MDF vs Pine vs Hardwood

[ddawg16]

MDF will be fine...impact wise, it's about as tough as Pine...if not tougher...pine is pretty soft.

The only issue with MDF is moisture....if it gets wet....plan on replacing it. You never want to use it in a bathroom. AMHIK.

I would suggest at least priming the bottom edge to prevent it from wicking up water.

 

[NYCreno]

MDF will be fine...impact wise, it's about as tough as Pine...if not tougher...pine is pretty soft.

The only issue with MDF is moisture....if it gets wet....plan on replacing it. You never want to use it in a bathroom. AMHIK.

I would suggest at least priming the bottom edge to prevent it from wicking up water.

Thanks John!

I was talking to a friend. He said to get a quote from the lumberyard on MDF but said to probably do:

PINE
- base molding
- bathroom door

MDF
- door casing
- other doors (closets, bedroom, office)
- crown molding

Does that sound ok?

 

[72Anthony]

OP:
If you run into problems or need something not available in the big box stores here are a couple of hardwood's suppliers:

Clark's hardwood (The Heights)
Houston hardwoods (290 & 34th street)
Hardwood products (on beltway 8, north of Katy freeway)

 

[NYCreno]

OP:
If you run into problems or need something not available in the big box stores here are a couple of hardwood's suppliers:

Clark's hardwood (The Heights)
Houston hardwoods (290 & 34th street)
Hardwood products (on beltway 8, north of Katy freeway)

Thanks, but are these in the NYC area?

 

[72Anthony]

Thanks, but are these in the NYC area?

These are for the original poster...his profile says he is in Houston.

 

[Kevin54]

hi all,

i'm about to do a gut reno in my NYC coop apartment with new base moldings (1x6x8) and door casings (1x4x8).

when i went to HD, i saw primed FJ (1x4x8) for $7.65. i went to a lumberyard and can get pine wood (1x4x8) for $3.50. MUCH cheaper. the pine base molding is about $6.

my question, which is harder/resistent to dents and more durable?

since i will paint it all white, it may get banged from time to time from my floor vacuum cleaner, and the apartment will be a bit dry in winter (due to fixed temperatures in the 70s)?

thanks in advance.

I'm not sure what I paid for ours. All of the baseboards are pine that was preprimed. I bought it in 16' sections,
I just went back and checked on Quicken and I can't find what I paid for the pine baseboards, but for the fluted door casings, which are MDF, I paid $34 for (4) 16' pieces

 

[NYCreno]

I'm not sure what I paid for ours. All of the baseboards are pine that was preprimed. I bought it in 16' sections,
I just went back and checked on Quicken and I can't find what I paid for the pine baseboards, but for the fluted door casings, which are MDF, I paid $34 for (4) 16' pieces

Thanks Kevin.

I went to another lumberyard today and found CHEAPER prices in pine.

1x4x8 = $2.90 => $.36 lf
1x6x8 = $4.50 => $.56 lf

If pricing is not an issue or pine wood is cheaper than MDF, should I just go for all pine for door casings and baseboard? My contractor would just have to prime the wood.

What about crown moulding? If the price is comparable for MDF and pine, go with MDF even if I can find non-primed pine for cheaper? Or pine all around?