GRC jali price per sq ft: what you are paying for

The eight things that set the rate

Factor	Lower cost	Higher cost
Thickness	25–30 mm for small, sheltered panels	35–40 mm or more for large or exposed panels
Design	Existing catalogue mould	New custom master and mould
Repetition	One module repeated many times	Many different panels, each a one-off
Detail	Flat, through-cut geometry	Deep relief, undercuts, layered patterns
Finish	Natural grey or standard white	Pigmented, special texture, painted to a shade
Fixing	Simple anchors into RCC at low level	Steel sub-frame, cantilevered screens, high-rise access
Quantity	Large areas spread fixed costs	Small areas carry mould and mobilisation cost
Location	Close to the factory	Distant sites add freight and team travel

How the area is measured

Most suppliers price GRC jali by the overall face area of the screen, measured as width × height of the opening or frame it fills. The holes are not deducted. That’s fair, because a more open pattern isn’t cheaper to mould or fix.

Check these points on any quote:

• Running vs square measure: borders, frames and bands may be priced per running foot, separately from the jali.
• Returns and edges: if the jali wraps a corner, ask whether the return is measured.
• Rounding: ask how part-panels are measured.
• Final measurement: is the bill based on drawing area or on what’s installed? Measurement from the built structure avoids surprises.

A worked example

Say a four-storey house has a staircase opening 2.4 m wide and 11 m tall that will be covered with jali.

1. Area = 2.4 m × 11 m = 26.4 m².
2. 1 m² = 10.764 sq ft, so the area is about 284 sq ft.
3. That is well under the 1,000 sq ft minimum, so on its own the job is too small to order. A typical solution is to combine it with balcony jali, boundary wall screens or other GRC elements on the same building to reach the minimum.

This is why it pays to plan all the GRC on a project together. One order with several elements is more economical than several small ones.

What a complete quote should include

• Thickness, and whether it is spray-up or premix GRC
• Alkali-resistant (AR) glass fibre, with fibre content
• Design, number of panel types and module sizes
• Finish and colour, with a sample before production
• Fixing system: anchor type, stainless or galvanised steel, frame if needed
• Supply only, or supply and installation
• Freight, unloading and site handling
• Scaffolding or lifting: who provides it
• Joint filling, touch-up and final coating
• GST and payment terms

Why the cheapest quote can cost more

A low rate is usually achieved by cutting one of these: thickness, fibre content or type, curing time, or fixing quality. Each is hard to see on delivery and shows up later as cracks, broken panels or rusting anchors. Replacing a failed screen costs far more than the original saving.

Our 12-point checklist for choosing a GRC jali manufacturer lists the questions that separate a sound quote from a risky one.

Ways to bring the cost down legitimately

• Choose a catalogue design, or adapt one, instead of a new mould.
• Design openings so one module repeats many times.
• Use the standard thickness for the panel size; don’t over-specify.
• Choose a natural or white-cement finish over special paint.
• Combine all GRC elements on the project into one order.
• Give the structure and access ready for fixing, so the installation team isn’t waiting.

Frequently asked questions