Specifications That Actually Matter

The Envelope Comes First

External wall construction, terrace and bathroom waterproofing, and window glazing determine whether the home is comfortable and dry. Water ingress is the most common and most expensive post-handover complaint in North Indian apartments, and it is decided by detailing you cannot see once the finishes are on. Ask for the waterproofing system and its warranty in writing.

Glazing And Summer Performance

Punjab summers make glass specification a comfort issue, not an aesthetic one. Double glazing or a high-performance coating on west and south exposures reduces heat gain substantially and cuts cooling load for the life of the building. Single-glazed aluminium on a west elevation looks identical in a render and behaves completely differently in June.

• Window system and glazing — Update Soon
• Waterproofing system and warranty — Update Soon
• External wall construction and insulation — Update Soon
• Acoustic treatment between units — Update Soon

Electrical Capacity And Backup

Ask for the sanctioned load per apartment and the backup capacity per apartment, separately. A home with a 100 percent common-area backup but only a two-light-and-one-fan allocation inside the unit is not a home with power backup. Also check air-conditioning provision: how many points, and whether outdoor unit locations are planned or improvised on balconies later.

What Is Decoration

Brand names on taps, imported stone in the lobby and a marble-clad entrance wall are pleasant and easily replaced. Do not let them substitute for the envelope, the services and the structure. A well-built home with mid-grade fittings is a far better purchase than a poorly built one with luxury sanitaryware.