Renovation contractor in Petaling Jaya.
PJ's housing stock is 40–60 years old. That is an opportunity — and a set of very specific structural problems. We know both.
Renovating in Petaling Jaya — what actually matters.
Petaling Jaya's terraces and semi-detached houses in SS2, Section 14, Damansara Utama, Bandar Utama and Kota Damansara were largely built between the 1960s and 1990s. They renovate beautifully — deep plots, generous rear space, solid original structure. But four problems recur almost every single time, and any contractor who has genuinely worked in PJ will list the same four.
1. The rear extension that was never approved. A very large share of PJ terraces already carry a rear or upper extension built decades ago without an MBPJ submission. When you renovate, that unapproved structure becomes your problem — it can block a submission, or worse, be built on a foundation that was never designed to carry a second storey. We check this before quoting.
2. Original single-skin walls and asbestos-era roofing. Pre-1990 PJ homes commonly have half-brick partition walls and older roof sheeting. Both are workable, but they change the cost of any wall removal or roof replacement, and they must be identified upfront.
3. Electrical loading. The original consumer unit in a 1970s PJ terrace was never sized for today's load. Rewiring is almost never optional in a full renovation — and it is one of the most common items dishonest contractors quietly leave out of a low quotation to win the job.
4. Waterproofing and drainage. PJ's older concrete flat roofs, rear yards and upstairs bathrooms leak. Malaysian humidity and rainfall are unforgiving, and a cosmetic tile-over on a failed membrane will fail again within two monsoon seasons. We strip back to slab and reinstate a full membrane system with a screed to fall.
Structural alterations, extensions and rebuilds in PJ go through MBPJ, typically with a Professional Engineer's endorsement. Archevo Build is CIDB-registered and manages the submission end-to-end.
How we work in Petaling Jaya.
MBPJ submission & PE endorsement
Extensions, structural alteration and rebuild submitted through MBPJ with engineer endorsement. Existing unapproved structures assessed first.
Terrace & semi-D specialists
Open-plan conversion, rear extension, second-storey addition, full rewire and re-roof — the four jobs PJ homes actually need.
Honest pre-quote inspection
We open up and check before pricing: wall type, roof condition, electrical loop, waterproofing. No mid-project surprises.
Full waterproofing reinstatement
Strip to slab, membrane system, screed to fall, flood test. Not a cosmetic tile-over on a failed layer.
Recent work in and around Petaling Jaya.
Real Archevo Build projects — not stock photography. See the full portfolio of 76 completed project photos on our homepage.
Petaling Jaya renovation — questions people actually ask.
How much does it cost to renovate a terrace house in PJ?
A cosmetic refresh (paint, flooring, kitchen) on a PJ terrace typically starts around RM 80,000–RM 150,000. A full renovation involving rewiring, re-roofing, waterproofing and layout changes generally lands between RM 150,000 and RM 350,000. A rear extension or second-storey addition is priced separately by structure and area. Our minimum project value is RM 150,000. A free site visit gives you an itemised figure.
Do I need MBPJ approval to extend my house?
Yes. Any extension to the building footprint, a second-storey addition, or removal of structural elements requires submission to MBPJ, normally with endorsement from a registered Professional Engineer. Building without approval risks an enforcement notice and complicates any future sale. We handle the submission as part of the project.
My PJ house already has an old extension that was never approved. Is that a problem?
It can be. An unapproved existing structure can block a new submission, and older extensions are sometimes built on foundations that were never designed for the load they now carry. We assess it before quoting and tell you honestly whether it can be regularised, reinforced, or needs to come down.
Do you rewire and re-roof, or only cosmetic renovation?
Both — and in PJ's older stock the structural work is usually the part that actually matters. Full rewiring, consumer-unit upgrade, roof replacement, waterproofing reinstatement and structural extension are core services. A contractor who quotes a full PJ renovation without rewiring is either inexperienced or hiding it from the quotation.
Which parts of Petaling Jaya do you cover?
All of PJ — SS2, Section 14, Section 17, Damansara Utama, Bandar Utama, Kota Damansara, Damansara Perdana, Tropicana, Sunway, Kelana Jaya and Ara Damansara. We also serve Subang Jaya, Shah Alam and all of Kuala Lumpur.
Ready to start your Petaling Jaya project?
Free site assessment. A written, itemised quotation — no hidden charges. Speak directly to Mr. Lee, not a salesperson.