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Have you ever begun designing your house and got lost when someone said that it would be a grey structure?
You’re not alone.
The majority of Pakistani homeowners are not even aware of what they are paying for, and this misconception results in wasted money and time and endless disagreements with contractors.
The problem is simple:
Everybody is throwing the term’Grey Structure‘ around, yet nobody is telling us exactly what it is, what its cost is, or how to keep mistakes under control.
The good news?
When you know how to do this step properly, you will save 10-15 percent of your total cost, prevent re-work, and have a house that remains strong through the decades.
And this handbook dissects all this in the easiest manner known to all; even a child can tell it.
When individuals refer to the grey structure, they are referring to those aspects of the house that make it strong, safe, and finish-ready.
Imagine the house in which a person constructs the bones first, then puts on paint, tiles, doors, and decoration afterward.
In Pakistan, what the grey structure contains is as under:
This is the point at which it all starts. The land is cleared, evened, and marked. Then the digging starts. The foundation, underground tanks, and the rest of the base work are excavated. When this is done well, your house will be more straight and steady.
The base of the entire house is the foundation. It incorporates digging, installation of steel bars, pouring of concrete, and termite treatment. A good foundation prevents cracks, holds the entire weight of the house, and enhances the general life of the building.
This is the architectural structure of the housing. Steel and concrete are used to make columns, beams, and slabs. Walls, roofs, floors, and the interior of your home are burdened with the framework. With a good structure, your home is secure even in destructive weather or motion of ground.
Brickwork starts after the framework. Your rooms, corridors, kitchens, and washrooms are characterized by walls. This is the stage of both internal and external walls construction.
It is an aspect that defines the overall house layout.
This comprises a concrete roof slab, waterproofing layers, insulation, and parapet walls that are located at the edges. A correct roofing system covers you against rain, heat, and leaks.
The majority of lasting water damage in Pakistani houses is a result of low-quality roofing, and therefore, this is a very crucial step.
These are the pipelines that are concealed in walls and floors. They bring in clean water and out dirty water. Rough-in plumbing consists of sewerage lines, fresh water lines, drains, and AC drainage. Once tiles have been put on these, lines are not changeable; therefore, these lines have to be considered carefully during the grey stage.
The wiring paths formed on the inside of the walls are called electrical rough-ins. This incorporates conduits, back box, switch routes, switches, fans, lights, and power outlets routes. The actual wiring is not yet installed, but only the channels. This will leave your house tidy and prevent the destruction of walls in the future.
These components making up a grey structure are the underground water tank, the septic tank, and the foundation of the overhead tank. These tanks contain clean water and wastewater. Early construction will provide adequate water pressure and drainage after the construction of the house is done.
At this point, cement is poured over the floors to form a flat surface. Plaster is applied to internal and external walls to make them smooth. These finishes are ready to take the house to tiles, paint, and ceilings, among others.
Inquire about quality materials and quality advice with the top construction and building material company in Pakistan.
Any building depends on its grey structure. It determines the degree of strength, stability, and permanency of your house. The foundation, framework, walls, roof, and internal systems of the building are required to be done in the correct way; the whole building is safe and strong. The concrete grey structure also averts incidents such as cracks, seepages of water, poorly-built walls, and unbalanced floors. Since nearly 60-70 percent of the strength of a home is largely determined by this phase, utilizing quality materials, workforce, and planning of a house means that your house will be stable and will need fewer fixes in the future.
A grey structure lacks any finishing or decoration work. The following are the items to be excluded in this stage:
The construction of the grey structure differs according to the objective of the building. The structural requirements of each category are different, the material requirements are different, and cost behaviour is different as well. Knowledge of these types would make the homeowners, investors, and developers select the appropriate strategy for their plot, location, and budget.
The residential grey building incorporates apartments, villas, and houses. Such undertakings are based on comfort, efficient layout, and durability.
Common Features:
It is the most widespread type of category in Pakistan, and prices vary the most based on the locality (e.g., DHA, Bahria Town, LDA-approved areas).
The commercial grey buildings are plazas, offices, shops, and mixed buildings. These need sound structures, a greater base, and protection against fires since there are a lot of people using them and more cargo.
In commercial projects, 25 to 40 percent more steel is normally used as compared to residential houses. There is also a variation of column size and spacing in order to meet open-floor designs.
Farm houses have bigger lands, deeper foundations, and better water control. They are also prone to requiring larger boundary walls and massive underground piping.
| Feature | Regular Home | Farmhouse |
| Plot Size | 5–20 Marla / 1 Kanal | 2–10 Kanal |
| Foundation Depth | Standard | Deeper due to soil variety |
| Water Tank Size | Standard | Larger underground tanks |
| Grey Cost | Moderate | Higher due to scale |
Warehouses, workshops, and factories fall under industrial grey structures. Such buildings require the use of massive RCC buildings, industrial-grade slabs, and huge span roofing systems.
Related: https://gharhub.com/blog/house-front-design-in-pakistan/
The price of grey structures is different since no two plots, designs, and cities are identical. The cost is based on soil condition, the quality of materials you select, and so on. The following will be the key determinants of cost in Pakistan:
According to reports released by the city, steel and cement constitute nearly 6065 percent of the cost of the grey structure in both 2025, which is why steel and cement will be the largest cost determinant of the country.
The prices of cement, steel, and labor have risen, leading to an increase in the grey structure rates in Pakistan in 2025. The cost of the project is different depending on the city and the type of material grade, although the majority of residential projects have a range that is predictable. Knowing these rates would assist you in preparing your budget before construction.
One of the most active construction markets in Pakistan is Lahore. Prices vary depending on the location, soil composition, and quality of the contractor.
Current Market Range (2025):
Whereas typical high-price areas include: DHA, Bahria Town, Wapda Town, and LDA societies.
Low-cost areas: Raiwind road, Canal road block, and the Central Lahore old blocks.
Grey structure rates in Islamabad are a bit higher as the labour is expensive and only hard soil can be used. The hilly or sloping ending needs to have more concrete support and steel reinforcement of the plot.
2025 Insight:
Islamabad grey structure cost is 8-12 percent above the average when compared to the Lahore structure.
The national distribution of 2025 is as follows:
| City | Avg Grey Structure Rate (per sq ft) |
| Lahore | Rs 2,700–3,200 |
| Islamabad | Rs 2,900–3,400 |
| Karachi | Rs 2,600–3,100 |
| Faisalabad | Rs 2,500–2,950 |
| Multan | Rs 2,400–2,850 |
Per square foot rates assist in total cost calculation in a short time. In the year 2025, the dividend brackets will be:
These rates encompass foundation, framework, walls, roofing, plaster, plumbing rough-ins, electrical conduit, and tanks.
The price of the grey structure depends on the size of the plot and the area covered. The following are the two most widespread residential areas in Pakistan with projections for 2025.
Increase in price in DHA Phase 9, Bahria Orchard, and Wapda Town.
An 8 Marla house will normally cost between 6.5 million to 8.2 million, depending on the quantity of floors, depth of foundation, as well as the grade of material used. The reason why the double-unit layouts are more expensive is that they require more plumbing and partition walls.
| Component | Cost (10 Marla – 2025) |
| Foundation & Structure | Rs 82.62 lakh |
| Plumbing Rough-ins | Rs 9.08 lakh |
| Electrical Rough-ins | Rs 2.24 lakh |
| Total Estimated Range | Rs 8.5–10.5 million |
In the case of 1 Kanal houses, the cost of the grey structure in 2025 is in the range of 15-20 million. DHA and Bahria Town have houses that are mostly high-end because of their deeper foundations, larger covered areas, and high-quality materials.
A 2 Kanal house needs additional steel, concrete, and drainage facilities, and usually a unique architectural design.
Expected range: Rs 32-45 million.
Any grey structure must have a combination of the main materials, establishing the strength, form, and durability of the house. These materials constitute close to 70 percent of the entire grey structure cost; hence, knowing about them will make you plan better and prevent shortages in the construction process.
The grey structure consists of basic walls and partitions that make it up of bricks. They design the house plan and facilitate plastering and finishing. Quality bricks mean a greater bond and the prevention of cracks in the future.
The whole structure is unified by cement. It is utilized in foundations, beams, slabs, floors, and plaster. Fresh cement is powerful and contributes to the longevity, as well as shields the building against the weather.
The grey structure is strong and steady with the use of steel. It supports the foundation, columns, as well as slabs in order to enable the house to support weight, pressure, and vibrations.
In concrete, masonry, and plaster, sand and crush are used. Good quality sand enhances the quality of the plaster, whereas the quality of the crush fortifies the slabs and foundations.
The plumbing materials consist of underground sewerage, water supply lines, gas lines, and AC drainage routes. These concealed systems guarantee the flow of water smoothly and avert the problem of leakages.
Electrical conduits and PVC channels are installed within walls to shield wiring. Before commencing any construction, they develop security, systematized paths of switches, lamps, and electric points.
The price of labor depends upon the city, the quality of contractors, and the complexity of the project. A majority of the teams charge per square foot in 2025.
| City | Labor Rate (Per sq ft) |
| Lahore | Rs 450–650 |
| Islamabad | Rs 500–700 |
| Karachi | Rs 430–600 |
| Faisalabad | Rs 380–500 |
Despite good planning, some of the costs are realized during construction that are not anticipated by most homeowners. These are rework caused by design alterations, additional shuttering, extra excavation in the soft soil, repairs on waterproofing, minor loss of material, and unforeseen labor hours. Among these ignored details can be a silent addition of one or five percent to the overall cost of the grey structure, and this occurs particularly when there is sub-optimal supervision of the project.
Suggested Read: https://gharhub.com/blog/1-kanal-house-plan/
There are two major techniques of calculating grey structure cost: quick per-square-foot or a time-intensive material breakdown. The two approaches enable the homeowners to get an idea of how much money they will spend, although it will depend on the size of the house, design complexity, and the quality of the estimation. An evident calculation process will guarantee you are operating within your budget, and you will not incur surprises in the future.
The area covered is multiplied by the rate of the grey structure
Example:
3,000 sq ft x Rs 3,000 per sq ft = Rs 9,000,000
The BOQ method presents all the elements of material and labor in a very detailed manner, providing a clear, item-by-item estimate. It is the most precise method of estimating the grey structure cost of complicated or high-budget houses.
| BOQ Item | What It Includes |
| Material Quantities | Steel, cement bags, bricks, sand, crush |
| Labor Costs | Masonry, shuttering, steel fixing, plumbing, electrical |
| Stage Breakdown | Foundation, structure, walls, slab, plaster |
| Accuracy Level | Very high for large/custom homes |
There are a few preventive measures in the grey stage to save thousands in the finishing.
Are you going to get stronger and smarter? Launch your grey structure planning with professional assistance.
Contact Us!
GharHub makes the whole grey structure a simple process that is guided correctly, with proven BOQs and real market knowledge. Being a B2B and B2C construction commodities marketplace, we make direct contact with suppliers and contractors who have a reputation and assurance of quality materials, reasonable prices, and clarity throughout the work.
The basis of a successful and durable home is a solid grey structure. When your house is properly filled with the materials, labor, and supervision, it may even be stronger, simpler to complete, and stop the cracks or leakage. No matter whether you are constructing a 5 Marla house or a 2 Kanal villa, you will have the knowledge about the price, components, and silently existing cost of the grey building that will enable you to make better choices. Whatever you have properly planned and consulted with an expert, your home will be a lifetime investment, not a renovation.
Grey structure consists of foundations, columns, beams, slabs, brickwork, boundary walls, plaster, underground/overhead tanks, plumbing rough-ins, and electrical conductors. It includes the key elements of the house, but not all the finishing elements are reflected.
In Lahore, a 10 Marla grey block building costs between 8.5 million to 10.5 million, depending on the grade of material, design, and contractor.
The DHA Lahore has a range of 1 Kanal grey structure that costs between Rs 15 million and Rs 20 million for a basement, two-height space, or high-end foundations.
The 2025 rate in Bahria Town Lahore will lie between:
A+ and A quality construction ranging between Rs 2,800 and Rs 3,200 per sq ft.
On average:
Bricks: 95,000–110,000
Steel: 4–5 tons
Cement: 1,600–2,000 bags
The number of slabs and size are dependent on the design.
Yes. In 2025, the average cost of an A+ grade of grey structure in Lahore and Islamabad will be Rs 3,000 per sq ft.
The rates are related to the cost of materials, the condition of the soil, the complexity of the design, and the skill of the contractor, along with the availability of labor and the standard of construction in the area. The most affected are the steel and cement prices.
Divide the covered area by the per-sq-ft grey structure rate.
Example:
3,000 sq ft × Rs 3,000 per sq ft = Rs 9,000,000.
Plumbing involves sewerage pipes, water supply pipes, AC drainage, and gas pipes.
Electrical contains conduits, back boxes, wiring paths, as well as DB locations (not the actual wires and switches).
The additional excavation, shuttering rent, waterproofing repair, repairs after design alteration, repairs after water tank leakages, and wastage of materials may all be considered as the hidden costs. These may increase the total budget by 5-10 percent in case they are not planned.
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