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What Kind of Finish to Put on Mdf Top

leyland trade mdf paint next to some cut mdf
(Paradigm credit: Time to come)

MDF is a versatile and budget-friendly alternative to traditional timber, but without the best MDF paint, it can be challenging to work with, as information technology has unlike backdrop than other woods and canvas materials.

Made from bonding together wood fibres with resin and wax, MDF is moisture resistant, only it'south non h2o resistant. If too much water gets into the fibres of the board information technology volition cause it to cracking and effectively go useless and end up beingness thrown abroad. So it needs to be sealed earlier you offset painting.

Painting MDF isn't necessarily the same procedure as painting a wall either, when information technology comes to getting the best cease. With MDF, you lot'll also demand to get to grips with the edges of MDF board, which are more than difficult to bargain with when painting and sealing.

Before you start painting your MDF, make sure you bank check out our selection of the best sealers, primers and specialist paints to help get your MDF ready.

What's the Best MDF Pigment?

Specialist MDF primers, oil-based undercoats and acrylic-based paints all help create a barrier that will make MDF resistant to water. These are easy to use with a brush or roller and once you lot have sealed your MDF you can start looking at adding your preferred finish.

Our guide to how to pigment MDF outlines the all-time fashion to use these primers and sealers when painting MDF.

zinsser bin paint

(Epitome credit: Zinsser)

1. Zinsser B-I-N Multi-surface Primer

A expert quick drying all rounder

Tin size: 1 litre | Coverage per litre: 12.5m2 | Drying time: 45 minutes | End : Matt

Adheres well to all surfaces

Seals porous surfaces

Very quick drying

Re-coatable in less than 1 hour

Not cheap

This solvent-based paint from Zinsser is an all-round primer and sealer that makes it ideal as a base of operations coat for MDF. It offers splendid adhesion to a large number of unlike surfaces, so while it's peachy for MDF, you can also use it on pretty much any interior surface. It will seal the porous surface of MDF and create a bulwark against stains and liquids, making it ready for summit coat to be added. It'south extremely quick-drying, beingness touch dry in around fifteen mins and ready for another coat in less than an hour. Typically you lot will need a couple of coats to fully seal any MDF, particularly edges.


leyland mdf paint

(Image credit: Leyland)

2. Leyland Trade MDF Primer

Specialist coating that gets MDF ready for painting

Tin size: 0.75, 2.5 litre | Coverage per litre: 13m2 | Drying time: 30 minutes | Finish: Matt

Seals well for painting

Quick drying

Easy to apply

Only available in white

This primer from the Leyland Trade range sits under their Special Coatings banner and is like a mixture of primer and sealer. Even though it's called a primer we would say it is more like a coloured sealer that dries quickly. It has a thin consistency which means it's touch dry inside 30 minutes and makes it easy to apply with a brush or roller. You will need to apply two coats to get a decent end to paint on your summit coat(s) and seal up the MDF. And you won't need to wait long to add together a second coat with recoat time being effectually one hour in the right conditions, a little longer if beingness used in the cold or clammy.


rustins quick drying primer and undercoat

(Image credit: Rustins)

iii. Rustins Quick Drying Primer and Undercoat

Perfect for calorie-free and dark colour acme coats

Tin size: 250ml, 500ml, 1 litre, 2.v litre | Coverage per litre: 13m2 | Drying time: 30 minutes | Finish: Matt

Ii colours

Easy to clean brushes

Primer and undercoat

Low aroma

High opacity

Matt stop simply

As the name suggests this is a primer and undercoat but its acrylic base of operations means that information technology's skilful for sealing MDF at the same time.  Available in more than than just the common white - you tin can besides become information technology in grey which is ideal if yous are painting your MDF in a darker colour. It's a high opacity water-based pigment - making it easy to clean brushes - that gives skilful coverage, is low smell, and will be bear upon dry inside xxx minutes. However, you will need to wait another hour and a one-half, or longer earlier you can add a second coat - which you will demand to get the best terminate.


blackfriar mdf paint

(Epitome credit: Blackfriar)

4. Blackfriar MDF Primer Undercoat

Specifically designed to work with MDF

Tin size: 500ml, 1 litre | Coverage per litre: 14m2 | Drying time: 2 hours | Finish: Matt

Durable terminate

Can be over painted with matt, satin or gloss

Good coverage

Uniform with airless sprayers

Ho-hum drying fourth dimension

If you are looking to paint your MDF and then this combination primer/undercoat is a skillful choice. Information technology has been specially designed to piece of work on the fibreboard and provides corking coverage, typically more than most. Merely bachelor in the pop pick white, it goes on easy — you can use a brush, roller or an airless sprayer for a actually smooth finish. It is touch dry inside 1-2 hours, but you lot'll have to expect for at least iv hours to add some other glaze, and up to 3 days for it to fully harden. Just once fully cured yous have a potent and durable base coast that can be over painted with matt, satin or gloss finishes.


rustin mdf sealer

(Image credit: Rustins)

5. Rustins Quick Drying MDF Clear Sealer

The ideal pick if you want to varnish your MDF

Tin size: 250ml, 500ml, ane litre, 2.v litre | Coverage per litre: 12m2 | Drying time: 30 minutes | Finish: Matt

Typically only needs one coat

Articulate cease

Tin can paint or varnish over

Quick drying

No colour

This quick drying and clear sealer is ideal for all grades of MDF and is a great choice if you lot don't want to pigment information technology. Unlike near sealers and primers it doesn't contain whatever colour when dry — it simply seals, which makes it the perfect option if yous want to varnish your MDF.

It is worth noting that you tin notwithstanding pigment over the sealer if y'all change your mind, but if yous are going to paint, you lot'll be better off using a coloured sealer/primer. Information technology has a thin consistency which means that you typically merely demand one glaze to seal your MDF, which will exist bear upon dry out within 30 minutes. If it needs another coat y'all'll take to wait for a couple of hours before you can apply.


Do I Take to Prime number or Seal MDF?

If you desire a practiced smooth pigment cease on your MDF, at that place isn't any real culling to priming or sealing. Medium-density fibreboard is made from modest forest fibres such as sawdust and shavings, which are mixed with resin and wax and compressed into panels. Information technology is not fond of water as this can make the board swell. So it needs to exist treated - or primed or sealed - before you consider painting information technology.

The big issue with MDF is the edges, these are more porous than the summit/bottom of the board and demand more attention. To get a really smooth non-porous end on the edges you can use wood filler or MDF edging tape. If the edges aren't going to be seen simply add an extra glaze of sealer/primer and rub down.

What Alternatives are At that place to Specialist MDF Primers and Sealers?

Withal,  if you don't want to paint your MDF at that place are a few alternatives to primer/sealer. Effectively, they exercise the same job - seal the MDF - but in different ways. If you like the natural look of MDF and want to add some protection you can use a clear varnish - cull matt or gloss - to keep your MDF looking like new. An oil-based varnish is the best choice for this. You apply in much the same way as primer/sealer/pigment, with a brush or roller.

Other finishes that you can utilise to MDF are stain or wax. Stain will typically add a dissimilar more natural colour and some sort of fake grain. Wax will add a protective coating that makes the MDF water-resistant, but doesn't have the smooth of varnish, offering a more subtle natural end.

Steve is an avid DIYer with over 20 years of experience in transforming and renovating homes. He specialises in painting and decorating, only has strong all-round building skills, having previously worked in the industry for 10 years.

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Source: https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/buying-guides/best-mdf-paint#:~:text=An%20oil%2Dbased%20varnish%20is,some%20sort%20of%20fake%20grain.