Knowledge base
Everything clients ask us, answered.
43 straight answers on cost per square foot, materials, drawings, approvals, Vasthu, timelines and handover — the same knowledge our consultant Athira uses on chat and WhatsApp.
Materials & specifications
- What cement do you use?
- OPC 53 Grade, ISI-certified — UltraTech, Chettinad or ACC. We do not substitute with lower grades, even on the standard package.
- What steel / TMT bars do you use?
- 550D grade ISI-certified TMT from JSW, Vizag or Pulkit (or equivalent). Bar bending follows the structural drawing, never eyeballed on site.
- What concrete mix is used for the foundation?
- M20 (1:1.5:3) for footings, with higher grades wherever the structural consultant specifies. All RCC below ground level gets a damp-proof coating before backfill.
- What bricks do you build with?
- First-quality Kerala mud bricks for walls, with brick-masonry parapets on the roof. Solid blocks are used only where site logistics demand it.
- What wiring and switches are standard?
- ISI PVC-insulated copper wiring from RR or V-Guard, modular switches with metal boxes from GM / Gold Medal, and a DB with MCB + RCCB on concealed conduits.
- What plumbing pipes do you use?
- CPVC hot and cold supply lines from Supreme or Finolex, ISI PVC drainage laid to proper slope, and two 1,000 L UPVC overhead tanks as standard.
- What sanitaryware and CP fittings are included?
- Parryware or equivalent — European floor-mounted WC, wash basin with CP pillar tap, SS health faucet, rain shower, CP bib taps and angle valves. Jaquar, Kohler or Grohe upgrades are billed on top.
- What paint is used?
- Asian Paints — primer plus double-coat emulsion inside and out, and metal primer with enamel on doors and windows. Textured and royale finishes are a paid upgrade.
- What flooring is included?
- 2'x4' vitrified tiles in living areas and bedrooms (₹50–60/sq.ft grade), anti-skid tiles in toilets, wall tiles to ceiling in wet areas, a granite kitchen counter (₹150–200/sq.ft) and granite treads on the staircase. Wood, Italian marble, Athangudi and Kota are upgrades.
- What doors and windows do you provide?
- Teakwood frame and shutter for the main door, flush shutters on steel frames internally, FRP waterproof toilet doors, and steel windows with 4 mm plain glass. UPVC and aluminium windows are an upgrade.
- What roof do I get?
- A flat RCC slab with waterproofing on the standard package. Kerala sloped Mangalore-tiled roofing comes with the Premium and Exotic packages.
Inclusions & exclusions
- What is included in the standard turnkey package?
- Structure (foundation, RCC, brickwork, roof), plastering, electrical and plumbing rough-in with fixtures, standard flooring and tiling, standard doors and windows, painting inside and out, sanitaryware, a teakwood main door, one wash basin unit, a minimal TV unit, two 1,000 L overhead tanks and basic entry landscaping.
- What is usually excluded?
- Water sump (~₹22 per litre capacity), soak pit (~₹18/L), septic tank (~₹18/L), compound wall and gate, extensive landscaping, soil filling outside the basement, main interior work (modular kitchen, wardrobes, false ceiling, feature walls), bore well, EB service connection charges, GST and government fees. Each is quoted separately and itemised.
- Are architectural and structural drawings included in turnkey?
- Yes — floor plans, elevations, sections, 3D renders, working drawings, joinery/door/window schedules, structural and MEP drawings and the itemised BOQ are all part of the turnkey scope.
- Is interior work included?
- Only basic interior finishes — paint, flooring and standard sanitaryware. Modular kitchen, wardrobes, false ceilings, TV units, feature walls and furniture fall under our separate Interior Design & Joinery scope, starting from ₹1,200/sq.ft.
- Do you handle Vasthu?
- Yes. Vasthu-aligned planning is part of design and the first consultation is free. We never compromise structural safety or usable area for Vasthu without walking you through the trade-offs first.
Pricing & payments
- What is your starting rate for turnkey construction in Coimbatore?
- From ₹2,400/sq.ft on the Standard package with premium materials as the baseline. Premium is around ₹2,800/sq.ft and Exotic / Heritage Kerala around ₹3,600/sq.ft and above. Final cost depends on plot, spec, finishes and site conditions, and is locked once the plan and BOQ are frozen.
- What does a house plan cost?
- Architectural plans with working drawings start from ₹15/sq.ft of built-up area, 3D elevations from ₹8,000 per elevation, and interior joinery from ₹1,200/sq.ft of carpet area. The first consultation is free.
- Is the contract fixed-cost?
- Yes. Turnkey is a fixed-cost contract signed against the frozen plan and BOQ. Client-initiated changes are billed transparently as variations.
- What are the typical payment stages?
- Booking, foundation, plinth, roof slab, plastering, finishes and handover. Exact percentages are set out in the signed contract — nothing is paid upfront in one shot.
- Is GST included in the quote?
- GST is quoted as a separate invoice line, never buried inside the per-sq.ft figure.
Timelines
- How long do plans and 3D elevations take?
- 4–6 weeks from brief-freeze to final working drawings, with 2–3 concept options in the first 7–10 days and 3D renders once the plan is frozen.
- How long does a 3BHK take to build?
- Typically 10–14 months from foundation to handover, weather permitting. Larger villas and Kerala Tharavadu / heritage detailing take longer.
- When do site works start after booking?
- Usually within 2–4 weeks of contract signing — after soil testing, plan approval, layout marking and material scheduling.
- How do I get updates during construction?
- Weekly WhatsApp photo updates from site plus a dedicated project engineer on call. Site visits are welcome any time by appointment.
- What happens during the monsoon?
- We schedule RCC and roof stages to clear the peak monsoon. Finishes and interiors continue through the rains without delay.
Approvals & legal
- Do you handle building plan approvals?
- Yes — we prepare the sanction drawings and coordinate with the local corporation, panchayat or DTCP. Approval timelines depend on the authority, so we never promise a date on their behalf.
- Do I need soil testing?
- It is recommended for any new build. A basic geotechnical report guides the foundation design and prevents costly surprises; we can arrange the testing agency.
- Do you handle land or title verification?
- No — land title, patta, encumbrance, RTC and legal opinions need a qualified property lawyer. Once the title is clear we take over from design onward.
- Who arranges water and electricity connections?
- EB service connection charges and metro-water tap fees are paid directly to the utility. We coordinate the paperwork and site readiness.
- Do you handle NOCs for fire, environment or tree cutting?
- Where applicable — villas over 15 m, plots with heritage trees, gated layouts — we prepare and file them. Actual issuance rests with the authority.
Scope, areas & services
- What does Atlas Builders do end to end?
- Architecture design, construction plans with complete structural drawings, turnkey construction, and interior design — for both residential and commercial projects.
- Do you take on commercial projects?
- Yes — offices, showrooms, retail stores, clinics, cafés, restaurants, boutique hotels and small institutional spaces, either full design plus fit-out or design-only.
- Do you do renovations, extensions and additional floors?
- Yes, after a structural feasibility check on the existing building.
- Which areas do you serve?
- Coimbatore, Pollachi, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Tiruppur, Erode and Salem, and across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Remote design — plans, 3D and BOQ — is available pan-India and for NRI clients.
- Is the first site visit free?
- Yes, within 25 km of Coimbatore. Beyond that travel is billed at cost and adjusted against the contract if you sign.
- Can I see your ongoing and completed projects?
- Live site updates and finished homes go up on our Instagram, @atlasconstructionsindia — the best place to browse recent work.
Quality, warranty & handover
- Do you give a warranty?
- A 12-month defects liability period from handover — any workmanship or material defect within that year is fixed at no cost. Manufacturer warranties on fittings pass through to you.
- Who supervises the site?
- A dedicated site engineer and a rotating project manager, with the architect reviewing at every milestone. All key pours — footing, plinth, slab — are photo-documented.
- What happens at handover?
- A joint snag-list walk, closure of every point on the list, and handover of all keys, drawings, warranty cards and the completion certificate. The 12-month defects liability period then begins.
Working with Atlas
- How do I get started?
- Share your plot size, location, the BHK you have in mind and a rough budget on WhatsApp at +91 63818 27271, and we will set up your free consultation.
- Where is your studio?
- First Floor, 5A, Karattumedu, Sathy Road, VGP Prem Nagar, Saravanampatti, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641035. Open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Can I get a free floor plan online?
- Yes — our free plan generator at atlasbuilders.in/plan-generator builds a Vasthu-aligned layout from a few questions about your plot and requirements.
Still have a question?
Message Athira on WhatsApp or book a free consultation — we reply the same day.