The difference in MDF and plywood was very informative. We are about to start making a kitchen. This will really help Thank you so much Kristi, Matt and Boo.. I am planning to buy a bedroom, actually bedroom made of MDF are little bit cheaper than solid wood, my questions are: is it good idea to buy bedroom made of MDF?
We were planning to use MDF for the baseboards in our basement buildout but discovered some moisture problems which we are addressing. However there was an indication of mold on several pieces of baseboard we had already installed. I would replace rather than reuse. The information is very helpful Kristi! Not to mention with the quiz, they help me understand more about the differences and their applications!
And it might swell a bit, especially with the water-based stain. What I plan to build are essentially large boxes stacked two high and open on the front and back sides. The backside will be facing a window and the front will be a plexiglass door. They will be primed and painted on all sides.
Any guidance you can provide will be much appreciated. Hi Kristi, Thanks for the great article and for still responding and commenting 4 years later. I want to build sliding closet doors. I am afraid the plywood will eventually bend. Will the MDF also eventually bend?
Best regards, Xuan Ixtop. Plywood is stronger than MDF, though. Quick question — we are remodeling the top floor of our condo and going for a very modern look. Drawers and sliders will be maple dovetail construction, but the actual box will be MDF. The only thing to keep in mind with MDF that will touch the floor is that it wicks water. The house will be in the Lake Tahoe region and it is not a humid area. Is there any downside to using MDF? Is there any advantage to using plywood for the cabinet boxes?
The only possible issue I can see with using MDF boxes in the kitchen is that kitchens see more liquids than other non-bathroom rooms — spills, possible plumbing leaks, etc. And when you have unsealed MDF edges sitting on the floor and something spills or water leaks, those unsealed edges will, without question, wick the water up into the MDF causing it to swell and weakening it. I would ask the company if they seal the edges that are going to be against the floor.
Kristi, Some insights from a recent project for my sweetie: a set of angled shelves built into a closet, to hold her stock of mat board for framing. I needed strength, clean smooth surfaces, very flat, and cheap. Solution: sheets of white melamine particleboard with white melamine veneer. The biggest challenge was that I had to install all eight shelves before installing the left-side support or the left-footed support. The magic solution: modern construction adhesive and placeholder screws.
That stuff is unbelievably strong, with about a minute working time. Thank you. Question: If I wanted to do yarn art on wood that is 18 mm would mdf be an acceptable choice? Found your article extremely informative. Thanks for writing it in such easy-to-understand manner. Yes, you can use MDF as a base for decorative laminate.
Be sure to read the directions on the adhesive for using it on porous surfaces. My mattress is too soft and it is just kept on the slats, so thinking of adding a firm support between slats and king size mattress. Which one would be better MDF or plywood? I am making closet cabinets, connecting the face frame to the sides using a glued tongue and groove joint. The face frame will be wood The sides will have the tongues cut on the edge and I am concerned that they will be weak using MDF.
Question; Is it better to use veneered MDF or veneered plywood for side boards. Anything that moves needs to be made out of solid wood or plywood i. Plus, it gets dinged and scarred easier than plywood. Very informative article. Am building a full wall bookshelf. Was thinking of having a plywood base so that mopping water will not damage and remaining all components vertical walls, shelves, backboard, etc MDF.
Having a huge room addition built for walk-in closet and just told the guys to go ahead with MDF vs partical boards for the shelves and cubbies. All Rights Reserved. Addicted 2 Decorating is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions.
Image via Ace Kitchens and Baths. Kristi Linauer. You Might Also Like Crown Molding Made Easy November 30, Do you want to sell it or not? How do you secure 2 MDF boards together? I have used them with good results. While you can paint plywood, higher-grade plywood looks great with a stain, due to its solid-wood-like grain and finish. So if your project involves many screws or nails, plywood may be the better choice.
MDF tends to soak up water far more easily than plywood, then warps and swells once wet. Both materials off-gas formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds VOCs , which are lung and nervous system irritants. Painting, priming, sealing, or staining the MDF or plywood does help reduce the problem, but will not entirely eliminate it. As a general rule, however, MDF is the better choice for indoor furniture or decorative use, especially if you want to cut intricately carved trim or designs, and plan on painting the finished project.
Plywood is excellent for outdoor use, for framing walls or building floors, for crafting kitchen or bathroom cabinets, and for projects that require a curve. Disclosure: BobVila.
It is not as stiff as plywood and can sag with if too much weight is applied to it. For example, when MDF is used for shelving, it is important to reinforce the shelves to prevent sagging. The cross graining of plywood improves dimensional stability by reducing expansion and shrinkage. This makes a panels' strength consistent in both directions.
The odd number of sheets also reduces warping. Another advantage of plywood is that extreme cold does not affect its dimensions or strength. When driving a screw at the edge of MDF, the soft core splits easily.
When a countersink drill bit is not used, the head of the screw might snap off before sinking in or it might push up chips. In contrast, the cross graining of plywood slightly reduces its tendency to split when nailed at its edges. Due to MDF's non-directional grain structure, it is ideal for cutting, machining, and drilling without producing splinters or chipping. The absence of knots makes it easier for finishing. MDF's smooth surface makes it ideal for simple interior design pieces that will be painted, while plywood adds some durability to those pieces that need to be stronger.
Both can be relatively easy for experienced DIYers to use and are found in a number of cheap and affordable furniture products. The following video gives tips on how to safely and effectively work with wood panels and which types of saws to use to cut them.
Browse our MDF products here Plywood Plywood is also an engineered wood product, made by pressing and binding sheets of wood veneer together into one solid piece. Advantages of plywood Made from multiple layers of wood veneer, plywood is a very strong material to work with. Because it carries a grain, plywood is stainable. Which makes it perfect for kitchen cabinets, tabletops and other projects where you want a large stained wood surface. It holds screws very tightly since the varying grains of wood on each layer give the screws something to hold onto.
Disadvantages of plywood Plywood is more expensive than MDF and of course, the higher the grade and depending on the species of wood, it can increase in price. Because of the layers that show on the edge, plywood needs finishing with iron-on edge banding, pieces of timber or decorative mouldings.
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