Cape Cod MDF Beadboard plank problems

[Jim Green]

I have been using the Cape Cod MDF Beadboard planks that Home Depot sells for a number of years over cabinet backs, for wainscoting where a thin surface was needed, etc. It is a pretty good product for some uses. I recently went to pick up some of it for a couple of rooms only to find that it had a new red label. I assumed that it was the exact same product with a new label. It is not.


The MDF is softer, the bead is smaller, the tongues are fuzzy and don't fit into the grooves worth a damn, and the primer coat is miserable. I am really angry with myself for powering through one of the rooms using this stuff.

What a disappointing material.

Jim

[joseph]

been there .it's like i can see the material is junk but it doesn't fully register right off . There is the loss of time returning and then finding the right product coupled with the needs of the job banging around in my head as I decide what to do .

[kreg McMahon]

Yep it is! When I was a bead board journeyman I used it also and decided no more! You need to use a full sheet of the mdf. Breadboard That cabinet supply houses or lumber companies sell Its about 27 bucks a 4x8 sheet and for walls you can get 3 pieces out of it at 32 + - looks great

Do not use the full sheets at hd don't look that good.

Where you located? I can check sources for you.

This is why I am the king!

[Jim Green]

The basic reason that I was using the 7" wide beadboard panels was that I was installing it in a small room with numerous crown mouldings, cornices, panel mouldings, window and door casings, cabinets, countertops, etc. already in place, and incredibly out of plumb walls to boot, so 7" wide the panels seemed more user friendly for scribing than full sheets in this instance.

Also, because I have never really found beadboard plywood where the beading cuts are not slightly wavy and unattractive when painted. MDF sheets may be the answer for most work.

I did a search on this and someone who also had a bad experience with this stated that H. Depot uses four different suppliers for this stuff, so they must have changed their supplier in the San Francisco Bay area. The old stuff actually was pretty good for some uses, unlike this new one.

All the best,
Jim

[kreg McMahon]

The plywood bead is only okay for exterior. Interior sucks. I have seen it used and painted and it looks bad

The good mdf is smooth and even beads and looks great. I have used it in small bathrooms etc no big deal size it up scribe it out glue it nail it done deal

Prime it sand lightly and paint don't forget to remove the base board then reads base. I have seen bead put on top of base and it looks stupid. Do it right and you to can be a bead board masterbeadder

[kreg McMahon]

One more thing. Jessie at Archmolding... Might chime in with a supplier for the mdf bead. He might be in your area and can help

[clydewater]

Hi Kreg
I am near Trenton New Jersey, can you tell me the sources that you would recommend for bead board in my area?
Thanks
Rich

[Jim Green]

Hi Kreg,
I think I have found a source for the MDF beadbiard sheets. I will be taking the H. Depot stuff back.
Have a good holiday.
Jim

[Handyalexander]

I personally ditched MDF beadboard a long time ago. My pet peeves are that the beadboard cuts are always in the wrong direction, as I have never done a job where the beadboard is higher than 48". And it is next to impossible to make an outside corner that looks decent. I used to be able to custom order it with the cuts going crosswise instead of lengthwise, but can't anymore. Now I only use the wainscotting by Princeton mouldings, and have never had an issue. Also there is significantly less waste this way. Not to mention that it looks better to me. I even have used it on ceilings with no issues. Just my 2 cents.

[Jim Green]

You are right about not being able to make a decent outside corner. Corner caps are really the only reasonable option and not a great one. Unfortunately, when you add beadboard after a room has already been trimmed, unless you are willing to take out the drywall or plaster, your options are limited to thin materials to not "overwhelm" the existing door and window casings.

I will check on the Princeton mouldings that you recommend.

All the best,
Jim

[kreg McMahon]

Hi Kreg
I am near Trenton New Jersey, can you tell me the sources that you would recommend for bead board in my area?
Thanks
Rich

call this number at colombia products and ask them who in your area sells the 1/4" mdf bead board panels 1 1/2" spacing and they should be able to tell you where to buy it.

let me know you got this

E A S T E R N U S :
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[clydewater]

Hi Kreg
You are the BEST!!!
Thanks
Richard

[kreg McMahon]

Your welcome

[cabooser]

I personally ditched MDF beadboard a long time ago. My pet peeves are that the beadboard cuts are always in the wrong direction, as I have never done a job where the beadboard is higher than 48". And it is next to impossible to make an outside corner that looks decent. I used to be able to custom order it with the cuts going crosswise instead of lengthwise, but can't anymore. Now I only use the wainscotting by Princeton mouldings, and have never had an issue. Also there is significantly less waste this way. Not to mention that it looks better to me. I even have used it on ceilings with no issues. Just my 2 cents.

Alex- Do you go to Lynn Lumber for your Princeton? I like the line. I heard Lynn may be closing their doors soon. I did some nice Princeton crown in Nahant a few months back. They have some nice profiles. I framed, hung and taped the ceiling too.