MDF in boathouse

[doctormirabilis]

New to the forum, hello. I have a question about MDF in boathouses.

I'm currently building a boathouse that will be painted in the spring and also finished on the inside. There will be a sauna section in the boathouse, and on one of the interior walls that will be framed, I might want to put up MDF as the wall material. I'm not referring to the interior wall INSIDE the sauna, which will be clad with tongue and groove boards, but the other side. The one facing the rest of the boathouse.

The reason I want MDF is that you can have photos printed on that material, as well as plywood, glass, etc. It's expensive but looks nice. My question is mainly about the moisture resistance of different sheet materials. Is it feasible to use MDF as interior wall material in a boathouse, or will it be negatively affected by humidity? Of course, the house is dry and sealed, but the humidity will obviously be different when it is so close to the shore and left cold during the winter, etc.

I would prefer MDF as you can have photos printed with a white base coat on it. Plywood is also an option, but then it's printed directly on the wood, and the grain shows through. Otherwise, I would prefer plywood. It's also not an option to mount pictures as frames on the wall. They should be a part OF the wall.

Grateful for input before I spend several thousand.

 

[Ring]

MDF is very moisture-sensitive. I have it as moldings in some rooms. If there is damage to the surface treatment and you scrub a few times with water, the MDF starts to disintegrate.
But there are surely several different brands....

 

[doctormirabilis]

Thank you. Doesn't sound like a safe choice spontaneously. Maybe better to go for plywood despite slightly less attractive photo results then.

 

[Rabbithole]

MDF and moisture are not good

You could use an OSB or Plywood, which you can prime and smooth with filler if you want a photo on it?

 

[doctormirabilis]

MDF and moisture are no good

You can use OSB or Plywood that you prime and smooth with filler if you want a photo on it?

No, it is the photo/printing company that provides the material, you can't give them boards to print pictures on.

 

[pjkw]

There are companies that print wallpaper from the customer's picture, maybe that is an option?

 

[doctormirabilis]

There are companies that print wallpaper from the customer's image, maybe that's an option?

thanks. thought about it but doubtful of how wallpaper would fare in a boathouse in the long term, for the same reasons I'm doubtful of the mdf.

 

[En apelsin]

Best to say it. MDF is a terrible material. Doesn't tolerate moisture at all. Once I built a bookshelf in MDF. It only took spilling coffee on it for the material to fray and look awful. I wouldn't even consider MDF in a boathouse near a sauna. Even if the MDF were to survive a cold winter, all it takes is a sauna-goer to place a wet towel nearby, and it's done for. I think plywood is 1000 times better. Also check how the finish withstands moisture so it doesn't look bad after the winter.

 

[doctormirabilis]

Best to say it. MDF is a terrible material. Doesn't withstand moisture at all. Once I built a bookshelf in MDF. Just spilling coffee on it was enough for the material to fray and look awful. I wouldn't even consider MDF in a boathouse by a sauna. If the MDF were to survive a cold winter, it would only take a person putting a wet towel nearby, and it would be ruined. I think plywood is 1000 times better. Also, find out how the type of paint withstands moisture so that it doesn't look bad after the winter.

sounds like MDF isn't a good option then. maybe just go with plywood and accept that it's a bit uneven. maybe focus on older black and white photos mainly, then it might look pretty okay. definitely need to remember to ask about the paint's durability. thank you

 

[Rabbithole]

But they must be able to have something that is smooth and withstands moisture. For example, kanalplast

 

[Stiftet]

Hello, we use many different prints at my job. You need to prime the board before printing on it. Birch or poplar plywood have the most neutral grain, which is the easiest to get perfectly smooth, and you can also print on aluminum, which turns out very nice and precise.

 

[doctormirabilis]

But they must be able to have something that is smooth and moisture-resistant. For example, channel plastic

Even for example glass and aluminum can be printed on, but it looks a.) less "natural" and b.) is much more expensive. But it's possible, absolutely.

 

[doctormirabilis]

Hi, we use a lot of different prints at my work. You prime the board before printing on it. Birch or poplar plywood is most neutral in grain, which is easiest to get completely smooth, you can also print on aluminum, which turns out very nice and precise.

thanks for the input. the print shops seem a bit nervous about boathouses, and say that "plywood doesn't work so well in damp environments," but whether it's considered a damp environment when they're in a tight but cold-stored boathouse, they can't say. what would you say? it seems a bit strange to me that plywood would fail in a boathouse provided moisture doesn't get directly on it, so to speak.

 

[Rabbithole]

Depends on whether it's a boathouse with open water or just a storage.

 

[Stiftet]

It depends on the glue used. There are different qualities. But an aluplatta is completely safe against moisture.