Peeyush,

It is extremely difficult to identify a good ply amongst 100 plus brands unless you are a professional and you have the liberty to cut sheets for comparison .

As you mentioned, it is a fairly unregulated market and in your case it would be only some 20 manufacturers making these 100 odd local ones and stamping it differently for marketing reasons .

Brands do promise a minimum level of assurance and hence the cost.

However, to help you narrow down - start with your budget range and the ones that comes with ISI mark/ hologram alongwith genuine invoices . With invoices you get a minimum brand warranty.

The warping condition of the top ply usually tells a lot about the built. Try to go to reputed vendors only as they tend to have better ones.

From the top five selected ones see if you can get "real samples" of 6"x6". Compare the weight, the cross section built of these and test them for nail/ screw strength and then finally put them in water for 2 days to see their respective performances with respect water absorption.

You will need a lot of patience and a trusted carpenter for these.

Too much to ask for a new person :)

Thanks,
Nitin
Cornerstone Designs, Bangalore.

Thanks Nitin. Seems too complicated for person like me.

Let's see how it goes.