[amakarevic]

Can MDF board be painted?

Thanks

[joecaption]

Yes but you may want to apply an oil based primer first. It's going to soak up reguler primer and paint like no one's business.
What do you plan on doing with it?
If it's shelving your would be far far better off going with plywood instead.

[amakarevic]

Originally Posted by joecaption

What do you plan on doing with it?
If it's shelving your would be far far better off going with plywood instead.

yes, shelving. but plywood warps really bad. even the kind that looks like it has 5 layers sandwiched together (what do you call that, BC or something?)

thanks

[joecaption]

Plywood installed correctly will not sag or warp, unless your talking about some cheap 1/2 thick OSB.
If you think plywood is a problum wait until you try the MDF.
The correct way to install any shelf it to use 1 X 4's along the back wall and on two sides. The front edge gets a strip of 1 X 4 glued and nailed or screwed under it so the whole thing is fully supported.

[mae-ling]

I'm with joe, go with plywood.
What size shelf and what is going on them?

[amakarevic]

Originally Posted by mae-ling

What size shelf and what is going on them?

36x30", above the stackable washer/dryer, for detergents and stuff

[joecaption]

Wire shelving would look better, be stronger and never need to be painted.
Once that MFD has the weight of a bottle of soap and bleach set on it it's going to sag. Once anything spills on it, it starts to fall apart.

As you can see I'm not a big fan of that cheap style MDF.
There are other MDF's that are far dencer and are sealed better.

[mae-ling]

Can you get 30" deep wire shelves?

Plywood with an edging would be my choice

[sdsester]

I think I would go with a wire shelving system too. And yes you can get systems like restaurants and others have in just about any depth you want. With some, the shelving is near infinitely adjustable too. Even closet shelving comes wide and in finishes like chrome or powder coated so you don't have to worry about it rusting or the paint coming off. Obviously the cheap box store stuff is not what you want.

I wouldn't use MDF in a wet area like a laundry room.

Realize there are many types of plywood some defined by their adhesives and not just the composition of the wood and surface. For that matter, their are many types of MDF and particle board.

[woody4249]

A 30" x 36" shelf isn't going to sag if it is supported all round with 3/4" x 1 1/2" wall cleats and front facing.

[Millertyme]

MDO would be a good choice for plywood.