What do you know about particleboard?

Ff ARTICLEBOARD or medium

F density fiberboard (MDF) is a good recommendation when a customer is shopping for underlayment, shelf or interior stair tread material.

Particleboard underlayment is a precision made wood panel product engineered specifically to meet the requirement of floor underlayment. The panels provide a smooth, uniformly thick solid base which is free of knots, voids or grain. This base is suitable for all types of floor covering including resilient flooring, carpeting and seamless flooring.

Story at a Glance

Aswers to your customers' questions about particleboard and MDF. usesuggestions. add on sales possibilities free information.

stored flat on bunks or skids in a flat, dry place. They should be taken to the workplace as needed. Concrete, plaster and lumber at the job site should be dried to the approximate conditions that will exist when the room or building is occupied. It is best to install underlayment just before putting down the floor covering after all interior finishing work is complete.

Builders frequently use particleboard or MDF for shelves, and you can be sure a do-it-yourselfer or remodeling contractor can use it with few problems. Either underlayment or industrial particleboard or MDF will provide safe spans.

A rule of thumb is that the thicker the board and the closer the supports, the stronger the shelf will be, but tables are available to provide precise loading and design information if your customer needs it. For example, kitchen cabinets are usually designed for a uniform load of l5 pounds per square foot, closets, 25 and books, 40.

oil or latex enamel, brushes and/or rollers or paint pads, gloves, drop cloth and masking tape.

Particleboard and MDF are widely used by builders as a stepping material. The material has no knots or grain and comes with one edge bullnosed. Because it is presanded, it provides a smooth surface and close tolerances.

Manufacturers will provide specific lengths or material can be cut on site from standard lengths. Manufacturers also provide recommended methods of installation. Stepping with an independent inspection agency grademark meets most codes.

Buyers should be cautioned that the material is for inside use only and should be covered with carpeting or resilient flooring. If it is used near an entrance with wet foot traffic, it should have a waterproof covering such as vinyl or a moisture resistant coating.

Since all model building codes accept the use of particleboard underlayment, you can assure your customer that it will meet building or remodeling inspection requirements.

You also can be confident that a d-i-yer will be able to use the product with little trouble since it is made to a precision thickness to provide a level base and even joints. In addition, the particleboard panels are easy to handle and can be cut easily with ordinary hand or power tools.

The 4x8 foot standard size panels go down quickly and are available in a variety of thicknesses (1/2" to 3/4"). Either nails or staples can be used to fasten the panels without worrying about splitting. Adhesives can be used to bond the panels to other flooring components.

The only cautions necessary when selling particleboard deal with storage and handling. Panels should be

Finishing the shelves should be discussed since this will bring add on sales. Possibilities are sandpaper and/or a power sander since they must be smooth before a finish is applied, an enamel undercoat, either

The National Particleboard Association has free Builder Bulletins providing information on using particleboard and MDF for underlayment, shelf systems and stepping. These include span tables. Call Rich Margosian, (301) 670-17 52, for your copies.