We wanted trim and moulding that was sturdy, environmentally-friendly, and cost less than traditional wood. We chose trim and moulding that was made out of medium density fiberboard, or MDF.

Video Transcription

Michael: Installing trim and molding can be a labor intensive job when building your new house, but there is a way to save time and money without sacrificing style or quality. Our project house required over 12 thousand fit of trim and molding, along the walls, and around the windows and doors. We wanted trim and molding that we’re sturdy, environmentally friendly, and cost less than traditional wood. So we went with products made out of medium density fiber board. Warren Brown with SierraPine Limited helped us choose the right MDF Trim and Molding for the house. Warren: SierraPine is one of the global leaders in producing composite panels such as MDF and particle board. Michael: MDF was introduced in the 1970s and it has seen a lot of changes over the years. Warren what are some of the trends and changes that you’ve been seeing in MDF over the past few years? Warren: Michael, MDF has evolved into specialty items like fire retardant, moisture resistant, exterior use and it’s gotten lighter with moldings. Michael: Yeah tell me about this piece that you’re holding. Warren: This is a 6 inch crown that shows that we can go into a million dollar home, where years ago, MDF was thought of just with simple things like door jambs, and basin simple casing, things like that. Michael: Now you’re making some really elaborate trim and I guess if that’s a piece of crown up there, you’re looking at probably two or three steps if you’re doing it with pine, so a lot of labor as well as a lot of material. Warren: Definitely. Michael: And then it doesn’t feel very heavy, what do you as far as density there? Warren: The last few years we’ve gotten lighter, we’re 20% lighter now than just 4 to 5 years ago. Michael: So the labor must love that much easier to hold it up above your head. Warren: Especially with a crown like this. Michael: Yeah, looks good. We also chose MDF because it’s easy to install. First they install their measures in area for length, cuts the MDF to size, and then attaches the trim or molding to the area with a nail gun. In the past, nail and standard density MDF molding could result to impact crane or swelling around the neck of the nail entry. But with low density MDF, that’s not a problem. Warren I know from installing MDF myself in the past, one problem was nailing it’s just so because it’s so dense compared to normal wood and everything, but you’ve got changes now? Warren: It’s 20% less stints, and there are no problems. Michael: Perfect. Sunk just to the right depth, easy to install, I like that. Using MDF gave us plenty of design options. Our living room has high ceilings, so we used molding and trim with white profiles. For areas where MDF wouldn’t work, such as the curves around the staircase, we used a urethane based product called Flex Trim. Because this trim is bendable, it fit perfectly in these areas where normal trim wouldn’t work. We also used this molding around the dome above the staircase. Finally we installed stylish MDF crown molding to complement the trim throughout the house. We saved both time and money by using MDF. In the past, elaborate molding would require several steps of installation, taking longer to complete and increasing the cost of the install. But this was simplified by using MDF and gave us the same architectural look we were after. Well Warren here you’ve got a piece of crown molding that’s actually 3 pieces of molding nailed together. What kind of savings can we expect on the material itself, and it already comes primed, so what are we saving with the painter? Warren: If this is pine we’re looking at 50% at least, especially when you get these bigger profiles. Michael: Okay, so a room like this we’re talking our crown, we’re saving a couple of hundred bucks, how about the whole house? Warren: Oh thousands. Michael: Thousands of dollars. Warren: Sure. Michael: Why, I’d rather keep the money. Warren: So would I. Michael: Here we’re looking at 3 profiles but how many choices are there really as far as size and different styles? Warren: Oh we have hundreds of profiles at SierraPine. We have hundreds of casings, crowns, bases. Michael: For more information on how MDF trim or molding can be an attractive and affordable option for your new house, visit the Composite Panel Associations website at pbmdf.com.