If you're walking through the trim aisle in a hardware store, you've probably stopped to wonder what is mdf moulding and why it costs significantly less compared to pine or oak boards seated right next in order to it. It looks clean, it's completely straight, and it doesn't have those frustrating knots that usually bleed through your paint job. But just before you load up your cart, it's worth knowing what you're actually obtaining into.
In the easiest terms, MDF appears for Medium-Density Fiberboard. It's an engineered wood product, which usually is a fancy way of saying it's made through the leftovers associated with the timber business. Instead of cutting a piece of trim directly from the tree trunk, manufacturers take sawdust, wooden shavings, and resin, then mash all of them all together below high pressure and heat. The outcome is a heavy, smooth board that's become a staple in modern home construction and DO-IT-YOURSELF renovations.
What's actually inside the board?
In order to really understand what is mdf moulding , you have in order to look at it like the dense, high-tech edition of a cardboard boxes box—but way more powerful. It's essentially a mixture of wood fibers and also a wax/resin binder. Mainly because it's manufactured by doing this, it doesn't possess a grain. While wood has a "direction" that it likes in order to bend or divided in, MDF is uniform throughout.
This uniformity is its biggest selling point. If you buy a ten-foot stick of pine, there's a good chance it has a small bow or perhaps an angle in it. Along with MDF, every item is almost going to be dead right. This makes your life a lot easier when you're attempting to line upward baseboards against a wall that's currently slightly crooked (because let's face it, no wall is ever perfectly flat).
Why everybody seems to be using this lately
Presently there are a few big explanations why MDF has taken around the world of interior cut. First, and nearly all obviously, is the cost. If you're trimming out an entire house, the price difference between solid wood and MDF can also add up to hundreds of dollars. For a number of people, that's cash that could become better used on a nicer kitchen backsplash or a better sofa.
Another reason is the finish. When you're planning on staining your trim to see the natural wood grain, MDF is a non-starter. But if you're setting up on painting your trim white, gray, or any other solid color, MDF is actually superior to wood in many cases. Because there are simply no knots or feed patterns, the surface is incredibly soft. You don't possess to worry about sap seeping through the paint six months later or maybe the grain "lifting" plus creating a fuzzy texture after the particular first coat of primer.
Nearly all MDF moulding you buy today comes pre-primed. This is a huge time-saver. You are able to usually simply nail it up, fill the holes, and hit it with a final coat of paint. It takes paint like a sponge—in a good way—resulting within that "factory-finished" appearance that's hard in order to achieve with natural wood.
The particular "don't do this" list for MDF
It's not really all sunshine plus rainbows, though. There are some trade-offs you need to be aware of. The biggest a single is moisture. Since MDF is fundamentally compressed sawdust, it can work like a cloth or sponge if it gets damp. If you have a plumbing related leak or the major spill plus your MDF baseboards sit in drinking water, they will enlarge up and eventually crumble. Once MDF swells, it doesn't go back to its original shape. You simply have to rip it away and replace it.
Due to this, I'm always a bit reluctant to recommend MDF for bathrooms with heavy moisture or even mudrooms where moist boots are going to be hitting against the baseboards all winter. With regard to those areas, you might want to stick with solid wood or even PVC trim.
Another thing to keep in mind is the dust. When you cut MDF with a miter saw, it creates a very fine, powdery dust that gets everywhere . It's not really like the heavy sawdust from true wood that falls to the floor; this stuff floats. A person definitely wish to use a mask plus, if possible, do your cutting outdoors or in the garage with a vacuum attachment on your saw.
Is it tougher to install compared with how wood?
Really, it's mostly simpler, but it does act differently. For one particular, MDF is weightier than pine. If you're wanting to keep a 16-foot overhead moulding piece against the ceiling on your own, you're going to feel the weight.
Also, you have to be careful with your own fasteners. If you're using a sludge hammer and nails (which most people don't do anymore), you'll find that MDF is vulnerable to splitting in the event that you nail too close to the particular edge. Most benefits utilize a finish nailer or a brad nailer. The thin nails use easily, yet because MDF is so dense, the "head" of the nail can sometimes make a little mushroom of material on the surface. You'll have in order to sand those little bumps down before you paint.
One little tip: if you're setting up MDF baseboards, don't try to utilize a miter joint on the inside corners. It's far better to "cope" them. Even though MDF doesn't have a grain, it nevertheless cuts cleanly with a coping saw, and a coped joint will stay tight even if the particular house shifts or the temperature changes.
Comparing MDF to the alternatives
Men and women ask what is mdf moulding , they're usually trying to decide between three things: MDF, Finger-Jointed Pine, and Strong Wood.
- Solid Wood: This is the premium choice. It's beautiful, it's durable, and you can stain it. But it's costly and can warp over time.
- Finger-Jointed Pine: This particular is basically little scraps of pinus radiata glued together in order to make a long board, then set up. It's more moisture-resistant than MDF, you could sometimes see the "zig-zag" joints by means of the paint, plus it's prone to take away the.
- MDF: The budget-friendly, super-smooth middle ground. It's the particular most stable (it doesn't expand and contract as much as wood), yet it hates water.
The judgement on the atmosphere and health
I should probably point out that because MDF uses resins plus glues, there's usually formaldehyde involved in the manufacturing process. Most modern manufacturers have significantly decreased these emissions, but it's something to be aware associated with if you're sensitive to VOCs. As soon as it's painted plus installed, it's generally considered inert plus safe for your home, but the "off-gassing" usually happens soon after it's manufactured or even when you're performing.
On the eco-friendly side, you can argue that MDF is actually quite "green" because it's making use associated with wood waste that will would otherwise be thrown away. A person aren't cutting down old-growth trees to make a baseboard; you're using the bits and pieces left more than from other wood production.
Final thoughts on choosing your trim
At the end of the day, deciding on what is mdf moulding for your own specific project arrives down to your own priorities. If you're on a tight budget and a person want your trim to look perfectly smooth and modern, MDF is a fantastic choice. It's a dream to paint, and as long as you don't flood your house, it'll look great for many years.
Just remember the golden guidelines: keep it out associated with the splash area, wear a mask when you're cutting it, and don't hesitate of the excess weight. It might not possess the "soul" associated with a hand-carved oak trim, but intended for many of us just attempting to make the living rooms appear a little crisper, it's a total game-changer.