level, society and current steel and cement prices. Grey structure is usually around 40–50% of a complete house. The only reliable figure comes from drawings and a bill of quantities (BOQ). TECCO visits your plot for free and gives you a site-based estimate with a detailed breakdown.

The rate per square foot changes with steel and cement prices, the type of structure (load-bearing or framed) and what the builder includes. Always compare rates on the same scope: ask each builder what is included per square foot and how covered area is measured.

A double-storey 10 marla house usually has about 3,500–4,500 sq ft of covered area. Multiply that by the grey structure or complete rate for your specification, then add items outside the rate such as approvals, boundary wall, porch, utility connections and solar. TECCO prepares this estimate for your exact plan.

A double-storey 5 marla house is usually around 2,000–2,400 sq ft of covered area. The final cost depends on that area, the finishing level and society rules. Smart planning matters most on small plots, because every square foot you build adds to the cost.

A 1 kanal house usually has 5,000–7,000 sq ft of covered area, and many include a basement. Basements, imported finishes and larger spans raise the cost. TECCO gives you a written estimate based on your drawings and specification.

Builders measure covered area differently, include or exclude different items, and assume different material grades. A low rate per square foot often leaves out items that return later as extras. Compare quotes on the same drawings, specification and BOQ, not on the rate alone.

Covered area is normally the built-up floor area of all storeys, measured to the outside of walls. Builders differ on how they count porches, stairs, mumty, balconies and open areas. Ask for the measurement rule in writing, because it can change the total noticeably.

Items often charged separately include map approval fees, soil test, boundary wall, gates, driveway and external flooring, parapets, water tanks, utility connections, solar and some finishes. Ask for a written list of exclusions before you sign.

Labour-only can look cheaper because you buy materials yourself, but you carry the risk of wastage, price changes, theft and wrong grades, and you must manage deliveries. A material-plus-labour or turnkey contract puts that responsibility on the builder and is easier to control if you are busy or abroad.

Finalise drawings before starting, avoid design changes on site, use a simple efficient structure, buy finishes in one go, and plan electrical, plumbing and solar early so walls are not broken later. Do not save on steel, cement, waterproofing or supervision.

Grey structure covers excavation, foundation, columns, beams, slabs, brickwork, roof, plumbing and electrical conduits, and plaster. It is the frame of the house before tiles, woodwork, paint and fixtures.

Turnkey construction covers everything from drawings and grey structure to tiles, woodwork, paint, kitchen, bathrooms, electrical fixtures and handover. You receive a ready-to-live home under one contract.

Choose grey structure if you have a trusted finishing team and want to manage finishes yourself. Choose turnkey if you want one contract, one point of contact and less time on site, which suits busy families and overseas Pakistanis.

Yes. Many owners build the grey structure first and finish later as budget allows. Make sure electrical, plumbing and solar conduits are planned in the grey stage so walls and floors do not have to be broken later.

Ask for brick class, cement brand and type, steel grade and brand, sand and crush source, concrete mix or strength, pipe and wire brands, and the waterproofing method. Named materials let you check what arrives on site.

Check steel grade markings and bar sizes, test bricks for size and water absorption, look for clean sand without clay, and make sure concrete is properly mixed, vibrated and cured. An engineer should inspect steel and shuttering before every slab pour.

A typical house takes about 6 to 12 months from start to handover, depending on size, design, finishing level, weather and approvals. Grey structure alone usually takes a few months. Larger houses, basements and premium finishes take longer.

A small grey structure can sometimes be completed in about 3 months, but a complete, properly cured and finished house usually cannot. Rushing concrete curing and plaster leads to cracks and seepage later.

The main stages are site visit and estimate, drawings and approval, layout marking, excavation and foundation, plinth, columns and slabs, brickwork, plumbing and electrical, plaster, finishing, and final inspection and handover.

Many owners start in autumn or late winter so the structure rises before the July–August monsoon. Work continues all year, but concrete must be cured properly in summer heat and protected from heavy rain.

A TECCO engineer visits your plot, checks access, levels and surroundings, discusses your requirements and budget, and then shares an itemised cost estimate. There is no fee and no obligation.

TECCO tracks every milestone, documents it and shares progress with you. Work moves to the next stage only after quality checks and your sign-off.

Yes. Every house needs an approved building plan from the right authority before construction starts. Building without approval can lead to fines, sealing or demolition.

It depends on the society: DHA approves plans in DHA Lahore, Bahria Town's planning office approves plans in Bahria Town and Bahria Orchard, and LDA approves plans in LDA schemes such as Johar Town. Private societies such as Lake City also review plans through their own office.

Approval usually takes a few weeks, depending on the authority and whether the drawings need corrections. Complete, correct drawings submitted the first time save the most time.

A soil test tells the engineer which foundation your house needs, and some authorities such as DHA ask for it with the approval file. It is a small cost compared with the risk of a wrong foundation.

Basements are allowed in many societies with approval, mostly on larger plots. They need proper waterproofing, drainage and often a sump pump, all planned at the foundation stage.

Limits depend on the society and plot size. Bahria Town generally allows two storeys plus a mumty, while LDA rules allow more on larger plots. Confirm the rule for your plot before design starts.

A completion certificate is issued by the approving authority after final inspection, confirming the house matches the approved map. It matters for utility connections, resale and avoiding penalties.

Ask for a BOQ with quantities, named material grades, the name of the supervising engineer, a stage-based payment schedule, a written timeline and scope, and past projects you can visit. A builder who will not put these in writing is asking you to carry the risk.

A good contract includes the drawings and specification, BOQ, rate and covered-area rule, inclusions and exclusions, material grades, payment schedule, timeline, responsibilities of both sides, how changes are priced, and what happens if either side ends the contract.

Payments should be linked to completed stages such as foundation, slabs, brickwork and plaster, not to dates. Avoid large advances, and release each payment only after the stage has been inspected.

Red flags include a very low verbal rate, no drawings or BOQ, no named engineer, pressure for a large advance, no written contract, and no past projects you can visit.

Yes. TECCO (Town Engineering & Construction Company Pvt. Ltd) is a legally registered construction company in Lahore, working since 2019 with 100+ completed projects.

Yes. Many overseas Pakistanis build in Lahore through a reliable company. Choose a builder that documents every milestone, shares progress regularly and links payments to completed stages.

Pay through bank transfers linked to completed and inspected stages, keep every receipt, and avoid large advances. Ask for photos or video of each stage before releasing the next payment.

Some steps, such as map approval or possession, may need you or an authorised attorney. Check your society's rules, as some authorities use their own attorney format.

Use roof insulation, shaded windows, smaller west-facing openings, cross-ventilation and light-coloured roof finishes. These choices cost little at the design stage and cut cooling bills for years.

Use a proper damp-proof course, waterproof the roof and wet areas, slope roofs to drains, and set the plinth high enough above the road. Most seepage problems start with skipped waterproofing.

Yes. Plan roof space, the panel structure, conduits and the inverter location during construction, so solar fits cleanly without breaking walls later.

Size roof drains and slopes for heavy July–August rain, keep the plinth above road level, and make sure rainwater flows away from the foundation.

TECCO builds across Lahore, including Bahria Orchard, DHA Lahore, Bahria Town, Lake City, Johar Town, Etihad Town, Gulberg, Model Town and the societies along Raiwind Road and Ring Road.

TECCO's office is at Office #204, 3rd Floor, Broadway Heights, Bahria Orchard, Lahore. Call +92 330 1671628 or email contact@tecco.pk.

TECCO offers grey structure construction, turnkey house construction, commercial construction, home renovation and extensions, architecture and interior design, and solar solutions.

Yes. The site visit and first cost estimate are free, with no obligation to hire TECCO.