Painting MDF

[Alan Penn]

I was thinking of painting some MDF boards with emulsion paint. Do they need sealing first? If so what do you recommend.

Alan

[Dave]

Emulsion takes to MDF without a primer IME.

Seal it if using gloss, it's like try to paint a sponge otherwise!

Dave

[The Natural Philosopher]

No, they really do not need it.

Ive gort a fair bit and I can't rell it from plaster. Expet its more smooth.

She claims it looks like MDF,but that's only cos she knows its there. :-)

[Charlie]

I did this recently for a false wall. Use a 50% PVA / 50% Water mix, one coat, then slap the emulsion straight on.

C

[Markus Splenius]

The edges need sealing but not the faces. I used some cheap MDF primer I bought from Wilkinsons.

Markus

[Jeremy Goff]

I found this, sealed my edges with normal wood primer, then undercoat and gloss. Expect emulsion would be fine on primed edges.

[Andy Dingley]

Prime first with a non water-based primer. Otherwise you'll raise fibres on the surface. For rough work this might not matter.

You certainly need to seal the edges, or else it absorbs a huge amount of paint.

[Rob Morley]

I always use an oil-based wood primer - it might not be necessary, but it works fine.

[Alan Penn]

Thanks for all your replies. I'm insulating the walls of my garage/workshop and I thought I would cover the insulation with MDF boards. Judging by most of the replies I will just emulsion them.

Alan

[Rob Morley]

Make sure that the bottom edges are sealed if there's any chance that they'll be exposed to damp.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Yepo.I used a water based matt white acrylic primer. after rubbing down, was a fine surface for emulsion.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Not as much as you might think. A rub down and a second coat fixes all.

*shrug* thats another way to prime it..