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Which One is Better for Mouldings? MDF or PVC?

The baseboard that joins your flooring to the walls, the trim around windows and doors and even the crown moulding at the ceiling are all important design aspects that will give your house an outstanding sense. Different furniture materials like wood, plywood, PVC, MDF, etc., are used for making these items.

Among all, currently, MDF and PVC are common shelves and flooring materials used in today's houses. Both are wonderful additions to any home or business, allowing you to establish your own personal style.

MDF or PVC Mouldings

MDF:

Medium-density fibreboard is one of the four main categories of wood-based panels including laminated boards, particle boards and oriented strand boards. MDF, like other composite construction materials, is made from plantation wood. It is smashed into a pulp and then re-formed into a hard furniture product shortly after entering the mill. MDF is a substitute for natural wood since it has a lot of characteristics similar to natural wood.

PVC:

Polyvinyl chloride compound is the most widely produced plastic polymer in the world. Commonly known as PVC, it is a thermoplastic synthetic plastic polymer and it is mostly used for pipes, food safety sheets, medical devices, the building of windows and doors, etc. PVC is available in two forms: Rigid and Flexible.

MDF vs. PVC

MDF and PVC are totally different materials used for furniture purposes in the house or any building. There are a quite few dissimilarities between PVC and MDF which are as under:

  • The basic difference between MDF and PVC is that MDF is designed for use in higher-end furniture, cabinets, shelving, stacking, etc. Polyvinyl Chloride, on the other hand, is used in lower-end furniture, floor underlayment, bathroom and kitchen worktops, etc.
  • MDF panels are easily available in various thickness and sizes. MDF board is available in three finishes: untreated, primed alone, or painted and primed. Whereas PVC panels are available unpainted in the dimensions 4✕8 foot or more, PVC pre-cut boards for shelving in various lengths are also available.
  • MDF is extensively used for moulding since it can be shaped and moulded with any power tool. PVC may be milled with any power tool; however, there is a considerable degree of tear-out.
  • To improve the appearance of PVC cabinet board, a thin coating of laminate or veneer is frequently applied to the surface. MDF can be finished with veneer or laminate, although it is not necessary because the surface is already enhanced.
  • MDF receives paint without excessive absorption or unwanted distortion, making it an easy surface to paint. While PVC should only be painted using paints formulated specifically for PVC; otherwise, its surface can peel, flake, or scratch.
  • MDF is environmentally friendly and can be easily recycled for reuse as it is made up of wood fibre. PVC is not degradable or biodegradable after its use as the breakdown does not occur easily.
  • MDF is resistant to chipping and ripping and hence it is easy to mould. While PVC is prone to chipping and breaking, it is hard to mould.

By seeing the difference we can clearly understand that MDF can be best used for mouldings in our houses. Furthermore, various factors determine the best-suited material for household use such as room location, your budget, water, etc. Let us check why MDF should be used for mouldings:

Why MDF for mouldings?

MDF must be used over PVC as it has more advantages and suits best for mouldings. When PVC is damaged by any type of contact with any substance, it is almost hard to repair them and has to be replaced. It generally does not go well with saws and cutting. As PVC is susceptible to breaking and is brittle, its installation takes extra time and it also requires additional installers to attach it.

On the other hand, MDF is the best material for mouldings because:
  • MDF is uniform in size and strength, hence can be moulded into many forms.
  • Mouldings are curvy and MDF being very flexible provides better curves.
  • MDF is smoother to handle compared to raw wood and it can be laminated and painted to achieve nearly any panel finish.
  • MDF is also pretty steady, with fewer twists and bows. Also, it is available in a variety of sizes and shapes.
  • The popularity of MDF moulding is also due to its lower cost. MDF is preferred by value-conscious owners, contractors and builders for installing large quantities of mouldings.

Closure:

Both MDF and PVC are great add-ons to any house or workplace, enabling you to customize the style to fit into your space. MDF is best suited for internal applications, whereas PVC is better suited for external applications, both because of their unique qualities.

VIR MDF is a leading MDF manufacturer and supplier in India for years. We provide the best quality of medium-density fibreboards for a variety of applications for commercial and residential purposes. Our top-quality MDF products can be used for mouldings, baseboards, trimming and various other furniture items.