Published 21 August 2026 · JIYU SDN BHD
IN SHORT
Before comparing full-home customization quotes, align six things: board grade and brand, hardware brand, edge banding, the pricing unit (running foot versus projected area), whether demolition and M&E are included, and exactly what the warranty covers. Until those six line up, any price comparison is meaningless.
Once you have two or three quotations, the hard part is not choosing the cheaper one. It is that they cannot be compared at all, because no two companies write them the same way.
Many quotations say only "eco board" or "E-grade board", which tells you nothing. You want the grade: E1 means formaldehyde emission ≤0.124 mg/m³, E0 means ≤0.050, and ENF means ≤0.025, per GB/T 39600-2021. One grade of difference is a real cost difference. Also worth noting: no wood-based panel is truly free of formaldehyde — wood emits trace amounts naturally, so a credible supplier gives you a grade and a number rather than an absolute claim.
Hinges, runners and lift-ups are the parts you touch every day, and the easiest line to quietly downgrade. The quotation should name a brand and model, not "imported hardware". When a door stops closing properly after a few years, the panel is rarely the problem — the hardware usually is.
Edge banding decides whether moisture gets into the panel through a cut edge, which matters most around kitchens and wet areas. Ask what material, what thickness, and whether all four edges are sealed. This line frequently disappears from quotations entirely.
Two methods are common in Malaysia: running foot and projected area. The same kitchen priced both ways should not produce the same number. Convert both quotes to one unit before comparing, or you are comparing two different things.
This is the most common source of later add-ons. For a renovation: who removes the old cabinets and who hauls away the debris? Do sockets need relocating and who pays? Who owns the ceiling and cornice work? If these are not written, assume they are excluded — then ask, and get the answer in writing.
"Ten-year warranty" needs reading. A board warranty typically covers delamination, cracking and moisture blistering, remedied by replacing the panel or refunding that panel — and typically excludes labour, removal, reinstallation and transport. Workmanship warranty is a separate thing and needs to be asked for separately. A company willing to write down what is not covered usually has the more trustworthy warranty.
One quote is much cheaper — is something wrong with it?
Not necessarily. Align the six items first: board grade, hardware brand, edge banding, pricing unit, inclusion of demolition and M&E, and warranty scope. If a large gap remains after that, ask what drives it. Most gaps have a reason that simply was not written down.
Is "E0 board" specific enough on a quotation?
It is acceptable. E0 means formaldehyde emission ≤0.050 mg/m³. If you have young children or someone pregnant at home, ask whether it can be upgraded to ENF (≤0.025) and what the upgrade costs.
Running foot or projected area — which is better value?
Neither is inherently better. What matters is that both quotes use the same method so you can compare them. Asking a supplier to re-quote in your preferred unit is a perfectly reasonable request.
Do I need to pay a deposit to get a detailed quotation?
A detailed quotation should not require payment. Site measurement, 3D rendering and quotation are normally completed before any contract is signed.
Already holding a quote from someone else? Send it over and we will walk through these six points against it — no commitment needed.
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