What grey structure includes
Grey structure is everything that holds your building up and closes it in, before any finishing. In a typical Lahore contract it covers:
- Excavation and foundations, to the structural drawings
- Plinth and damp-proof course (DPC)
- RCC columns, beams and slabs
- Brick masonry for outer and inner walls
- Staircase and roof slab
- Underground and overhead water tank structure
- Electrical conduits and plumbing lines laid in walls and slabs
- Boundary wall, where it is in your scope
Scope varies from one contract to the next in Lahore. That is why our estimate lists every item line by line. If it is not on the list, it is not in the price, and you can see that before you agree to anything.
What it does not include
- Floor and wall tiles or marble
- Paint and exterior finishes
- Doors, windows and woodwork
- Kitchen and bathroom fittings
- False ceilings, lights and switches
Those belong to the finishing stage. You can hire us for finishing separately, or for both stages under one turnkey contract.
How the grey structure rate is worked out
In Lahore, grey structure is priced per square foot of covered area. Your total is the covered area of all floors multiplied by the agreed rate.
With material or labour only
Builders quote grey structure in two ways. A with-material rate covers steel, cement, bricks, sand, crush and labour. A labour-only rate covers the work while you buy the material yourself. The two figures are very different, so when you compare quotes, compare like with like.
What moves the rate
- Steel and cement prices when work starts
- Number of storeys, and whether there is a basement
- Soil conditions and the foundation design
- Design details such as cantilevers, large spans and double-height spaces
- The grade of bricks, steel and concrete in your specification
Why we do not post one fixed rate
Material prices in Pakistan change often. A rate printed on a website goes out of date quickly, and a low headline rate can hide a smaller scope. We visit your plot, look at your drawings and give you a written rate for your exact scope. It only changes if you change the scope, and never without your approval.
Plot size and covered area
Most Lahore societies, including DHA and Bahria Town, count 1 marla as 225 sq ft. Older areas and land records sometimes use 272.25 sq ft per marla, so check the measure on your plot documents.
| Plot | Area at 225 sq ft per marla | Area at 272.25 sq ft per marla |
|---|---|---|
| 5 marla | 1,125 sq ft | 1,361 sq ft |
| 7 marla | 1,575 sq ft | 1,906 sq ft |
| 10 marla | 2,250 sq ft | 2,723 sq ft |
| 1 kanal | 4,500 sq ft | 5,445 sq ft |
| 2 kanal | 9,000 sq ft | 10,890 sq ft |
Covered area is not the same as plot area. It depends on how many storeys you build and on the coverage and setback rules for your plot. Your approved drawings give the exact figure, and that is the figure the rate applies to.
Grey structure by plot size
5 marla grey structure
A 5 marla plot is 1,125 sq ft at 225 sq ft per marla. Most 5 marla houses are built double-storey to make the most of the plot, so the covered area is well above the plot area.
10 marla grey structure
A 10 marla plot is 2,250 sq ft. Coverage rules and the number of storeys set the covered area, and a basement, if your society allows one, adds its own line.
1 kanal grey structure
A 1 kanal plot is 4,500 sq ft. Larger spans, basements and double-height spaces are more common at this size, and each affects the structural design and the rate.
For any plot size, we price from the covered area on your drawings. See house construction by plot size for planning notes.
What to check in any grey structure
Whoever builds your shell, these are the points worth checking on site, because finishing will hide them for good:
- Steel bars match the size and spacing on the structural drawings, with proper cover before concrete is poured.
- Concrete is cured with water for the period your engineer specifies, especially in Lahore's summer heat.
- Columns are plumb and walls are straight before plaster goes on.
- Conduits and pipes are in place before slabs are poured, so nothing has to be cut out later.
- Each stage matches the approved map.
Ask us to show you each of these on your site.
Comparing grey structure quotes in 2026
Rates in Lahore are hard to compare because every builder includes different things. Ask these questions of every quote, including ours:
- Is the rate with material, or labour only?
- Which grade of steel, cement and bricks does the rate assume?
- Is plaster included, or left for finishing?
- Are the water tanks, DPC and boundary wall in scope?
- Does the covered area include the stair tower (mumty) and any basement?
- Is the payment schedule tied to completed stages of work?
- What happens to the price if steel or cement prices change?
Our estimate answers each of these in writing before work starts.
How a grey structure job works with us
- Reach outCall, WhatsApp or send the form with your plot and plans.
- Talk it throughScope, plot, timeline and budget, so we both know the fit.
- Site visitWe visit the plot in person at a time that suits you.
- Itemized estimateEvery cost in writing, line by line, with no vague allowances.
- Your decisionReview it at your own pace. No pressure.
- Build and handoverUpdates at every stage, then sign-off and handover.
Grey structure across Lahore
We build grey structures across 11 areas of Lahore. Pick your area for its building rules and common plot sizes.
Grey structure questions
How much does grey structure cost in Lahore?
What is the grey structure labour rate in Lahore?
How long does a grey structure take?
Is plaster included in grey structure?
Can I build the grey structure now and finish later?
What should a grey structure quote include?
Which areas of Lahore do you offer grey structure in?
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