01
Make the quoted square metre comparable
Start with the exact board construction, finished dimensions and edge profile. Ask whether the quoted area uses overall panel dimensions or installed coverage. A joining profile, tongue-and-groove edge or planned cut can change the relationship between a panel count and the finished wall. Record both the order unit and the usable coverage before comparing prices. The nominal area of the board is useful information; it is not a complete project take-off.
02
Separate the board price from the complete system
List straight joints, inside and outside corners, exposed edges, tray or bath junctions and penetrations. Then identify which profiles, trims, adhesive and sealant belong to the proposed installation, and whether each is included, separately priced or still to be confirmed. Established wall-system suppliers publish distinct component lists and installation requirements. Their details illustrate why a system needs more than a board, but they do not establish which components are suitable for your selected SPC, ABA or PVC panel.
03
Connect the decorative layout to the order unit
For random-cut decor, agree the intended variation and the face selection supplied. For a pattern-matched or bookmatched arrangement, identify the ordered set, face positions, orientation and replacement references. A price per individual panel may not describe the same usable offer as a complete numbered set. Keep the layout approval with the quotation so that openings, trimmed panels and spare faces are considered before the order quantity is fixed.
04
Compare a saleable trade pack rather than a loose sample
Record units per carton, protective materials, gross dimensions and mass, pallet configuration, labels and the handling requirements of the actual panel format. Separate the panel packing from accessory packing and confirm whether they can be identified together on receipt. A sample that arrives safely in a courier box does not establish the packing used for a commercial shipment. Request the proposed configuration and a documented packing review without assuming a universal pallet or container capacity.
05
Keep open items visible before releasing the purchase
Use the same destination market, quantity, delivery basis, currency and quotation date for each comparison. Alongside the price, retain the approved construction, surface reference, installation scope and documents that apply to that product. Mark each unresolved point with a responsible party and the evidence needed to close it. Our purchasing office can use this common brief to compare manufacturing options across Vietnam, Thailand and China while keeping the offered product and commercial scope explicit.
Your buying worksheet
Wall-panel quotation comparison sheet
| Comparison item | Record on every offer | Keep separate |
|---|---|---|
| Panel and coverage | Construction, format, edge, order unit and confirmed usable area | Nominal board area and finished wall coverage |
| System components | Included or separately priced joints, corners, trims and fixing materials | Compatibility and application approval |
| Decorative layout | Random faces or defined set, orientation and spare-face references | A shared decor name and a matching layout |
| Packing | Units, protection, gross dimensions and mass, pallet and labels | Courier samples and commercial shipment packing |
| Commercial basis | Quantity, currency, delivery basis, quotation date and open items | A board price and the complete approved offer |
Before the purchase order
Buying questions
Can I compare wall-panel suppliers using only their price per square metre?
Only after confirming what that square metre and price include. Check the exact construction, usable coverage, joint, accessories and packing. Otherwise the lower headline price may describe a different product or supply scope.
Should a shower-panel quotation include adhesive and sealant?
The quotation should state clearly whether they are supplied, separately priced or specified for local procurement. Their compatibility and installation requirements still need confirmation for the selected complete system.
Does a numbered decorative set need a different replacement plan?
Yes. Confirm how the required face position, orientation and approved finish can be identified and reordered. Another panel with the same decor name may not replace every position in the set.
The product behind the programme