Painting Mdf

[gness]

I am painting new and primed MDF. I know I won't get the lovely finish I get on wood so will three thin and lightly sanded coats of paint be any better or am I wasting my time and should I just do two coats?

thanks Gx

[The Builder]

What sort of paint Gness?
Gloss?
Oil or water?

[gness]

Hi Mr. Builder. I am using Dulux Satinwood Natural Calico because the whole house was painted in that when I moved in. Rooms I have changed I am avoiding Dulux like the plague and going for trade paint. This however has to be for now. I have a large square arch between sitting and dining rooms. I've had shelving built for up both sides of the arch and over the top for books. Needs to be the same colour as the rooms for now...hence the Dulux. It's just not looking as good as my painting usually does. Gx

[carrust]

Treat it like normal woodwork. 3 coats of thinned satinwood, apply it with a gloss roller & lay it off with a brush. Rub-down & tack-off between each coat...Job's a good 'un

[gness]

Thanks Carrust. Looks like it is going to be three coats. Will have to be all brush though because it's lots of staggered shelving...no roller room. x

[The Builder]

You should listen to Crusty Mrs G

Also, there's honestly no reason why you shouldn't get a pukka finish on MDF. It soaks up a lot, so just takes a bit more work.

[carrust]

Take them out of your hair then:-)

[gness]

Thanks Mr. Builder too...and that I can get a good finish. Don't mind the work if it is going to be perfect.
Phew! Scared me for a minute Rusty...thought you could see me when you mentioned hair. Phone rang a while ago.....today's tip....Do not answer the phone with the hand holding a brush full of paint. I can grow my own grey hair without help from Dulux. x

[carrust]

Blue rinse & natural calico is a match made in heaven:-)

[Psybbo]

Carrust, I think you should hide - quickly!

[gness]

And heaven is where you will be if you carry on with the age cracks! I'm 19 .......you know that! ;-) x

[carrust]

Age & cracks....I'd better not go there;-)

[gness]

Mention Pollyfilla Rusty, and Parsley germination will be the least of your worries! xx

[gness]

Thank you both for the advice. Watered down a bit.....never having painted MDF I hadn't thought about how much would soak in....and careful painting and it's looking good so far.
Would the patchiness I was getting to begin with be due to the slightly varying thickness of the primer put on by the builder? In future do I need primer to be very even?

Thanks Gx

[carrust]

It depends if the joiner used acrylic primer. If you're putting at least 2 oil-based coats on you should be ok.

[gness]

Ahh...thanks Carrust. Don't know what he used but it is looking fine so one more light sanding with my snazzy sander and a final coat and I should be happy...and I will...I will contain myself and not fill the shelves til properly dry! Thanks for the help. x