Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 14, 2017 6:00 pm Hey guys, I have a question around MDF Bulkheads and what they actually are, I'm assuming MDF bulkhead is the space between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling, is this correct? I've tried looking online but it isn't very clear. According to my build, I should have MDF Bulkheads, but I've seen completion photos now which looks like my top cabinets do not have anything between them and the ceiling. There is just a space of where the cabinet ends at the top and about 12 inches of space before the ceiling. Would this be something easy to install at this point? Re: MDF Bulkhead Question 2Jul 14, 2017 6:26 pm hi, have a look at the kitchen photo on page 14 of my thread link in sig below. The mdf is still in raw state unpainted. expecting cornice to go ontop and the bulkhead to extend over to rangehood section too Re: MDF Bulkhead Question 3Jul 14, 2017 6:31 pm Hi, Thanks for that. My build definitely doesn't have this but it is part of my contract. Is this something that could be added after completion? Or is it too late now? Is your one simple plastering or is there wood that connects the whole area? Re: MDF Bulkhead Question 4Jul 14, 2017 6:43 pm I don't think it will be too late, there are some threads on here where missing bulkhead were raised with their SS - they just came back and added frame, plaster, cornices and paint. Our contract doesn't specify whether material is plaster or just painted MDF - otherwise I would have asked for timber frame and plaster. MDF Bulkhead Question 7Jul 14, 2017 8:45 pm vn88 Hi Arcadelt, what do you mean by swelling? In your opinion, is it worthwhile having the MDF bulkhead installed now as the house is near to completion? What are the benefits of it? You seemed a bit unsure in your first post about what they actually are, so I can only assume they are what you have deduced as the fills between the top of your joinery and the ceiling. If that is correct, they certainly are worth it because there is an awful lot of dust and/or fat that accumulates on the top of open horizontal surfaces in a house over the years, especially if they are in the kitchen. The bulkheads will fill that gap, although it is a bit of wasted space, unless you can turn them into storage too. My point, however, was about the use of MDF. MDF (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard) is a "wooden" board that is essentially made of wood fibre mixed with wax and resin under heat and pressure, so does not have the integrity of real timber, and to my mind, for sheeting or plastering is inferior over the long term to plasterboard or similar. Every house I have been in where it has been used in sheet form or mould form, such as skirting and architrave, it has swollen from moisture just present in the air. That is why it is banned in my build, in favour of real timber or other products. Probably a not bad thing to mention particle board should in case anyone else reading this got the two confused. 6 4856 thank you! do we need to get this or our builder before we commence new build on the block? 2 10260 You can really use anything you want the main consideration would be how it looks once painted/finished - or the look you want. Cabinetmakers use MDF because its cheap… 2 9900 |