Softwood or MDF Skirting Board

[colsnr]

Im about to renew the skirting board in the bedrooms, what should I use

unfinshed softwood or primed MDF?

Thanks

 

[foxhole]

If it's to be painted? mdf, stained? then timber.

 

[Diyisfun]

No knots in mdf, wont warp/twist.

 

[Harbourwoodwork]

MDF would go well with underfloor heating

 

[Pigeon85]

Go for the ready primed stuff, 1 undercoat then top coat is all you will need.

 

[Diyisfun]

Go for the ready primed stuff, 1 undercoat then top coat is all you will need.

I found the ready primed stuff, rough. So I sanded it down, then primed again & painted. It depends on what finish you are after.

 

[kjacko]

I recently used MDF in my conservatory.
But i made them myself as i need a specific height skirting.
I just ran them through my table saw to put a mitred angle on the top.
2 x acrylic primer undercoat, 2 x water-based satinwood top coat for me.

I was advised to sand the mdf first, then coat with 5:1 water/pva mix before painting. Lightly sanding after each coat.
Not sure if it was need, but the end product looks ok.

 

[colsnr]

Thanks for the advise.

Do I need to paint the MDF skirting side that faces the wall before fixing into postion or will the priming be sufficient?

I will be sawing the 6" skirting internal mitres and 45's pre scribing with a hand saw, the skirting laid flat in a large mitre box, could anyone recommend a good hand saw for MDF?
type, size (needs to span a 7"mitre box),make, tpi etc.

Thanks

 

[Harbourwoodwork]

You only do pre scribe mitre cut when using chop saw if your doeing it all by hand ,just offer up an off cut of skirting and draw the scribe cut from that, do any extenal mitre's with the skirting vertical it's easier and neater.
A hand saw I would recomend ,would be a Spear and Jackson Predator 10TPI would produce clean 2nd fix work.