I need a tall baseboard. Priced poplar, it was $1.50 foot. I plan on painting the board white. Is it o.k. to use cabinet grade plywood for baseboard. I figure I need a 8″ baseboard so I can get six pieces out of a sheet at $40, then router an edge on the top
would that be an exceptable practice??
Replies
The edge would look rough, and routering would not help. The exposed end grain will still show.
If you want a square edge you can apply iron on wood edge banding to the plywood. It makes a nice finish.
You could try MDO as well instead of plain plywood.
Probably, instead of routing an edge on the top use a two piece base. Your plywood rip and a 1/2" quarter round on top. Or a small cove moulding. Trying to route and sand plywood is a pain with less than favorable results.
This will also help fill any voids or imperfections in the walls due to flexibility of the small moulding. Less painters caulk is a good thing.
Painted >>>MDF
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mdf is a waste of money for base. it gets too much abuse and will chip very easily. Plywood will work well, but as other have pointed out the plys will show badly, unless you take a whoile lot of time to fill and sand. I second the idea of using a small piece of trim on top to hide the plies and add some detail.
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I think thats a great idea, never gave that option a thought.
thanks
ps this is going into my kids room. I figure its going to get some reall abuse
There is an article here on finehomebuilding about plywood Trim:
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/articles/beautiful-trim-plywood.aspx?langtype=1033&ac=fp