Windows, doors, glass partitions and shop or office fronts are among the last big items in a Lahore build, and among the most visible. They also decide how much dust, heat, rain and noise gets into the house. This guide explains what the trade covers, how to compare fabricators, and how quotes are usually built, so you can ask for the right thing.
What this trade covers
Most Lahore fabricators work with three material groups:
- Aluminium – extruded profiles cut and assembled into sliding or openable windows, doors, shop fronts and frames for glass partitions.
- UPVC – rigid plastic profiles, usually with a steel reinforcement inside, welded at the corners. Popular for sealed, quieter windows.
- Glass – plain, tinted, reflective, frosted, tempered (toughened), laminated and double-glazed units, used on its own (frameless) or inside aluminium/UPVC frames.
Some firms do all three; others specialise. Facade and curtain-wall work is usually done by larger fabricators with their own design and installation teams.
Services in this category
| Service | What it is | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium windows & doors | Sliding or openable frames in aluminium profile with glass panels, mesh and locks | New house, renovation, replacing old steel or wooden windows |
| UPVC windows & doors | Welded UPVC frames with rubber seals, often double glazed | Rooms facing busy roads, bedrooms, where dust and noise matter |
| Glass partitions | Framed or frameless glass walls and doors | Offices, clinics, showrooms, open-plan homes |
| Shower enclosures | Tempered glass screens or cabins with fittings | Bathroom renovations, new washrooms |
| Facade glazing & cladding | Curtain walls, structural glazing, aluminium composite panel (ACP) cladding | Commercial plazas, offices, modern house elevations |
| Repairs & replacement | New rollers, locks, rubber, broken panes, re-sealing | Windows that stick, leak or rattle |
How to choose a fabricator
There is no single licence that every window fabricator must hold, so judge a firm on evidence:
- See finished work. Ask for two or three addresses in Lahore where they installed similar work in the last year, and look at corners, sealing and how the sliders run.
- Get the specification in writing. The quote should name the profile series and wall thickness for aluminium, chamber count and reinforcement for UPVC, and glass type and thickness for every panel.
- Ask about glass safety. Doors, low-level panels, shower screens and partitions should use tempered or laminated glass. Ask the fabricator to confirm this in the quote.
- Check standards where they apply. The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) keeps a list of products that must meet Pakistan Standards and runs a certification mark scheme with licence verification on its website. Aluminium alloys were among items added to its compulsory list in 2020. Ask suppliers which standard their profiles meet.
- For facades, involve an engineer. Curtain walls and cladding carry wind load and are fixed to the structure. Ask for engineered drawings and, for large buildings, a structural engineer registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council to review the fixing details.
- Check after-sales support. Ask what the warranty covers (profile, hardware, sealing, glass breakage), for how long, and who comes for adjustments.
How pricing usually works
Fabricators in Lahore usually price in one of these ways:
- Per square foot of window or partition area, with the profile and glass named.
- Per piece for standard doors, shower screens or small windows.
- Lump sum for a full house, shop front or facade package, ideally with a per-item breakdown.
What moves the price:
- Profile type, series and thickness (and colour or powder coating).
- Glass type: plain, tinted, frosted, tempered, laminated or double glazed.
- Hardware quality: rollers, handles, hinges, locks, friction stays.
- Size and number of openings; very large or odd-shaped panels cost more.
- Mesh, grills and blinds.
- Height and access: upper floors and facades may need scaffolding or cradles.
- Removal of old frames and making good the plaster.
Rates change with aluminium and glass prices, so ask for a dated, itemised quote and how long it is valid.
From request to installation
- Post your request with the number of openings, rough sizes, floor level and photos or drawings.
- Site measurement. The fabricator measures each opening after plaster is done (or confirms sizes from drawings for new builds).
- Quote and sample. Compare quotes line by line. Ask to see a sample corner or section.
- Agree payment stages – for example an advance for material, a stage on delivery to site, and the balance after fitting and snagging.
- Fabrication in the workshop.
- Installation, sealing with silicone, fitting of glass, mesh and hardware.
- Snagging. Check every sash opens, closes and locks, and that there are no gaps or scratches, before final payment.
Red flags
- A quote that says only "aluminium window, glass" with no profile or thickness.
- Plain annealed glass offered for doors, shower screens or floor-level panels.
- Sizes taken from your rough numbers without a site visit.
- Very large advance with no written schedule.
- No address of past work you can visit.
- Facade work offered without drawings or fixing details.
FAQs
Aluminium or UPVC – which is better for a Lahore house? Both work. Aluminium is slim, strong and suits large sliding panels and shop fronts. UPVC seals tightly and is good where dust and noise matter. Many homes use aluminium for large openings and UPVC for bedrooms.
When should I call the fabricator during construction? Bring them in before plaster to agree opening sizes, then measure finally after plaster. This avoids frames that do not fit.
Is double glazing worth it? It helps with noise and heat gain, especially on road-facing rooms. Ask for a quote with and without it so you can compare.
What glass should a shower screen use? Tempered (toughened) safety glass. Confirm the type and thickness in writing.
Do I need approval for windows? Ordinary window replacement inside your property usually does not. Changes to the elevation of a building in a society, or facades on commercial buildings, may need approval under the society's or LDA's rules – check with them first.
How long does a full house take? It depends on the number of openings and the fabricator's workload. Ask for a written timeline from measurement to installation.