Renovation is not new-build work performed on an old building. In Pune's older housing societies — the 1980s and 1990s stock in Deccan, Kothrud, Camp and Shivajinagar — the electrical load, the plumbing diameters and the wall construction are usually not what the drawings say.
We survey before we promise. That survey changes budgets, and it is better to know it in week one than in week six.
The survey that decides the budget
We open inspection points in the false ceiling and check the size and material of the incoming supply, whether the wiring is PVC or the older TRS, the plumbing diameter and condition, the waterproofing age, and whether any internal wall is load-bearing.
Old Pune flats frequently have a 3 kW to 5 kW sanctioned load that cannot carry an air-conditioned household. Upgrading it is a society and MSEDCL process with its own timeline, and it is not optional.
Structural caution
In most older societies the walls between rooms are load-bearing and cannot be removed without structural sign-off. We identify which walls can be altered, and involve a structural engineer wherever a change affects the frame. This is the one area where we do not improvise.
Living through a renovation
Many clients stay in the home during the work. We phase it room by room, seal the work zone with dust barriers, keep a temporary kitchen or wet area functional where possible, and schedule demolition tightly because it is the noisiest, dustiest phase.
What renovation costs in Pune
A full-flat interior renovation typically runs ₹1,600 to ₹3,500 per square foot including demolition, new services, joinery and finishing, with the upper end driven by plumbing replacement and electrical upgrades. Cosmetic work without service changes costs materially less.
Drawings and renders
Common questions
- Do I need society permission to renovate my flat in Pune?
- Almost always yes, and usually more than one: a NOC for material movement and work hours, a deposit, and often a formal approval for plumbing or structural changes. We prepare the drawings and documentation the committee needs.
- Can an old flat's electrical load be increased?
- Yes. It requires an application through the society to MSEDCL and an internal wiring upgrade to match. The application can take several weeks, so it belongs at the start of the programme, not the middle.
- Is it cheaper to renovate or to move?
- In a well-maintained society in a good location, renovation usually costs less than the transaction cost plus price gap of moving. In a building with structural or waterproofing problems, moving is often the better decision — and we will say so.
