Product categories relevant to interiors
| Category | What it is used for | Typical Mumbai band we observe |
|---|---|---|
| BWP plywood (IS 710) | All carcass work in Mumbai | ₹110 – 175 per sq ft, 19 mm |
| BWR plywood (IS 303) | Dry internal joinery | ₹78 – 120 per sq ft, 19 mm |
| MR plywood | Dry-climate internal work | ₹58 – 95 per sq ft, 19 mm |
| Blockboard | Long shelves, flush doors, table tops | ₹80 – 130 per sq ft, 19 mm |
| Decorative veneers | Faced panels and shutters | ₹1,900 – 8,500 per sheet |
| Laminates | Shutter and panel surfacing | ₹900 – 2,800 per sheet |
| Panel products | Various engineered boards | By product |
Buying observations only. Branded plywood in Mumbai typically carries a 10–25% premium over unbranded of nominally the same grade.
Verifying a delivery in ten minutes
- Read the edge. Manufacturer name, grade and the ISI licence number should be stamped into the edge of every sheet and repeat along its length. Stickers and rubber stamps are not the same thing.
- Weigh a sheet. Density is the single best proxy for core quality. A light sheet has a softwood or void-filled core whatever the edge says.
- Cut a corner. Count the plies, look for gaps, overlaps and patched veneers in the core.
- Boil a coupon. A 75 mm square in boiling water for three hours will separate a urea-bonded board and leave a genuine phenolic one intact.
- Keep the invoice. A GST invoice naming the exact product is the only document that connects the claim on the edge to a warranty.
Warranty: what it does and does not cover
- Manufacturer warranties on branded plywood are generally long and generally cover the board against borer, termite and delamination under defined conditions. They do not cover the joinery built from it.
- Claims usually require the invoice, the product identification and evidence that the board was used as intended — which is one more reason to keep cut edges sealed and the board out of standing water.
- A warranty is not a substitute for verification. If the delivered sheets are not what the invoice says, the warranty is worth nothing.
- Read the exclusions before treating a warranty as protection. Conditions vary between manufacturers and over time, and we do not restate them here because they are the manufacturer’s to state.
- Our own warranty covers our workmanship and installation. The two are separate and you should have both in writing.
What we specify and why
On Mumbai projects we specify BWP grade plywood to IS 710 for every carcass, in every room, without exception. The premium over BWR across a full 2BHK is roughly ₹45,000–70,000, against a joinery package of several lakh and against the cost of dismantling a swollen kitchen at year five.
- 19 mm for carcass sides, shelves and shutter cores; 6 mm for backs and drawer bottoms.
- Preservative treatment against borer and termite specified as a separate line, because it is not automatic.
- All cut edges sealed at fabrication; exposed edges banded in 2 mm PVC.
- Carcasses raised on adjustable legs, never sitting on the floor slab.
- Blockboard only where its span advantage is being used — long shelves, wide tops, flush doors — and never in a wet area.
Our independence
Greenbox is an independent design and build studio. We hold no dealership, distributorship or commercial arrangement with Century Plyboards or with any other board manufacturer, and we accept no brand-linked incentives. We buy through Mumbai dealers at market rates and pass through supplier invoices where we procure on a client’s behalf. All figures here are our market observations.
Frequently asked questions
Is branded plywood worth the premium?+
Yes, on balance — but only combined with verification. The premium of 10–25% buys more consistent core quality and a warranty route. It buys nothing at all if the sheets delivered were not made by the brand on the edge, which is why the weight and boil checks matter as much as the purchase decision.
How do I spot counterfeit plywood?+
Weight is the giveaway. Counterfeit edge printing is convincing; a low-density softwood core is not. A genuine 19 mm 8 × 4 ft BWP sheet is 32–38 kg and feels it. Add a cut corner to check the plies and a boil coupon if the order is large.
Is Greenbox a Century Ply dealer?+
No. We hold no dealership, distributorship or commercial relationship with Century Plyboards or with any board manufacturer. We specify on merit, buy through the open market and pass through invoices where we procure for clients.
Does the plywood warranty cover my kitchen?+
It covers the board under the manufacturer’s stated conditions, not the joinery made from it or the workmanship of the installation. Terms differ between manufacturers, so read the actual document. Ask your contractor for a separate written warranty on the work itself.
Which grade should I use in a Mumbai flat?+
BWP to IS 710 for every carcass, everywhere. Mumbai humidity, the monsoon and the salt belt make this the default rather than an upgrade. Use 19 mm for carcasses and shelves, 6 mm for backs, and keep MR and BWR grades for dry-climate projects elsewhere.