Buying guides

Material quality checks to run before you sign the challan

Once you sign the challan, the load is yours. These checks take five minutes and are the only leverage you will ever have.

Last updated: 26 April 2026 · 5 min read

Cement

Manufacturing date within three months, grade matching the order, no hard lumps, bags intact and dry, count and weight verified.

Steel

Manufacturer marking and grade rolled onto the bar, correct diameters, no deep pitting or flaking rust, weight of a measured sample length within tolerance, mill certificate for the heat number.

Sand and aggregate

Jar test for silt in sand. Aggregate should be angular, clean and free of dust coating and clay. Check the weighbridge slip, not the visual volume.

Bricks and blocks

Uniform colour and size, clear ring when struck together, sharp edges, no more than the agreed proportion of broken pieces, and a physical count against the challan.

Tiles and finishes

Single batch and shade number across boxes, quantity matched, boxes undamaged, and a spot check for warping and chipped edges.

The takeaway

Check before you sign. Every rejection is easy at the gate and nearly impossible afterwards.

Compare live supplier rates or read the material category guides.

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