Most Lahore houses get renovated at least once: an older house bought in Samanabad or Model Town, a 1990s DHA house with tired bathrooms, or a family home being split so a married son can live upstairs. Renovation can be as small as new floor tiles in one room or as big as gutting the house down to its columns and slabs.
This guide explains what renovation contractors in Lahore do, how they usually price work, which jobs need approval, and how to avoid the common problems. Post your requirement on this page and verified contractors can send you quotes.
What renovation and remodelling covers
"Renovation" usually means restoring or upgrading what is already there. "Remodelling" means changing the layout: moving walls, relocating a kitchen, turning a store into a bathroom. In practice most Lahore contractors do both, and many jobs mix the two.
| Service | What it is | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Full house renovation | Strip-out and refinish of the whole house: plumbing, wiring, plaster, floors, kitchen, bathrooms, doors, paint | You have bought an old house, or the house is 20+ years old with failing services |
| Kitchen renovation | New cabinets, counters, sink, wall tiles, gas and water points, exhaust, lighting | Cabinets have swollen or broken, layout does not work, or you are changing appliances |
| Bathroom renovation | Breaking old tiles, new concealed pipes, waterproofing, fittings, tiles, vanity | Leaks into the room below, seepage, old galvanised pipes, outdated fittings |
| Floor replacement | Removing old terrazzo, chips or tiles and laying tiles, porcelain, marble, vinyl or laminate | Cracked, hollow or uneven floors, or a change in look |
| Portion conversion (upper/lower) | Making a floor self-contained: separate entrance or stair, kitchen, meters | Renting out a floor or housing a second family |
| Repairs and seepage work | Damp treatment, roof waterproofing, plaster repair, crack filling | Damp walls, roof leaks before monsoon, peeling paint |
| Facade and exterior | New elevation, cladding, boundary wall, gate, outdoor tiles | Dated front elevation or damaged exterior |
Do you need approval?
The LDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2019 separate minor repairs from other work. Minor repairs are defined as work such as "painting, white washing, plastering, paving, replacement of doors, windows, glass, floors tiles", while an addition/alteration is "any structural change brought about after approval of Building Plan", which needs an addition and alteration plan submitted to the Authority. The same regulations say that removing partition walls without LDA approval can lead to plans being cancelled or revoked (LDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2019, amended).
In short:
- Like-for-like finishing work (tiles, paint, fittings, doors) is generally treated as minor repair.
- Removing or moving walls, adding a room or storey, cutting slabs for a new stair, or changing the structure needs an approved plan from LDA, DHA, or your housing society, depending on where the house is.
- DHA and private societies have their own bylaws; ask the society office before work starts.
This page is general information; confirm with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before you act.
How to choose a renovation contractor
- Check past work, not just photos. Ask for two or three addresses of finished jobs you can visit, ideally ones that are a year or more old.
- Check who handles structure. If walls, beams or slabs are affected, an engineer must be involved. LDA defines a structural engineer as a consulting engineer registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) with five years of structural experience (LDA Regulations 2019). Ask for the engineer's PEC registration number.
- Ask who does each trade. Good contractors have regular plumbers, electricians, tile fixers and carpenters. Ask whether they are in-house or subcontracted.
- Get a written scope. The quote should list each room and each item: what is being removed, what is being installed, and who supplies the material.
- Compare like with like. Two quotes are only comparable if the scope and material grades match.
How renovation pricing usually works
There is no single "renovation rate" in Lahore, because two jobs of the same size can be completely different. Contractors normally use one of these bases:
| Pricing basis | How it works | Common for |
|---|---|---|
| Per square foot (labour only) | You buy material; contractor charges for labour by area | Flooring, plaster, paint |
| Per square foot (with material) | Contractor supplies material of an agreed grade | Full renovation, flooring |
| Lump sum | Fixed price for a defined scope | Kitchens, bathrooms, portion conversion |
| Per item / per point | Fixed rate per fitting, electrical point or plumbing point | Electrical and plumbing rework |
| Day rate | Daily wage per skilled worker or helper | Small repairs, uncertain scope |
What moves the price:
- How much is demolished. Breaking old terrazzo, chips or tiles and removing the debris adds labour, rubble disposal and sometimes floor levelling.
- Hidden services. Old galvanised water lines and aluminium or undersized wiring are often found only after walls are opened.
- Material grade. Tiles, sanitary ware, kitchen boards and fittings vary widely in price.
- Access and working hours. Upper floors, narrow streets and society rules on working times and material entry affect cost.
- Whether you live in the house during work. Phased work takes longer and costs more.
Get at least three written quotes against the same scope. Ask each contractor to separate labour, material and demolition.
Process from request to completion
- Post your requirement with the house size, rooms involved and photos.
- Site visit. Contractors inspect, check for damp, cracks and old pipes, and measure.
- Scope and quote. You receive itemised quotes; agree material grades and samples.
- Approvals. For structural changes, the plan is prepared and submitted to LDA, DHA or the society.
- Agreement and payment schedule. Sign a written agreement with stage-wise payments.
- Demolition and services. Strip-out, then new plumbing and wiring before any finishing.
- Inspection of hidden work. Pressure-test pipes and check wiring before walls are closed.
- Finishing. Plaster, waterproofing, tiles, carpentry, paint, fittings.
- Snag list and handover. Walk through, list defects, and hold back the final payment until they are fixed.
Red flags
- A per-square-foot price given over the phone without a site visit.
- No written scope, or "everything included" with no material grades.
- A large advance before any work starts.
- Pressure to close walls before pipes are pressure-tested.
- Willingness to remove walls or cut slabs without an engineer or approval.
- No address of a past job you can see.
FAQs
Is home renovation in Lahore priced per square foot? Often, but not always. Flooring, plaster and paint are commonly priced per square foot, while kitchens, bathrooms and portion conversions are usually lump sum. Ask for an itemised quote either way.
Do I need LDA approval to renovate my house? Not for minor repairs such as painting, plastering and replacing floor tiles, doors or windows, as defined in the LDA regulations. Structural changes and additions need an approved addition and alteration plan. DHA and societies have their own rules.
Should I buy the material myself or let the contractor supply it? Buying yourself gives control over grade and price but makes you responsible for quantity and delivery timing. Contractor supply is simpler but agree specifications (grade, size, thickness) in writing.
How long does a renovation take? It depends on scope, approvals and whether you stay in the house. Ask each contractor for a written schedule with milestones.
Can I live in the house during renovation? For a single room, usually yes. For full-house work, dust, water and power cuts make it difficult; phased work is possible but slower.
What should I hold back until the end? Agree a final retention payment in the contract, released after the snag list is cleared.