Understanding Your Interior BOQ (Bill of Quantities)
If a contractor walks into your empty Vizag apartment, looks around, and says, "I can do the whole house for ₹5 Lakhs," politely ask them to leave. Professional interior design is a science of materials, not guesswork. To protect your investment, you must demand and understand a Bill of Quantities (BOQ).
What is a BOQ?
A BOQ (Bill of Quantities) is a comprehensive spreadsheet. It doesn't just give you a final price; it breaks down the cost of every single cabinet, wardrobe, and false ceiling in your house. It details the exact square footage, the core material, the exterior finish, and the hardware used for each specific item.
Red Flags: What to Look For in a Vizag BOQ
Because Vizag's coastal environment is so demanding, your BOQ must explicitly state the defensive materials being used. If you see these red flags, the contractor is cutting corners:
1. Vague Plywood Descriptions
- Red Flag: The BOQ says "Commercial Plywood" or just "Waterproof Plywood."
- What it Should Say: The BOQ must explicitly state the Indian Standard grading. For kitchens and wet areas, it must read: "IS 710 BWP (Boiling Water Proof) Marine Plywood." For dry areas like wardrobes, it should read "IS 303 MR Grade Plywood." Ideally, the brand name (e.g., CenturyPly, Greenply) should also be specified.
2. Missing Hardware Grades
- Red Flag: The BOQ says "Standard Hinges" or "Branded Channels."
- What it Should Say: "Standard" usually means mild steel, which will rust rapidly in Vizag's salt air. The BOQ must specify the metallurgical grade: "SS 304 Stainless Steel Soft-Close Hinges."
3. "Per Square Foot" Ambiguity
If a wardrobe is quoted simply as "100 sq.ft @ ₹1200/sq.ft = ₹1,20,000," you are being cheated on the internal configuration. Drawers are much more expensive to build than empty shelves. A proper BOQ will charge a base rate for the wardrobe carcass, and then add individual line items for every internal drawer (e.g., "Telescopic Drawer Unit: 3 Nos @ ₹3,000 each").
The Power of the BOQ
A detailed BOQ gives you total financial control. If the total price is over your budget, a transparent BOQ allows you to make surgical adjustments.
For example, you can look at the BOQ and decide to change the master bedroom wardrobe finish from expensive Acrylic down to Premium Laminate, instantly saving ₹20,000, without compromising the marine plywood core in the kitchen.
## Material Grades: Choosing the Right Plywood Selecting the wrong wood grade for a specific area is the primary cause of premature interior failure. Here is the full hierarchy: | Grade | Standard | Water Resistance | Best Used For | |---|---|---|---| | **BWP (Marine Ply)** | IS 710 | Boiling water — no delamination | Kitchen sink cabinet, utility storage, bathroom vanities, wet-wall units | | **BWR Plywood** | IS 303 | High humidity + splashes | Kitchen wall cabinets, dining crockery units, dry overhead storage | | **Commercial / MR** | IS 303 (MR) | Humidity only — no direct water | Bedroom wardrobes, TV units, study desks | | **HDHMR** | — | High moisture resistance | Wardrobe shutter doors, kitchen shutters (high-gloss / PU finishes) | | **MDF / Particle Board** | — | Poor — swells permanently | Low-wear vertical partitions only; avoid in kitchens entirely | > **Rule:** BWP IS 710 for any unit within 1 metre of a water source. BWR IS 303 for wall cabinets above the splash zone. Commercial MR for all dry rooms.Written by Gogineni Kalyaan Kumar
Kalyaan is Principal at AlcorOne Solutions, the interior contracting firm he co-founded in 2022. He has overseen 80+ turnkey residential, villa, and commercial fit-outs across Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Vizag, with a focus on itemised BOQs, heavy-duty modular execution, and durable interior systems built for South India’s climate.
Sources & references.
Standards, regulatory registries, and manufacturer references that back the material grades, pricing framework, and compliance points in this guide:
Frequently asked questions.
Should civil work be included in the BOQ?
Yes. If the project requires breaking walls, shifting plumbing points, or installing a false ceiling, these must be explicitly listed as separate line items in the BOQ so there are no surprise charges later.
Does the BOQ include taxes?
A professional quote will clearly state the subtotal and then explicitly calculate the applicable GST (18% for interior woodwork) at the bottom. Be wary of contractors who offer "cash" quotes without GST, as this voids all warranties and consumer protections.
Will the final price change from the BOQ?
In a professional modular firm, the final BOQ is locked after the 3D designs and site measurements are finalized. The price will only change if you explicitly request to add a new cabinet or change a material during production.
Transparency is the foundation of a successful interior project. You deserve to know exactly what materials you are paying for, especially when protecting your home against the Vizag climate.
AlcorOne operates with 100% transparency. Our itemized BOQs guarantee that genuine BWP marine plywood and SS 304 hardware are used in your home, providing absolute peace of mind.
Demand absolute transparency.
We provide hyper-detailed, line-item BOQs so you know exactly which premium coastal materials are going into your home.