Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is a manmade material designed using wood fibers. It is a compressed material that has multiple various uses in many different industries. Fiberboard is a strong artificial wood that is commonly enclosed in veneer and can also have other raw materials like sugarcane fibers and wooden chips.
MDF is an extraordinarily versatile product to use, so in this article, we’ll discuss what is MDF best used for.
What Is It Commonly Used For?
MDF is most commonly used in kitchen cabinets, most of which are made using both solid wood and MDF. MDF typically comes across on doors and interior panels since it is more convenient to paint, clean, and maintain.
What is MDF Best Used For?
Moisture-resistant MDF is the ideal choice over natural wood in bathroom construction since it does not get spoiled with moistness and erratic temperatures in such rooms. Fire-resistant MDF Board is also ideal for fire protection. While this specific kind of MDF is used more in commercial zones, it may also be utilized in houses to ensure fire protection areas like the bedroom or kitchen.
Another great use for MDF is shelving. Whether it is the interior of a cupboard or cabinet, an open shelf, or a bookshelf, MDF is ideal thanks to its smooth exterior. You just have to be wary of any heavyweights on it since it does sag over time.
MDF is also a great choice for aesthetics, such as in wainscoting. Unlike in previous years when natural wood was the only wainscoting option to use, now there are different kinds of materials like the MDF Board. Wainscoting with MDF means you’re able to customize in any style whether it be in the bathroom, kitchen, or living room.
What Should You NOT Use It For?
MDF expands a lot when it gets wet, so avoid using MDF where the moisture is, like exterior doors, kitchen, bathrooms, and windows. MDF is not good for handling moisture, it is more appropriate to use indoor such as in furniture.
Is MDF Cheaper Than Plywood?
Both MDF and Plywood are manmade wood substitutes. But they are inherently different. Overall, MDF is the cheaper product. While of course, the cost will depend on the grade as well as the thickness of the product, MDF still is less costly than plywood in general. So, if you’re solely looking for a wood option and don’t care about the properties as long as you can afford it, then MDF takes the cake.
Is MDF Stronger Than Plywood?
There is of course a reason that MDF is more affordable than plywood. Plywood is the strongest of the two kinds of materials, purely because of its construction. The board is designed using several layers of wood stuck together with glue. These layers are known as plies, hence the name plywood. Each ply’s grain is placed at an angle, typically 90 degrees, to each consecutive ply, which enforces its strength throughout the material.
Final Remarks
With all that said, MDF stands out thanks to its affordability, versatility, and aesthetics. So, I hope this article helped you understand the different uses of MDF.