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Installing wainscoting in the near future and most of what I can find is made out of MDF/HDF. Are these good materials are they cheap in quality? Or does it matter? My carpenter would prefer not to work with mdf / hdf trim, just solid wood. It's hard finding solid wood beadboard panels that wouldn't cost a ton. I'm buying at least 35 4 x 8 sheets, so cost must be considered.
We just had wainscoting put in that I think is probably this MDF/HDF material you speak of. I think they look great... and if you're going to paint them anyway, will look good. I'd only bother with the expensive stuff if you're planning to finish them natural.
If you're painting there's nothing wrong with the beaded tempered hardboard. The poplar is a good choice for the trim- takes paint exceptionally well and can withstand mild abuse versus MDF trim.
I read that MDF should get oil-based primer or paint before any waterborne paint or caulk or spackle goes on. If the board is factory primered, you can just primer the cut ends--again, with an oil-based primer. Which smells really, really strong, in case you didn't know. But it doesn't cause the MDF "stuff" to swell up from absorbing moisture.
I wish I'd known that before we got some MDF trim. It was me who ended up painting the interior trim, which had not been the plan--and the carpenters installed it before there was time to paint it; oh, boy, lots of masking fun there, twice. And it was me who wore the respirator to keep from inhaling VOCs. Fortunately, SOME of the trim was regular wood.
Never again. From now on, it's gonna be regular wood if the need arises for replacing trim. Besides, I like the look of clearcoated or stained wood.
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