I would like to put wainscoting in my bathroom and it seems like a pretty easy job. My problem is choice of materials and cost. I understand you can buy moisture resistant MDF beadboard, or regular MDF beadboard but they are about 3 times the cost of wood. I was wondering if you are intending to paint the beadboard would moisture really have that much effect on the boards in the bathroom? It does have a shower and sink in the bathroom and also a vent fan. My question is should I bite the bullet and get Moisture resistant MDF or will wood (clear pine / cedar) suffice? All helpful advice is appreciated.
The difference in prices is like $300 for wood and $1000 for MR MDF.
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Thanks!
McMick
Replies
Have you also priced out the Azek beadboard?
Hi,
I haven't looked at Azek but I will. I have also been cruising this site and find that general consensus for beadboard in the bathroom leans more towards strip wood rather than MDF. This is good news for me and my wallet. I would make sure I would prime and back prime all pieces before installing.
I will look at the Azek as well. MAny thanks
McMick
Check the Aztek & other composit matl like it, then check out real wood again.
I have birch wainscoting panels in my bathroom, they've been in for about 8 years now, and are just fine. I sanded panels, cleaned them off, added 2 coats of outdoor rated polyurethane, let them dry a few days & installed. Did the same w/ wood trim for top & bottom of panels, and base molding.
Unless you want to paint --
Thanks for the input. When you installed the panels were they against nailing strips or just glued or both?
The azek is about twice the price of clear pine but still about 75% less than Moisture resistant MDF so I will definately consider it.
Do they sell birch bead boards in strips?
McMick
McMick:
The big advantage to the MDF panels is in the labor savings. If you are doing it yourself I would definitely do the AZEK or real wood. I have had some really bad experiences with MDF in high moisture situations like bathrooms.
BILL
Thanks Bill. Most appreciated. Amazing what a person can learn on this site.
Michael
Haven't seen the birch in strips, just the cedar & pine.
I cut panel sections to fit, put drywall up & primed w/ mildew resistant paint (think I used B.I.N), did the finishing & glued the panels to the drywall w/ Liquid Nails. I also used some finish nails/brads on the seams.
I've used regular MDF beadboard as wainscot in a few bathrooms with no problems. What I've used comes preprimed, but it's a good idea to go ahead and prime the back as well prior to installation. They make a base and a chair rail piece that are routed to accept the beadboard. These are also preprimed. I'll check to see if I have any photos.
"Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
Edited 3/9/2005 9:52 am ET by steve-o
I have done a few bathrooms with MDF bead, and I didn't use anything special. It was about $40-50 per sheet as I recall. I did prime it front and back, and finish coat it front of course. It's been a couple years and all is well. All parts in the rooms are MDF, except for the top "rail" which was preprimed 1 x4 pine, which I used because it was easy. Of course, it is the only area that has had any shrinkage, but it has been minor. here are a couple pics.
Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
Edited 3/13/2005 5:22 pm ET by LATEAPEX911
sorry..here are smaller versions...I hope these are betterJake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
Those will still a bit much for the dialups.
cheers
Edited 3/13/2005 5:32 pm ET by the razzman
Thank you for the pictures. Nice work. I'm not going quite so high with the wainscot. Probably about 38-40" or so.
I appreciate the visuals
Michael
Didn't mean to one-up you there with my redo of your pics. You'd already resized and posted by the time I got around to hitting my post tab.
I always liked white in a bath. Think I'll try the MDF bead sometime. Did you prime with an oilbase?
"The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,Moves on: nor all your Piety nor WitShall lure it back to cancel half a Line,Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it." - Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
nice bath, jake !
View ImageMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike, thanks! Coming from a guy with your standards, I am complimented. I hope to bump into you at JLC live on friday, if I can bust out of here....
JakeJake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
Razz- The painter on this job is the client.....and as such, I got very involved, shall we say! it's cool, I did this job hourly, so a little painting was fun.
But, the owner/painter was not going to use oil based anything! (except on clear wood, but thats another story). So we used the water based...is it Kilz? or the competitors equivilent.
it sanded ok, not great, but way better than a lot of other products, top coats were BM Aquaglo, and in the end, all is well. As you can see, the tile abuts next to the wood.....as a matter of fact the design was such as to align the wainscot cap and the tile "crown". It was a nice detail. and so far, two years or so later, it looks as new. The MDF is a great way to go. Fast to install, and no cracking at the joints, plus you can get several bead profiles, and it comes on the long or short axis.
Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT