While you've certainly heard of MDF, you might not know exactly what it stands for or how it is best used.
MDF is an extremely common material for construction or DIY projects, and one that is frequently overlooked, mainly because of its lower price point, when it comes to quality. You've come to the right place if you're interested in a DIY or construction project and are discussing whether to use MDF.
MDF board is… Medium Density Fiberboard
While you've certainly heard of MDF, you might not know exactly what it stands for or how it is best used.
MDF is an extremely common material for construction or DIY projects, and one that is frequently overlooked, mainly because of its lower price point, when it comes to quality. You've come to the right place if you're interested in a DIY or construction project and are discussing whether to use MDF.
What is MDF made from?
Instead of hardwood, MDF is a sheet material and is formed by using heat and pressure to fuse fine wood fiber and glue together. It is solid and incredibly easy to work with the resulting sheet material. Plus, made using recycled wood, it is environmentally friendly!
You can also get low-density fiberboard and high-density fiberboard alongside MDF. With even smaller pieces of wood fused together, low-density fiberboard, also known as particleboard, is created. As it is more vulnerable to chipping or cracking, the result is cheaper but also harder to deal with. With more heat and pressure, high-density fiberboards, or hardboards, are made to produce a much stronger finish, but this is reflected in the price. MDF, cost-effective, solid, durable and flexible, sits as a happy medium between these two materials.
How to paint MDF board
When painting MDF, the main thing to note is that, as it is porous, priming is needed to ensure a smooth, high-quality finish.
- Priming MDF for painting
Although MDF's texture makes it a good painting choice, it is a very porous material that soaks up moisture naturally. Therefore, before you paint it, prime MDF is necessary. You should begin by gently sanding your MDF down and brushing all the dust away. Then, add a solvent-based primer (rather than a water-based) coat. Before gently sanding the surface of your MDF, leave this coat to completely dry, then add a second coat and repeat the process. Two coats are normally appropriate, but if necessary, you can apply a third coat. You're able to move on to painting once all of your primer coats are dry.
- Painting MDF
If you have correctly primed and packed your MDF, it should be a fairly easy job to paint it! In addition to water-based paints, we would suggest staying away from regular emulsions that can look patchy, as there is a chance of harm to your MDF, even completely primed.
To paint your MDF, oil-based paint, acrylic and latex paints are all appropriate. Choose your paint and finish, and add two or three coats to each other. As with priming, in each coat of paint, you can sand your MDF lightly.
The benefits of MDF
- MDF is very economical and less costly than plywood and hardwood.
- MDF, made from recycled wood, is environmentally friendly.
- The consistent texture in MDF implies that when cut, it will have a smooth finish.
- MDF provides a smooth surface which can easily be painted in a number of different shades with priming.
- The shaping of MDF is better than solid wood. Without splitting, the smoothness and intensity of MDF ensures that it can be cut into complex patterns or designs.
MDF's drawbacks
- As a porous material, if exposed to water or damp conditions, MDF will deteriorate, making it not suitable for outdoor use. When you think it will come into contact with water or moisture, MDF should always be primed and sealed.
- MDF is a heavy material, so when working on big sheets alone, it can be hard to manoeuvre.
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