I am in the process of rebuilding my half bath and i am planning to install wainscoting. Would it be okay to use MDF instead of pine? The wainscoting will be painted and i think the MDF would have a smoother finish, however i am concerned about the possibility of swelling if the MDF got wet.
Replies
I gues a lot would depend on what kind of water issues your worried about.
Do you have small kids who take baths?
Do you have a good exhaust fan?
Is the floor heated?
Is their forced air heating? Is it a ceiling register or a low wall or a floor register?
Are you thinking of going around the bathtub too (probably not a good idea)?
Are the walls both interior and exterior well insulated?
If you have good heating, it is well insulated, and there is not going to be water on the walls and floors from splashing you might get away with it, otherwise.....
Well, I do have three kids but its a half bath(no bath or shower). I personally dont think it would be very wet in there at all. BTW its forced air toe kick register no exhaust fan but there is a window.
It seems like wherever I have mdf in a bath, water finds it and it swells. I avoid it whenever I can in wet or damp areas.
I would try to keep the MDF off the floor a half inch or so (Cover the gap with base molding) so it doesn't wick water from the floor. Prime the ends.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
In a half-bath I think you'd be fine. I'd encourage you, however, to use a good oil-based primer on the mdf. For paint, I still would prefer an oil, though you could use latex.
I would use something else as the baseboard, though. Poplar. Poplar is easy on the pocketbook, mills well, takes paint well, etc. I combine poplar for stiles and rails and mdf for panels quite often when doing raised or flat panel wainscotting.
This way, as was previously posted, if the floor does get wet, it'll be something other than mdf getting wet.
Regarding the smooth finish, you can get comparable finishes on either material if you scuff sand, then tack cloth, after priming and after applying the first coat of paint.
Thanks for the advise. I think i'll try the MDF for the base and the poplar stiles idea.
Just to clarify...
DON'T use MDF for the baseboard.
Edited 2/10/2004 12:24:38 PM ET by Mongo
I just bought some rough poplar yesterday -- $1.42/bf. That's cheap enough.Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
Excellent price! I'm 8-20 cents a bf more, depending on the quantity bought.
Kellogg Hardwood in Bethel. That's a ways for you to go though. 5/4 was $.03 more.Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
MDF could be used ... if primed .. painted ... back primed ... and held off the floor .. as all others here have said. And ... once again ... Mongo said NO MDF as the base!
If it's a smooth finish you are after ... price some finish grade beadboard panels ...
Oak's usually easy enough to find. The "finish grade" plybead has a much nicer face ... and no "footballs" or patches. A little bit of sanding .. and it's smooth as glass ...
I don;t install "paint grade" plybead ... whether it's to be stained or painted.
For what I assume to be a small bath ... the few pennies you are saving by going with MDF don't seem worth it to me...
penny smart .. pound foolish .. that sorta thing.
Price it out .... I'd not install the MDF .. save it for the hallway ....
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry