Full house renovation in Lahore

A full house renovation is the biggest job short of rebuilding. It suits older houses where the structure is sound but almost everything else, from pipes and wiring to floors and bathrooms, has reached the end of its life. It is common after buying a resale house in older Lahore neighbourhoods or when a family home is being handed to the next generation.

What's included

When you need it

• The house is old and leaks, seepage and electrical faults keep recurring.
• You have bought a resale house and want to redo it before moving in.
• Several rooms need work at once, so doing it together saves repeated demolition.
• The layout needs updating, such as merging rooms or adding bathrooms.

Step-by-step process

1. Survey the house. Have an engineer or experienced contractor check structure, damp, cracks, slab condition and services before you plan finishes.
2. Decide the layout. If walls move or rooms are added, get drawings prepared.
3. Get approvals. Structural changes need an approved addition and alteration plan (see below).
4. Prepare a room-by-room scope. List every item and the material grade for each.
5. Collect three quotes against the same scope, with labour, material and demolition shown separately.
6. Sign an agreement with a schedule, stage payments and a retention amount.
7. Strip-out and services first. Plumbing and wiring are laid before plaster and floors.
8. Test hidden work. Pressure-test water lines and check wiring and earthing before walls are closed.
9. Waterproof wet areas and roof.
10. Finish floors, kitchen, bathrooms, woodwork and paint.
11. Snag and hand over. Walk the house with a written defect list.

Approvals and documents in Lahore

Under the LDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2019, "minor repairs" include painting, white washing, plastering, paving and replacement of doors, windows, glass and floor tiles. Any structural change after plan approval is an addition/alteration and needs a plan submitted to the Authority, and removing partition walls without approval can lead to plans being cancelled or revoked (LDA Regulations 2019, amended).

For a full renovation that keeps the layout, the work may stay within minor repairs. Once walls, slabs, stairs or extra rooms are involved, plan approval from LDA, DHA or your society is needed. Keep a copy of the original approved plan; you will need it.

If wiring or the meter location changes, LESCO rules apply to the connection, and gas line changes involve SNGPL. Ask your contractor to use the utility's approved process.

This page is general information; confirm with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before you act.

What affects the cost

For context, Houseplot construction rate data (October 2026) shows finishing for a new-build house in Lahore at around Rs3,200–4,200 per sq ft for standard specification and Rs5,000–9,450 for premium. A full renovation is not the same as new finishing: you add demolition and repairs, but you may keep some existing items. Treat those figures only as a reference point and get written quotes.

Factors that move a renovation quote:

• Depth of strip-out and the amount of rubble to remove.
• Condition of the structure and how much repair the engineer recommends.
• Services: full replacement of plumbing and wiring costs more than partial.
• Material grade of floors, sanitary, kitchen and woodwork.
• Layout changes that need new walls, beams or approvals.
• Covered area and number of floors.
• Phasing if the family stays in the house.

Questions to ask the contractor

• Will an engineer inspect the structure, and who is it?
• What exactly is being removed, and what is being kept?
• Which material grades and sizes are included in your price?
• Who handles rubble removal and society permissions for material entry?
• How will you test plumbing and wiring before closing walls?
• What is the payment schedule and the retention amount?
• What do you guarantee after handover, and for how long?

Red flags

• A price per square foot without a site visit or written scope.
• No engineer involvement when walls or slabs are touched.
• Plaster and tiles going up before pipes are tested.
• A big upfront payment with no milestones.
• Vague lines such as "bathroom complete" with no fittings or tile grade listed.

FAQs

Is it cheaper to renovate or rebuild? It depends on the structure. If the engineer finds the frame sound, renovation usually avoids demolition and rebuilding of the structure. If the slab or foundations are failing, rebuilding may make more sense. Get both options priced.

Do I need LDA approval for a full renovation? Not for minor repairs as LDA defines them. Structural changes or additions need an approved addition and alteration plan.

Should plumbing and wiring always be replaced? In older houses it is usually sensible, because opening walls twice costs more. Your contractor should inspect and advise in writing.

Can I stay in the house during a full renovation? It is hard. Phased work room by room is possible but takes longer and costs more.

How do I keep the budget under control? Freeze the scope and material grades before signing, and agree in writing how variations will be priced.

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