[rocketdoctor]

I am remodelling my home and the plan for all my windows \is to have no molding on the windows except for the Sills. My wife wants a very modern look so all the windows are jammed with drywall and squared off. I was just thinking of taking 3/4 MDF and installing the sills and have them come out maybe 1 inch from the wall and also notched so they are about an inch off each side as well.

any other ideas

 

[Mop in Hand]

Your plan will work if your windows are insulated and you don't have any moisture problems. I would not use mdf myself although it is done in new homes all the time. The problem with mdf is it chips to easily. If you have ever seen a house with all mdf moldings, after awhile you will see chips everywhere especially around the floor where it can be hit by the vacuum cleaner. Finger jointed pine would be a step up, solid hardwood would be the better choice.

 

[LadyFinisher]

MDF if it gets any kind of miosture or wet in anyway it will swell up.
Keep in mind that MDF is basically several sheets of paper with a glue so when it gets wet it will swell about 2 times from normal. And no matter what type of paint or primer you up on it will not protect it.

 

[Thurman]

I've seen this work done using #1 pine painted and it looked really good. Just an idea.

 

[LadyFinisher]

Good suggestion Truman

 

[Zel1]

MDF sucks. Forget to close the window and it rains, and the mdf is now ripe for the landfill. Use cheap pine is painting.

 

[rocketdoctor]

thanks all , I'll go with pine and paint it

 

[RegeSullivan]

Be sure to price a hardwood before you buy the pine. When I did my sills in the old house I found white ash for just a little more than clear pine. It was easy to work with and rate 1320 vs 420 for pine on the Janka hardness scale. Our new home has pine and it dents so easily I hate it...

Rege