Walnut veneered board for bathroom cupboard?

Question

Hi.I have created a full-room-height cupboard in my bathroom, at one endof the bath. The stud wall of this cupboard houses the pipework forthe bath shower valve. The rest of the cupboard will be shelved tohouse towels etc.It's a standard 3x2" carcassed cupboard and rather than line it withMDF, to be painted, I want to line it with a Walnut Veneered MDF witha door to match.However, I am conscious about making it water resistant, being in amoisture ridden environment and obviously want to avoid the veneerpeeling in the future, plus any edging strips I have put on the edges.Can anyone recommend a veneered board product that may be suitable forbathrooms and what I could do with the door, which will obviously havemore exposed edges than the rest of the cupboard... the unit will havea single full height door to the front.Any advice would be great.Many thanksDean.

NT · Accepted Answer

Veneer and bathroom not a great combination. Veneer and anywhere notthe best really.NT

deano · Answer

Is there an engineered board, with thicker outer layers to the core?

The Natural Philosopher · Answer

Dont worry. Just give it some coating or other - outside grade wood treatment is good - and it will be fine.

The modern veneered MDF diesnt use any sort of water affected glue: your bigger problem would be using MDF at all, since it swells and falls apart when wet, but I have used it extensively in bathrooms with no issues. The real requirement is enough heat and ventilation to not get condensation. A splash is OK. persistent damp is not.

Pete Verdon · Answer

Veneered "marine" ply (some more marine than others :-) ) is used for boat interiors and should be up to the job I'd have thought. Robbins Timber in Bristol is a well-known source.Pete

The Natural Philosopher · Answer

Yep., you should be able to sail your bathroom round cape horn in a force 9 and not have it delaminate.For those who prefer to stay at home, stick to MDF.

deano · Answer

Thanks NP... some common sense!I originally thought this would pose no problems, but some of my peers(down the pub) began to sow the seeds of doubt in me..."You don't wanna be doing that" kind of comments... I should haveremained stoic!Can you recommend a coating that would do the job?... few coats aspossible and one that retains the natural grain of the veneer!The built-in in question is well out of the way of anything but themerest splashes and I have fitted a decent sized towel rail and ahumidstat in the room, I suppose it would also be useful to have anidea of the best way to adhere edging strip around the full-heightdoor to the cupboard.Thanks for following this thread.d.

The Natural Philosopher · Answer

there's plenty of water based acrylics that are actually pretty good, or if you really want to go colorful, check out some of the ronseal exterior products.

Cant remember what I used. Might have been sikkens exterior. Anyway it works well enough. Two or three coats rubbed down between.

ah. Probably evo stick if its not iron on.

deano · Answer

TNP...Cupboard now built. In Walnut veneered MDF. Sealed with satin acrylicvarnish, 3 coats, rubbed down between.Looks lovely. Client happy, so am I.Thanks.

The Natural Philosopher · Answer

wife's only complaint about the oak veneered MDF mixed with the real oak is 'it looks too perfect'.. its not quite 'natural''

deano · Answer

When it comes to wives... there's always a complaint ;-)

PeterC · Answer

Yup - 99.9% right=100% wrong.

Walnut veneered board for bathroom cupboard?

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