Fascia board II

[sharage71]

Guys,

Anyone using MDF as a fascia board material? It comes already primed !!
It was a little cheaper and regular 1X material. Showing some ignorance here.

Thx

 

[Steevo]

Do you mean for exterior use, as in fascia for rafter ends?
If so, then no, MDF is an interior only product, and it swells up and disintegrates when wet.

 

[sharage71]

Yep,

That's what I thought.. thanks Steevo

 

[Indycars]

Try using fiber cement board, it comes primed and works excellent for outside trim. Termites don't care for it also. Beware that when you cut it it has silica in it, so wear a mask when cutting. Paint should stay for about 10 years if you use a high quality paint. I did my whole atrium and one garage wall will it, so far I've had no problems with it. Comes in planks(for lap siding), 4'x8' sheets and trim pieces.

http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/products_trim_hardietrim.py
http://www.certainteed.com/learning-center/fiber-cement-siding/?qid=126


Rick

 

[tcianci]

Cement board products work real well for your application. There is however, an exterior grade MDF product designed for trim. I would have to swallow real hard before I would use it as fascia though.

 

[JMURiz]

I used PVC fascia board, and fibercement for the siding, found this to be a great way to go. I'm not a fan of the MDF for even inside use...the humidity can even mess with that stuff. I use MDF only for shelving.

 

[oldgoat]

I was looking over at Lowe's last night again at their PVC facia board. It has the rightdeminsions to replace wood facia. The cement board will work, but it is thinner so it isn't as much of a direct replacement to me. The PVC has the wood grain on it, but I am wondering how it will hold paint. I have a couple of pieces of facia that are rotting and have thought about using it.

 

[JMURiz]

Holds paint just fine, I primer it first and then paint.

 

[brownbagg]

mdf would last about three weeks

 

[RibTickler]

If you need exterior trim stock, look for HardiTrim not HardiBoard.

 

[tcianci]

If you want a cheaper alternative to the PVC, there is a product called TufBoard that HD carries. It is a PVC/wood composite, it costs less and it comes primed. It also machines better than PVC if you have to rout it.