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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Staircase (New)
Just had a new staircase fitted
I requested a solid pine one but the builder has fitted a part Pine part MDF one as its a bit late to have him rip it out and we are going to carpet it, I guess the only recouse is for him to drop the quote Question to the group, Are these MDF steps OK? any known problems, should they be sealed with something? TIA -- Vass |
#2
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Staircase (New)
On May 31, 11:16 am, "Vass" wrote:
Just had a new staircase fitted I requested a solid pine one but the builder has fitted a part Pine part MDF one as its a bit late to have him rip it out and we are going to carpet it, I guess the only recouse is for him to drop the quote Question to the group, Are these MDF steps OK? any known problems, should they be sealed with something? TIA -- Vass I'm sure that's not your only recourse. |
#3
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Staircase (New)
Vass wrote:
Question to the group, Are these MDF steps OK? any known problems, should they be sealed with something? Its a fairly standard material to use for them these days. Its dimensionally stable and hence does not tend to cup and twist like planks can. Hence it stays quieter. Under carpet it would be fine. No need to seal with anything in particular, but there is nothing stopping you giving it a coat of quick drying varnish if you want. Since you specified real wood, I would either ask for a small discount (say 10-20%) or use it as a bargaining chip later when you want something from the builder. -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#4
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Staircase (New)
"John Rumm" wrote in message
... Vass wrote: Question to the group, Are these MDF steps OK? any known problems, should they be sealed with something? Its a fairly standard material to use for them these days. Its dimensionally stable and hence does not tend to cup and twist like planks can. Hence it stays quieter. Under carpet it would be fine. No need to seal with anything in particular, but there is nothing stopping you giving it a coat of quick drying varnish if you want. Since you specified real wood, I would either ask for a small discount (say 10-20%) or use it as a bargaining chip later when you want something from the builder. thanks John feel better about it now cheers -- Vass |
#5
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Staircase (New)
On May 31, 1:16 pm, "Vass" wrote:
"John Rumm" wrote in message ... Vass wrote: Question to the group, Are these MDF steps OK? any known problems, should they be sealed with something? Its a fairly standard material to use for them these days. Its dimensionally stable and hence does not tend to cup and twist like planks can. Hence it stays quieter. Under carpet it would be fine. No need to seal with anything in particular, but there is nothing stopping you giving it a coat of quick drying varnish if you want. Since you specified real wood, I would either ask for a small discount (say 10-20%) or use it as a bargaining chip later when you want something from the builder. thanks John feel better about it now cheers -- Vass You aught to tape some ply on the stairs as there is work going on that will damage them. It is fairly unusual to get uprights (risers that are not either mdf or ply, these days.) A coat of 1 part varnish to 1 part meths or turps will give it some protection from watermarks. I'd opt for a price cut as you are stuck between other needs. But why did you not check the thing when it was delivered? It would have been fairly easy to replace the risers if the thing was still unfitted. Not an easy job but doable. |
#6
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Staircase (New)
adder1969 wrote:
On May 31, 11:16 am, "Vass" wrote: Just had a new staircase fitted I requested a solid pine one but the builder has fitted a part Pine part MDF one as its a bit late to have him rip it out and we are going to carpet it, I guess the only recouse is for him to drop the quote Question to the group, Are these MDF steps OK? any known problems, should they be sealed with something? Yes they are OK, there are INFINITELY better than solid pine, which will warp, shrink, crack and creak after a bit. No they don't need sealing unless you are painting them. Or you have urinating pets. TIA -- Vass I'm sure that's not your only recourse. |
#7
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Staircase (New)
"Weatherlawyer" wrote in message
ups.com... On May 31, 1:16 pm, "Vass" wrote: But why did you not check the thing when it was delivered? Was at work, left them to it. fitted and screwed when I got home. -- Vass |
#8
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Staircase (New)
On 2007-06-01 09:02:07 +0100, "Vass" said:
"Weatherlawyer" wrote in message ups.com... On May 31, 1:16 pm, "Vass" wrote: But why did you not check the thing when it was delivered? Was at work, left them to it. fitted and screwed when I got home. Personally, I'd make them change it; inconvenience or not. Certainly I wouldn't accept having the thing with a bunch of dents and dings. With wood, you can at least (usually) remove surface dents using a damp cloth and an iron as long as no material has been gouged out. I very much doubt that that can be done with MDF. |
#9
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Staircase (New)
On 1 Jun, 09:35, Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-06-01 09:02:07 +0100, "Vass" said: "Weatherlawyer" wrote in message oups.com... On May 31, 1:16 pm, "Vass" wrote: But why did you not check the thing when it was delivered? Was at work, left them to it. fitted and screwed when I got home. Personally, I'd make them change it; inconvenience or not. Certainly I wouldn't accept having the thing with a bunch of dents and dings. With wood, you can at least (usually) remove surface dents using a damp cloth and an iron as long as no material has been gouged out. I very much doubt that that can be done with MDF. Really I'm with Andy on that one. MDF looks sht, its damaged as well, its not what was ordered, and the odd spills that do occur IRL will make a pigs ear of it, leaving you needing expensive remedial work in time. Pine otoh will last a century easily, look fairly good, be more or less spillproof, and can be repaired in situ as well. (Hardwood would be better.) If you pay for the mdf, youre paying him to pull one over you. I dont like doing that. I'd withhold payment on the staircase unitl it was sorted out. As you cant do it in short term, maybe book a date later on to have it sorted out. Builders dont like that sort of thing, but it is their responsibility, the job is not ok, and they start to behave once they've had a reality check. OTOH there are cases where its best let go... all we can do is offer some options. NT |
#11
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Staircase (New)
On 2007-06-01 12:39:30 +0100, The Natural Philosopher said:
MDF will outlast pine by a long way, and wont crack split warp and creak. It machines nicely as well. However, getting dings out is a challenge. Pine is total utter ****e. In many cases true. MDF may only be cardboard, but its GOOD cardboard. ;-) In the right applications Pine, is, and always has been more or less the cheapest and worst wood one could use, for when one could not afford anything better. Stripped pine or unpainted pine, of course meant you couldn't afford the paint. Personally, I'd pay them to take the rest of the pine out altogether. I'd have gone for hardwood, but that's another discussion. |
#12
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Staircase (New)
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Personally, I'd pay them to take the rest of the pine out altogether. Having made a set of strings out of 1" MDF once (which due to an architects inability to count never got used), I would not use it again for the strings a staircase with rebates. You are putting it under stress in its weakest direction, especially when the treads and risers are well wedged. It would only require a damp atmosphere for a couple of days and the supporting part of the string would simply de-laminate from the rest of it. So pine for the strings works well, MDF for treads, and MDF or ply for the risers. -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#13
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Staircase (New)
On 2007-06-01 21:45:44 +0100, John Rumm said:
The Natural Philosopher wrote: Personally, I'd pay them to take the rest of the pine out altogether. Having made a set of strings out of 1" MDF once (which due to an architects inability to count never got used), I would not use it again for the strings a staircase with rebates. You are putting it under stress in its weakest direction, especially when the treads and risers are well wedged. It would only require a damp atmosphere for a couple of days and the supporting part of the string would simply de-laminate from the rest of it. So pine for the strings works well, MDF for treads, and MDF or ply for the risers. Even with kicks and dents? |
#14
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Staircase (New)
On 1 Jun, 12:39, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
wrote: On 1 Jun, 09:35, Andy Hall wrote: On 2007-06-01 09:02:07 +0100, "Vass" said: "Weatherlawyer" wrote in message roups.com... On May 31, 1:16 pm, "Vass" wrote: shows how little you know. MDF will outlast pine by a long way, and wont crack split warp and creak. What it does is blister up where a little water gets on it, till after a few years it looks like sht. Pine otoh happily lasts a century. Stairs are not a great app for pine, but give me pine over mdf any day. NT |
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