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DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> MDF in bathrooms
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Message started by greg on Dec 22nd, 2006, 5:44pm

Title: MDF in bathrooms
Post by greg on Dec 22nd, 2006, 5:44pm

Is it OK to use MDF in bathrooms.  It won't be too close to bath, about 1m away.  I was thinking of sealing it with some diluted PVA

Any other suggestions on how to seal it

Cheers

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by jasonB on Dec 22nd, 2006, 6:05pm

What exactly is it being used for?.

At the very least you should use MR (Moisture Resistant) grade, this has a green core or is green all the way through I have used it for T&G panneling in the past with oil based paint finish and not had problems.

Jason

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by big_all on Dec 22nd, 2006, 6:10pm

heeelllooo gregg  ;D ;D ;D ;D

the trouble with mdf is once it gets wet it swells and pretty much quickly looses its strength

you would only need a pinhole and because it swells so much it would more than likely "rip" any protection

what exactly are you making !!!!!!!

having said that i was prepaired[at there risk]to install txg effect routerd 12mm mdf
it was well painted and still good as new as when installed 2 years ago although it behind skirting [so 2" clear off the floor] and a few inches clear of danger zones [bath and sink]

jasons using 2 fingers again to type faster than me ;D ;D ;D ;)

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by jasonB on Dec 22nd, 2006, 6:56pm

No I'm not, I'm waving them at you :P

Jason

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by big_all on Dec 22nd, 2006, 8:09pm


wrote on Dec 22nd, 2006, 6:56pm:
No I'm not, I'm waving them at you :P

Jason



oooohhhhhh  and what are you typing with then ::) ::) ::) :o

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by Scrit on Dec 22nd, 2006, 9:50pm


big_all wrote on Dec 22nd, 2006, 8:09pm:

wrote on Dec 22nd, 2006, 6:56pm:
No I'm not, I'm waving them at you :P

Jason



oooohhhhhh  and what are you typing with then ::) ::) ::) :o

Obviously his prehensile, silly, but I'm not sure which prehensile......

Scrit

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by WOLF on Dec 22nd, 2006, 11:38pm

is it his "planer" or his "THICKNESSER"!!!!! ;D

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by JerryD on Dec 23rd, 2006, 7:55am

Ahem.......  back to the topic.....  :P

MDF is used by most of the bathroom furniture manufacturers and bath panel manufacturers.  How do they ensure there's no swelling (ooooer missus)  :-D

If it's oil based painted all round then surely there's not a problem?

Or am I talking rubbish (again)  ;D

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by Scrit on Dec 23rd, 2006, 8:00am


wrote on Dec 23rd, 2006, 7:55am:
MDF is used by most of the bathroom furniture manufacturers and bath panel manufacturers.  How do they ensure there's no swelling (ooooer missus)  :-D

The doors are often made from MR-MDF with a backing of melamine and the facing from pressure/heat bonded vinyl. Carcasses appear to be from MFC (melamine-faced chipboard) and the ones I've seen just seem to be like kitchen cabs, although a bit more silicone gets used to seal all the joints.........

Scrit

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by greg on Dec 23rd, 2006, 12:47pm

Thanks chaps

Its to make a cupboard in the corner of the bathroom to store......bathroomy bits in and linen bin.

Problem with moisture resistant is availabilty, would have to order it in.  From what you all say, ill use oil based paint and hopefully be OK

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by woodsmith on Dec 23rd, 2006, 1:12pm

I've made quite a bit of bathroom furniture from standard MDF and had no problems, it does need very careful painting though.

Moisture resistant MDF is the way to go if you can get it, Travis Perkins normally stock a few sizes.

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by WOLF on Dec 23rd, 2006, 1:43pm

Greg,,, helpful snippets!...

http://www.mlmuk.com/html/Exterior%20MDF.pdf

and also http://www.jewson.co.uk/en/templates/product/ProductArticle.jsp?PageId=ProductArticle&ProductCategory=Timber+and+Sheet&itemId=prod350053

they have branches in east devon, that stock MR MDF!

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by CWatters on Dec 23rd, 2006, 10:08pm

We had problems with the vanity unit in our last house. The corners were the problem. a little bit of water gets in and it swells the wood opening up the hole so more water can get in.

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by runninwata on Dec 30th, 2006, 1:40pm

I have done my entire bathroom vanity furniture using standard grade MDF I will add i ensured it was well painted 1 x coat oil based undercoat and three coats oil based gloss applied with a roller, this was constructed over 3 years ago and there is no ill effetct yet

regards

steve

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by WOLF on Dec 30th, 2006, 9:25pm


Quote:
this was constructed over 3 years ago and there is no ill effetct yet


thats because he ain't plumbed in the white ware yet!!!!!!! ;D ;D

well he IS a plumber!!!!!! ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)


sorry  RW........ ;D



( you know, the old saying...
plumbers home..tap drips...
brickies home, loose bricks etc etc!!!)

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by CJTElectrical on Dec 30th, 2006, 9:47pm




( you know, the old saying...
plumbers home..tap drips...
brickies home, loose bricks etc etc!!!)[/quote]


never heard this saying b4 does anyone know what the rest of the saying is. cheers
cjt

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by WOLF on Dec 30th, 2006, 9:57pm

brickies home...loose bricks, falling down walls...

plumbers home, dripping taps, leaking pipes

sparkies home, blown bulbs ..duff wiring...(pre part p of course)

carpenters home, no doors hanging, no fixed trim/skirting


in other words, we are so damned feed up of our jobs at work time, we don't tend to practice our jobs at home!!!!!

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by CJTElectrical on Dec 30th, 2006, 10:06pm

it dow look like this applies to me then as ive fully rewired house top to bottom, full galaxy alarm system in, and dialler on confirmed tamper and powercut
cctv system fully working (10 static cameras, 16ch dvr, 2 speed domes front and back, cam in shed, and pan tilt cam in woodland and this is all finished only thing i will be doing tommorrow is puttting spot lights in soffits in side entry was going to do today but it started raining!!

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by WOLF on Dec 30th, 2006, 10:13pm


Quote:
but it started raining!!


feeble excuse,....  ;D... a bit of leccy and water didn't hurt no one!!!!! [smiley=shocked2.gif] [smiley=shocked2.gif] [smiley=shocked2.gif]


the saying does not apply to me neither, it is just an old saying, .. more the majority .. not the rule!

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by CJTElectrical on Dec 30th, 2006, 10:29pm


TIMBA-WOLF wrote on Dec 30th, 2006, 10:13pm:

Quote:
but it started raining!!


feeble excuse,....  ;D... a bit of leccy and water didn't hurt no one!!!!! [smiley=shocked2.gif] [smiley=shocked2.gif] [smiley=shocked2.gif]


the saying does not apply to me neither, it is just an old saying, .. more the majority .. not the rule!

no it wasnt the leccy and water that i was worried about  it was me getting my hair wet!! :-D
ill post a piccy of my consumer unit when i open it again.

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by CJTElectrical on Dec 30th, 2006, 10:30pm

oh and the speed dome outside the front and back of our house is really cool you can see for miles but obvously we dont!
to be fair tho i have totally sorted all the probs now and certied it to NICEIC snd i spose u could say i dont have to worry about it now.
i will say tho i love my cctv tho its more a hobby as well as security on the property when we are not there.
cjt

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by bik038 on Jan 2nd, 2007, 1:05pm


TIMBA-WOLF wrote on Dec 30th, 2006, 9:57pm:
brickies home...loose bricks, falling down walls...

plumbers home, dripping taps, leaking pipes

sparkies home, blown bulbs ..duff wiring...(pre part p of course)

carpenters home, no doors hanging, no fixed trim/skirting


in other words, we are so damned feed up of our jobs at work time, we don't tend to practice our jobs at home!!!!!


Same goes for me as an accountant - accountants spend all day looking after other people's money and their own accounts are in a mess.  But in my case it's because I am always buying new power tools...!!   ::)

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by CJTElectrical on Jan 2nd, 2007, 6:48pm

what power tools do accountants require? thought they used a calculator and pen/pencil/ruler etc
cjt

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by WOLF on Jan 2nd, 2007, 7:25pm


wrote on Jan 2nd, 2007, 6:48pm:
what power tools do accountants require? thought they used a calculator and pen/pencil/ruler etc
cjt


now come on CJTE...

drills  ( punching holes in A4 paper!)  sanders ( to make good round holes in A4 paper!)
circular saws ( for cutting sheets of A4 in half!)
planers ( for trimming up badly cut !/2 sheets of A4 paper!)
dust extract system... ( for removing the waste when rubbing out wrong calcs!!!!   ) oh the list is endless!!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by CJTElectrical on Jan 2nd, 2007, 7:59pm

oh i c well you learn sommut new every day!!  :-D :-D :-D
cjt

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by bik038 on Jan 3rd, 2007, 1:12pm


wrote on Jan 2nd, 2007, 6:48pm:
what power tools do accountants require? thought they used a calculator and pen/pencil/ruler etc
cjt


I'm not your 'average' accountant - by day I'm a mild mannered counter of numbers, but by night (and at weekends) I'm a hardcore wood worker!!!

Who needs a computer and calculator when you can have much more fun with a mitre saw and a biscuit jointer!!!



Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by CJTElectrical on Jan 3rd, 2007, 4:23pm

ok i see i thought you  was a full time accountant and that was the only thing you did, did not realise that you did wood woirking too.
cjt

Title: Re: MDF in bathrooms
Post by bik038 on Jan 3rd, 2007, 5:01pm


wrote on Jan 3rd, 2007, 4:23pm:
ok i see i thought you  was a full time accountant and that was the only thing you did, did not realise that you did wood woirking too.
cjt


Unfortunately I am a full time accountant - it pays the mortgage!  Wood working is my hobby and my passion (which is handy because 'err indoors always finds projects for me to do...!).

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