Overview
Athulyam Repair & Maintenance (R&M) is a dedicated division that keeps existing homes and buildings in top condition — from a leaking toilet to a full building lift. It turns
Athulyam's construction know-how into a steady, recurring revenue line that does not depend on new project approvals.
Who it serves
Independent house and bungalow owners across Chennai
Apartment associations and flat owners in older buildings
NRI and GCC-based owners who need a trusted team to manage property in their absence
Landlords, including Athulyam's own tenanted sites, needing tenant-ready upkeep
Commercial and office premises needing periodic maintenance
Why it matters
Shorter jobs, faster cash cycle than new construction
Every R&M client is a future lead for redevelopment, JV or new-build work
Uses the existing engineering, site and labour teams during gaps between projects
Services at a glance
R&M service map · 4 families, from the meeting notes
Every service from the meeting falls into one of four families, all delivered by one
Athulyam team under the same quality standard.
1. Renovation & core trades
The everyday backbone of R&M: renovating homes and fixing the trades that wear out first.
| Service | What we do | Typical trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Renovation of houses & apartments | Room-by-room or full-home refresh: flooring, wall finishes, bathroom and utility makeovers, layout tweaks | Ageing home, new owner, re- letting, family function |
| Plumbing | New lines, CPVC/UPVC replacement of old GI pipes, fixture change, pump and motor servicing, drainage clearing | Low pressure, rusty water, blockages, old fittings |
| Painting | Interior emulsion, exterior weather-coat, texture and feature walls, wood and metal polish, putty and crack filling | Fading, damp patches, pre- festival or pre-tenant refresh |
| Service | What we do | Typical trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Carpentry | Wardrobes, shelving, repairs to frames and shutters, termite- damaged wood replacement | Swollen or broken woodwork, storage needs |
| Door & window upgrades | Replace old wooden frames with UPVC, aluminium or engineered wood; sliding and soundproof windows; mosquito mesh; security grilles | Rattling or leaking windows, noise, security, dust |
Our standard: one site engineer per job, a written scope and quote before work starts, and a photo record of before, during and after.
2. Leakage solutions — toilets, terrace, overhead tank
Leaks are the most common and most damaging complaint in Chennai homes. We diagnose the source first, then fix it permanently — not just patch the stain.
Toilets & bathrooms
Seepage into the room below or adjoining walls
Fix: identify failed joints or broken pipes, re-do floor waterproofing under tiles, re- grout or epoxy-grout tile joints, replace faulty concealed fittings and floor traps
Terrace
Dampness and peeling on the top-floor ceiling, especially during the northeast monsoon
Fix: clear and re-slope drains, seal cracks and expansion joints, then apply a full waterproofing system (see Section 4)
OHT — overhead water tank
Leaking tank walls, outlet joints, overflow and float valves; algae and sediment build-up
Fix: drain and clean the tank, seal inner walls with food-grade waterproof coating, replace valves and pipe joints, fit a proper lid and overflow line
How we diagnose
1. Visual inspection and moisture-meter readings
2. Water ponding test on terraces and bathroom floors
3. Pressure test on concealed lines
4. Written report with photos and the recommended fix before any breaking work
3. Electrical works, smart switches & smart homes
Old wiring is a safety risk and the biggest barrier to modern living. We start by making the home safe, then make it smart — at whatever pace the client wants .
Electrical upgrade path · 3 stages
Electrical works & upgrades
Full or partial rewiring, concealed conduits, new distribution boards with MCB and
RCCB protection
Earthing, surge protection and load assessment for ACs, EV chargers, inverters and solar
Lighting upgrades: LED profiles, cove lighting, outdoor and garden lighting
Smart switch upgrades
Retrofit smart modules behind existing switchboards, or replace with touch-panel smart switches
Control lights, fans and appliances from phone, voice assistant or schedule
Minimal breaking of walls — ideal for occupied homes
Upgrade to smart homes
Security: video doorbells, smart locks, CCTV with remote viewing
Comfort: automated curtains, climate control, mood scenes
Utility: water-motor automation, tank-level sensors, leak and gas alarms, energy monitoring
A strong selling point for NRI owners who want to monitor their Chennai property from abroad
4. Terrace waterproofing & cooling tiles
The terrace is a Chennai home's first line of defence against both monsoon rain and summer heat. We treat it as one system: waterproof it first, then lay cooling tiles on top so the roof stays dry and the top floor stays cool.
Terrace cross-section · waterproofing + cooling tiles
Waterproofing of terrace
Survey: ponding test, crack mapping, check of drain outlets and parapet junctions
Prep: remove loose plaster and old failed coatings, seal cracks and construction joints
Correct the slope so water never stands on the roof
Apply a proven system — polymer-modified cementitious, liquid PU or APP membrane, chosen to suit the roof
Turn the membrane up the parapet and around pipe penetrations, where most leaks start
Ponding test again before handover
Cooling tiles laying in terrace
Heat-reflective, light-coloured terrace tiles laid over the waterproofing
Protect the membrane from sun and foot traffic, extending its life
Bring down top-floor indoor heat and reduce AC load
Neat, walkable finish that turns the terrace into usable space for gardens or gatherings
5. Building lifting & renovation
In many Chennai neighbourhoods, roads have been relaid higher over the years, leaving older homes below street level and flooding every monsoon. Building lifting raises the entire structure instead of demolishing it.
When a client needs it
Water enters the house or compound during heavy rain
The plinth now sits below the road level
The structure is sound and the owner wants to keep it, not rebuild
How it works
1. Structural survey by a qualified engineer to confirm the building can be lifted safely
2. Detach the building from its foundation and support it on hydraulic jacks
3. Raise it gradually and evenly to the agreed height
4. Build up the new plinth and foundation underneath
5. Lower and anchor the building on the new base
6. Reconnect plumbing, drainage and electricals; renovate floors and finishes
Why it suits Athulyam: lifting is almost always followed by a full renovation — flooring, plumbing, electrical and painting — so one job feeds every other R&M service. Specialist lifting contractors can be engaged as partners, with Athulyam managing the full project for the client.
6. Gardening & landscaping
A well-kept garden lifts the value and feel of a property. We offer both one-time landscaping and ongoing garden care.
| Offering | Includes |
|---|---|
| Landscape design & build | Lawns, hedges, pathways, pebble and stone features, outdoor lighting, seating areas |
| Terrace & balcony gardens | Raised planters and grow-bags laid over waterproofing, kitchen gardens, vertical green walls |
| Irrigation | Drip and sprinkler systems with timers, rainwater harvesting tie-ins |
| Garden maintenance | Scheduled visits for mowing, pruning, manuring, pest control and seasonal planting |
Garden maintenance is a natural add-on to an annual maintenance contract, keeping the client on a recurring visit cycle.
How a job runs
Every R&M job follows the same path, so the client always knows what is happening and nothing starts without a signed-off scope.
R&M job workflow · 7 steps, 1 approval
After handover, clients are offered an annual maintenance contract (AMC). Each AMC visit is a fresh inspection, which keeps the relationship active and surfaces the next job.
Seasonal maintenance calendar
Chennai gets most of its rain from the northeast monsoon between October and December, so July to September is the window to sell and finish waterproofing and leak work.
The calendar doubles as a sales plan: each band is a campaign to run to past clients and apartment associations a month before it starts.
Scope boundary & next steps
Kept outside R&M: Interior design and modular kitchens were discussed but struck from this list in the meeting. They are better run as a separate Interiors vertical, with R&M passing on leads from renovation clients.
Next steps
Assign an R&M head and a dedicated site supervisor
Shortlist trade partners: plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, smart-home, landscaping, building lifting
Build a rate card per service and an AMC package (basic and premium)
Prepare a standard site inspection checklist and report format
Add an R&M page to the Athulyam website and company profile, with before/after photos
Launch a pre-monsoon waterproofing campaign to existing clients and apartment associations