Traditionally, most skirting boards in houses are made from wood, like oak; but with the popularity of MDF skyrocketing more and more people are beginning to use MDF skirting boards because of the many advantages it has over wood. So, what are the advantages?

What Are the Advantages

Less Likely to Warp or Crack

One of the best-known advantages of using MDF is that it’s a man-made material, meaning that it won’t be at risk of warping or cracking as the temperature and moisture in a room change, unlike real woods. This is because real woods react to conditions by expanding and contracting, depending on the environment they reside in. This can be particularly annoying when there are two pieces of wood on your skirting board that join; because if the material changes shape or moves even slightly due to the change in the environment, it can ruin the perfect join.

The consistency that it provides, especially when used for skirting boards, means that even though it still expands and contracts like real woods; it moves together, meaning the joins in on your skirting board won’t be ruined.

Durability

There are a lot of benefits to choosing MDF over other materials like wood. One of these advantages is that due to it consisting of thin panels made from wood wax, wood fibre and resin; it is denser and stronger, making it more durable. Thanks to its durability, it’s suitable for almost any areas within your home, especially in rooms where extra protection is needed from moisture.

This is down to the fact that an MDF skirting board, thanks to its structure, moves as one unit; even when there are extreme changes in the temperature and humidity. Meaning, you don’t have to worry about any damage to your skirting boards or anything that uses MDF. The benefit of this is that homeowners don’t need to repair/replace their skirting boards as often as they would if their skirting boards were made from wood.

Easier to Customise

Another advantage that MDF has is that it doesn’t show any imperfections like knots or splinters like real woods do, making it an easier material to paint. This is because some woods don’t have one consistent surface colour, meaning you would have to paint a few extra coats to try and achieve a consistent colour but, due to knots normally being much darker than the general wood tone; the knots tend to show through even with extra coats of paint.

Also, the ease in which it can be customised is thanks to its structure. Because of this, an MDF board can be drilled and cut into different ways without being damaged, meaning that you can have your skirting board designed in a way that suits the style of your home. Whether that be a traditional look or a modern one.

MDF Is Cheaper Than Wood

MDF is known for usually being cheaper than most materials like plywood. When comparing the price of MDF and plywood, it does depend upon the grade of plywood and the type of wood used. For example, if you were to use a higher grade of plywood, it would be more expensive to due is being more aesthetically pleasing compared to the cheaper lower grades.

The popularity of MDF is skyrocketing, especially with homeowners. This is because it provides homeowners with a cheap alternative to wood, that lasts longer and doesn’t compromise on style. We all know that owning and maintaining a house isn’t cheap, so being able to save money while keeping the style you want is important.

Weighing Up the Facts:

When looking at MDF skirting boards, it’s clear to see that it provides people with the perfect alternative to real woods. Meaning that people can still make their house feel not only more complete but, feel more like home

If you are interested in finding out more about MDF skirting boards and the different styles that they come in. Feel free to get in touch with Cutting Edge Skirting today on 0333 366 0249 or send us an email on info@ceskirting.co.uk