Home furnishings made of MDF or medium density fiberboard with vinyl covering are widely available at all the furniture shops. They are made as desks, closets and tables. I have a few around the house.
But I notice that some of them just disintegrate after a few years, particularly in humid areas. Any suggestions how to make MDF furniture last longer? Or is there no way around this?
Re: MDF furniture
ahh... so that's what they are called: mdf furniture. i actually have several in the house: a computer table, a study table, three tv racks, a big toy box, cabinets and bookshelves. i enjoy putting them together so that i can put my battery operated screw driver to the use. one thing i notice though is that they are not very durable. what i do is that after putting them all together, i usually put small braces in areas where the pressure is concentrated, like the joint supporting the tv. if i don't, they might just fall apart.
Re: MDF furniture
I'm not sure if MDF is the same as particle board but just the same they expand after a while and the laminates usually peel off after a couple of years use.
When my wife and I moved to our condo, we swore not to buy MDF furniture and decided to save up and spend a little on real wooden furniture. So far the extra money we spent has been paying off- no warped laminates, no craking joints.-- plus real wood looks much better than laminates 🙂
Getting back to your question: MDF's enemy is water and moisture-- keep glasses and liquids away from mdf furniture-- eventually the water will seep in and make the board expand.
Also, I think it would help if you keep the furniture away from direct sunlight-- these furniture tend to warp (this is from experience when I was still a bachelor)
Lastly, try not to overload the MDF furniture-- they aren't made of the same fibers as wood.-- if you put many books in a MDF bookshelf, in a couple of months you'll notice that it will sag.
Good luck!
Re: MDF furniture
MDFs aren't designed to last. They're the cheaper alternative to real wood. Probably, they can last a maximum of 20 years or so, while real wood can last a lifetime. Laminated floors like Pergo, Kronotex etc uses MDF materials too. We've been using them for a decade now and other homeowners prefer to use it as a cheaper alternative to wood planks. In cold places like Baguio and Tagaytay, I usually don't specify using them as it warps easily when exposed to moisture and humidity.
mgc design associates
Re: MDF furniture
I agree. MDF furniture tend to absorb water and disintigrate. Solid wood is quite expensive. An alternative is to use finger jointed wood (short strips of wood joined together using finger joints). Furniture made of these are durable and affordable.
Re: MDF furniture
My wife bought me a nice computer table a few years ago as a Christmas present. The top however is now warped from absorbing the condensation that drips onto the table from the glasses of ice tea I normally drink while in front of the PC.
Lesson is don't think MDF is waterproof even if it has a nice surface finish.
The same goes even for MDF that has plastic laminate. The plastic is impervious but normally there is a crack between the laminate and the edging where water can easily seep in. Maybe some silicone sealant would do but I'm never tried.
Re: MDF furniture
Question: is it the glue or the material itself in MDF that disintegrates?
If it is the glue then maybe there is such a thing as Marine MDF.
Re: MDF furniture
I think both. I have worked with MDF that's used for kitchen cabinets and counters. They have better glue than the paste that they use for ordinary MDF or particle board. But eventually, the water swells the wood dust in the MDF and just expands the material. The glue stills keeps the material together, but barely.
Re: MDF furniture
I never really liked MDF. They are heavy and vulnerable to water/moisture damage and not very strong. And they dont hold screws very much. I use plyboard instead (or marine plywood for damp/wet areas). I have used plyboard for cabinets and they last years as long as it doesnt get wet. The downside is the need to paint or varnish the plyboard.
Re: MDF furniture
There are a few kinds engineered wood available in the market. From my observation, most furniture (cabinets, computer and office desks, closets, etc.) sold in the malls and furniture shops are made of chipboards (particle board). This is the material that is most vulnerable to moisture and not so durable. MDF (medium density fiberboard) however is better than particle board and it can hold weight better. Some house contractors use particle boards in cabinet construction but feedbacks were definitely not good. I’ve tried using MDF material to one of my projects(in the kitchen) and so far, there are no complaints from the owner. Laminated floors like Pergo and Kronotex are made of HDF(high density fiberboard) and compared to MDF its even better in moisture and warp resistance. Of course, these kinds of woods still cannot beat real wood in terms of durability but when the price is in consideration, we need to look for good alternatives. This link explains further the differences between different types of engineered wood.
http://www.hudsonhighland.com/woodglossary.htm
..... 🙂
Re: MDF furniture
Here's what I did with my MDF. I roughly sanded the surface and painted it with wth Quick Drying Enamel (Don't use latex, it will cause the cabinet to swell)
! I applied patching compound to the edge where it is most porous.
MDF are not meant to last. Better buy cabinets made of plywood or solid wood.
High Density Fiber board is better and is used by Kitchen Cabinet manufacturers like Apo.
Re: MDF furniture
to those who are interested in making a furniture out of MDF, i highly recommend the MARINE TYPE MDF .. this does not absorb water. We used this materials as form boards for concrete structures so we don't need to plaster after taking it out.
This board is much expensive than the regular MDF in the market.
Re: MDF furniture
any recommended shops? tia.
Safety first - always wear face/eye/ear/hand protection as a minimum.
Re: MDF furniture
to those who are interested in making a furniture out of MDF, i highly recommend the MARINE TYPE MDF .. this does not absorb water. We used this materials as form boards for concrete structures so we don't need to plaster after taking it out.
This board is much expensive than the regular MDF in the market.
would this still be lower than marine plywood? yes, i have made a kitchen cabinet before with laminated mdf and it was swollen after 3 years. now, marine na talaga ginagamit ko
Re: MDF furniture
Is it possible to re-varnish this type of material, so the color matches my other pieces of furniture? I also have a few furniture with this type, but I got them in different hues. My eyes sore seeing them in various shades.
