Buy Materials Yourself vs Let the Carpenter Source Them (India 2026)

Self-sourcing materials for a carpentry project saves 15–25% because you buy at dealer MRP without the carpenter's markup. For plywood, hardware, laminate and adhesive — items with standard specs — this works well if you know what to buy. A modular-kitchen material list (plywood, laminate, hinges, drawer channels, handles, adhesive) totals ₹40,000–₹1,20,000 depending on grade. Save ₹5,000–₹15,000 by sourcing yourself. Time investment: 2–4 hours (dealer visit, spec confirmation, delivery arrangement).

Carpenter-sourced materials cost 15–25% more but bundle two benefits: (1) warranty — if a hinge breaks or laminate delaminates, the carpenter replaces it under their warranty umbrella; (2) time saving — zero effort from you on material hunting. For small jobs (₹5,000 labour or under), the ₹1,000–₹2,000 markup isn't worth the sourcing effort. For jobs with unusual materials (imported hardware, custom laminates), let the carpenter handle it.

Neither approach loses money to commission apps — carpenters listed on Solve24 quote you directly, and self-sourcing is dealer-direct. On commission-based furniture apps, the same modular kitchen becomes 30–50% more expensive because the app takes commission on the whole invoice including materials.