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Civil contractor in Chennai — structure + MEP, no finishes

When you want just the civil work — foundation, RCC, brickwork, plumbing, electrical first-fix — and bring your own finishing later. Civil contractor scope explained.

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Quick answer

A civil contractor handles the structural + MEP work of a building: foundation, columns, beams, slabs, brickwork, plastering, plumbing first-fix, electrical first-fix, roofing, waterproofing. Excludes finishes (flooring, painting, sanitaryware, doors-windows). Civil-only contracts ₹1,100-1,800/sq ft (60-70% of turnkey). Suitable when you want to control finishes separately or stagger budget.

What a civil contract includes

What civil contract excludes

When civil-only makes sense

Civil-only contracts work if you want to: (1) stagger budget — civil first, finishes later, (2) hire specialised finishers separately (premium tiling firm, designer painting), (3) control finishing decisions room-by-room as you live in, (4) have your own architect/PM coordinating between civil and finishing contractors. For most clients, turnkey (one team for everything) is cleaner.

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Frequently asked

What does a civil contractor do?
Handles structural + MEP first-fix work: foundation, RCC structure, brickwork, plastering, plumbing pipes (concealed), electrical wiring (concealed), roofing, waterproofing. Excludes finishes — flooring, painting, fixtures, doors-windows, sanitaryware. Civil contractor delivers a 'civil-finished' shell; you complete finishing through separate contracts or vendors.
How much does a civil contractor charge in Chennai 2026?
₹1,100-1,800 per sq ft of built area for civil-only contracts (60-70% of turnkey rates). Tier breakdown roughly: Basic ₹1,100-1,300, Standard ₹1,250-1,500, Premium ₹1,450-1,800. For a 1,500 sq ft G+1: ₹17-27 lakh civil-only.
Should I hire a civil contractor or turnkey contractor?
Turnkey: one team for everything, single accountability, cleaner project management. Civil-only: lower fee, but you coordinate civil + finishing separately, project-manage between vendors. For most clients, turnkey is recommended. Civil-only makes sense if you want budget staggering or specialist finishing control.
Does a civil contractor handle CMDA approval?
Usually no — CMDA approval is the architect/consultant's domain. The civil contractor builds per approved drawings but doesn't file. Some integrated firms (like Homeli) handle both architecture + civil + approval under one contract. Separate civil contractors expect you to bring approval and drawings.
What materials does a civil contractor use in Chennai?
Standard: Jindal/Tata Fe 500D TMT steel, UltraTech/Ramco PPC cement, M20/M25 concrete, Class A brick or AAC blocks, Astral/Supreme CPVC pipes (plumbing first-fix), Polycab/Finolex wiring (electrical first-fix). Specify brands in contract to prevent downgrades.
How long does civil-only construction take?
6-8 months for civil work on a 1,500 sq ft G+1 home (foundation to plastered + concealed MEP). Then finishing adds another 3-4 months if done sequentially. Turnkey is 9-11 months total (similar, but with finishing in parallel). Civil-only doesn't save total time — just splits scope.

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