MDF or Wood for Painted Crown Moldings
We are doing a semi-gut renovation of our Brooklyn brownstone. We managed to preserve all of the architectural details on the parlor floor but lost all of our crown moldings and baseboards on the upper bedroom levels (10ft ceilings). We really want a period home so we decided to add new 7″ to 9″ two-step…
We are doing a semi-gut renovation of our Brooklyn brownstone. We managed to preserve all of the architectural details on the parlor floor but lost all of our crown moldings and baseboards on the upper bedroom levels (10ft ceilings). We really want a period home so we decided to add new 7″ to 9″ two-step moldings and 9″ to 11″ baseboards. However, our budget is somewhat limited so plaster crown moldings are not a viable option. Our plan is to paint all of the trim on the upper floors white so we are considering going with wood or MDF. If we go with wood, we’re thinking about something not too expensive like poplar or stretching our budget on the oak. Our contractor said that good quality MDF when painted is indistinguishable from painted wood and thus an excellent cost saving substitute. In addition, he said that most new luxury construction homes and condos used high quality painted MDF. Is the above true? What are the drawbacks to MDF? Since we are painting the trim white does it make a difference? Does anyone have any suggestions on a source for moldings and a reasonably priced installer? Thanks!
With $ 25.00 I can Supply & install 8′ X 8″ Plaster molding for you, Ornated or Plain ……..
MDF has been controversial in regard to its use of formaldehyde resins and the associated health risks.
Putting up our MDF crown moulding. It is pretty flexible as is and I think would be better than plastics.
Putting up our MDF crown moulding. It is pretty flexible as is and I think would be better than plastics.
Is MDF better than Polyurethane or Plastics?
Acutally if your walls are not square (like most brownstones) you should try the flexible mouldings from Outwater Plastics
MDF is fine…just don’t let it get wet.
MDF can be good if you are painting it both from a price perspective and for the issue noted by the architect above, less expanding, contracting, therefore, less cracks and seems showing due to changing temperature or humidity.
For your (painted) application MDF is probably better than wood, as MDF is far more dimensionally stable — a real plus for fine work like mouldings.
–an architect in Brooklyn