Know Your Materials: MDF
MDF (Medium-density Fiberboard) is commonly used for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, shelving, wall. panels to furniture! Often, MDF is used as a baseboard material that will later need to be finished to create the finished product, e.g. with HPL (high-pressured laminate) or paint.
What is an MDF board?
MDF is a manufactured product composed of wood fibers mixed with resin and wax, and pressed into flat panels under high temperatures and pressure. It is used as a building material in residential and commercial buildings.
MDF board has a smooth surface and is strong, which makes it often, a preferred material to use instead of using solid wood and plywood.
Pros and Cons of MDF board
Quartz counters are made to imitate stones. And like quartz, MDF is used as a building material that emulate trees, to imitate wood then re-formed into a hard building product.
Pros
- Easy to handle
- Lower cost than wood
- MDF does not split
- Flexible, good for curves
- Moisture resistant
Cons
- Not suitable for rooms with extremely high temperatures
- Must be painted; cannot be stained
- Prone to breaking, chipping
How do you compare MDF board and plywood?
If you see in this picture, the top picture is MDF board and the bottom is plywood. In comparison, plywood is more lightweight compared to MDF and has an uneven surface with knots and gaps in between. Thick plywood will need to be used for making shelves and thinner ones for the backing. On the other hand, MDF has a flat, even surface so it’s easy to apply laminate or wood veneer on the panels and can easily achieve a neat, attractive surface.
What can you apply to MDF board?
The Bottom Line
There are different pros and cons when selecting materials for your home. As a general rule of thumb, MDF is a better choice for indoor and decorative uses, but can be more costly compared to plywood. MDF is perfect for quick cut, trim or to paint to create a finished project. Solid wood is excellent for outdoor uses but can be more costly and plywood is a great option if you are looking for a less inexpensive material.
