Anyone ever use MDO ripped into 1×6’s or 1×4’s as exterior trim?
I am planning on creating a frame and panel look below a series of windows and was thinking of using 1/2″ MDO for the panels and 3/4 MDO for the frames with small moldings covering the 1/4″ edge of the 3/4 MDO frames.
Whadda ya think?
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Replies
bump
why not?
Make sure it's exterior mdo, or it'll blow up to about twice it's original thickness; seen it on a circle top casing I made once. Had scrap "medex"(ext. MDF) picked up scrap int. mdo. by mistake.
Very embarassing phone call about a year later.
Bing
bass... we use mostly mdo.. only it's an exterior grade called GP PrimeTrim....
if it's going to be ground contact we use Azek , or Koma...
but anything that is going to be painted, not in ground contact... we use the GPPT
all the trim in this pic is GPPT...
we prime all raw edges, and backprime too
View Image
Edited 8/22/2005 12:00 am ET by MikeSmith
"bass... we use mostly mdo.. only it's an exterior grade called GP PrimeTrim.."MDO or MDF?
thanks for catching that , bill...
GP PrimeTrim is, of course , an MDF..
we use MDO ( single or double faced ) for interior shelving and cabinets.. but i wouldn't use it for exterior trim..
MAYBE i would use it for say, victorian gingerbread trim, or other scroll type exterior trim.. like on the rake bargeboards
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 8/22/2005 12:47 pm ET by MikeSmith
Will MDO is all called Sign Board because it used a lot to make signs.But you still have plywood edges that need to be "sealed".
Bill & ALLPerhaps 1/2" MDO would be Good for the panels and the GP ext. MDF for the frames. I'm considering hanging large pieces of 1/2" MDO and nailing the fames on top. Do the parts of the frame and panel design need to be able to move or is this material stable enough to glue and nail the whole assembly?
Bill,
The Georgia Pacific "Primetrim" I used was definatley MDF.
ANdrew
Just put up a bunch of MDO panels and cedar 1 X's on the exterior of a chain restaurant. Caulk, caulk, and more caulk. I think if water settles into the plies of the MDO and can get trapped there it won't take long before it rots. It was kind of a band aid fix anyway. The architect should be shot for drawing up those details of exterior wood trim. Not to mention the cedar sawdust might have given me this cough. Arrggghh!!!
I've used MDO as the base for a panel system like you describe, but with FJ primed pine for the stiles and rails ( Windsor One), since the edge veneers would show.
If you use an overlay moulding,, I see no problem with using the MDO for the entire job; its an exterior grade plywood, so it should hold up well.
Basswood,
I looked into that in the 1990's ands almost did.......then I stumbled onto Georgia Pacific's "PrimeTrim" - an MDF product made with exterior glue, made into 16 foot lengths of 1x6, 1x8 & 1x10. The boards have eased edges and come factory-primed. A rip of 3/4" ext plywood for proper stand-off and the rest was easy. Looks great and is so inexpensive it is hard to believe.
I worry about the exposed edges of MDO over time a lot.
'luck,
Andrew