What is grey structure construction and what does it cost in Hyderabad?

Grey structure means the engineered skeleton only: design, excavation, foundation, RCC frame, brickwork and plastering — no flooring, doors, electrical fittings or paint. In Hyderabad it costs about ₹1,000–1,100 per sq ft in 2026, versus ₹1,950–₹2,650 for full turnkey packages.

Is it cheaper to buy finishes myself than take a full package?

Usually not by much. Finishes plus labour typically cost an owner ₹900–1,300 per sq ft when self-managed at retail prices, roughly what the package charges with wholesale rates — but without coordination risk, timeline control or single-point warranty. Self-managing pays only if you have trade contacts and time to supervise daily.

Grey Structure vs Full Package in Hyderabad (2026)

Grey structure construction costs ₹1,000–1,100 per sq ft in Hyderabad in 2026; full packages run ₹1,950–₹2,650. The gap looks like savings. Sometimes it is. This guide is the honest version of when.

What each one includes

Scope	Grey structure ₹1,000–1,100/sq ft	Full package ₹1,950–2,650/sq ft
Design, drawings, Vastu	✓	✓
Excavation & foundation	✓	✓
RCC frame (M20, TMT)	✓	✓
Brickwork & plastering	✓	✓
Flooring, doors, windows	—	✓
Electrical & plumbing fittings	Conduits only	✓
Kitchen, bathrooms, paint	—	✓
Site engineer	✓	✓
10-yr structural warranty	✓	✓
Single point of accountability	Structure only	✓ Everything

The math of finishing it yourself

Take a 150 sq yd G+1 (~2,300 sq ft — full breakdown here):

Grey structure: 2,300 × ₹1,050 ≈ ₹24 lakh
Self-managed finishes at retail: tiles, doors, windows, electrical, plumbing, kitchen, bathrooms, painting + labour ≈ ₹900–1,300/sq ft ≈ ₹21–30 lakh
Total: ₹45–54 lakh — against ₹45–49 lakh for a Silver or Gold package with wholesale material rates, one schedule and one warranty-holder.

The package's bulk buying roughly cancels the contractor margin you think you're saving. What you're really choosing between is your time and coordination risk.

Choose grey structure if…

You have trade contacts (a tile dealer cousin changes this math genuinely).
Someone in the family can be on site several days a week for 4–5 months.
You want to phase spending — live on bare floors now, upgrade room by room.

Choose the full package if…

You have a job. (Seriously — finishing coordination is a part-time job for months.)
You want one signature responsible for everything, with stage-verified payments and one handover date.
You're financing with a bank — lenders release tranches far more smoothly against a single turnkey agreement.

EITHER WAY

The skeleton is never the place to save

Both routes get the same M20-grade RCC structure and the same 10-year structural warranty. Price both for your plot in 60 seconds.

Estimate both options

Frequently asked

Does grey structure include plastering?

In our scope, yes — internal and external plastering are part of the grey structure, so you hand over to finishing trades with clean surfaces. Always check this line item; some builders exclude it.

Can I start with grey structure and upgrade to a package later?

Yes. Finishing can be added as a separate package on transparent per-item rates at any point — several of our clients build the structure first and finish a year later as funds free up.

Grey structure vs full package

What each one includes

The math of finishing it yourself

Choose grey structure if…

Choose the full package if…

The skeleton is never the place to save

Frequently asked