Laundry room makeover

[Matt Schnurbusch]

Without going into greatly unneeded detail, I am doing a small job and need some advice on the use of some materials. My Sis-in-law had a cabinet set installed in her laundry room, but didn't like the quote for some things.

She has a 24"x24" 'cubby' and wants to install adjustable melamine shelving floor to ceiling, with one solid shelf to stiffen the cubby. Can I get away with just cutting 3/4 melamine @24x24 and edge banding it (with the iron on stuff), or will I need to add a solid wood stiffener to the front and/or rear edges?

In the same area she has a set of cabinets that were installed to make a desk from. She wants me to build the desktop for her from plywood (oak, maple, not sure what yet). Can I laminate a piece of ply to a piece of mdf, and expect it to be stable? Her expectation is that it will be similar to the picture below. I need to be able to build up the surface to 1-1/2".

View image in gallery​

 

[DaveO]

A 24" x 24" piece of Melamine should be stiff enough without a wood edge stiffener. I've got kitchen cabinets with ½" laminated PB shelves that are 24" wide but not as deep and they hold a lot of dishes with minimal deflection.
I don't think that you would have any issues laminating MDF to plywood, they both have very little to no movement in service. My only concern would be using MDF anywhere in a laundry room, as it doesn't play well with moisture.


MTCW,
Dave

 

[Matt Schnurbusch]

Thanks DaveO.

I hadn't even thought about the moisture inherent to the laundry room. Does it make a difference that the desk top area is in the opposite corner of a 10'x10' room, or should I use AC or BC (or some other) plywood instead for the lamination?

 

[JimmyC]

Matt,

I personally don't see a problem with using the MDF, I have used it a few times as a workbench (hardboard top) and never had moisture problems. MDF can be used outside if it's primed properly, so the moisture from a laundry room shouldn't cause any problems. As far as laminating it goes, I think it will work out fine with a Tite bond product or contact cement, both of which I have used.

Good Luck,

 

[fergy]

A 24" x 24" piece of Melamine should be stiff enough without a wood edge stiffener. I've got kitchen cabinets with ½" laminated PB shelves that are 24" wide but not as deep and they hold a lot of dishes with minimal deflection.


MTCW,
Dave

Well, now we know what your next big woodworking project should be...

 

[fergy]

I'm going to vote that MDF is fine for this. The laundry room isn't that humid if you're venting the dryer properly.

It's used in kitchens and baths all the time.

We all use it in our shops, and a lot of those aren't air conditioned in the summer. I dare say that's more humidity that you might get in an indoor laundry room around here.

It's used (unfortunately) for aquarium stands with lots of water underneath. That's a very humid environment and it holds up okay unless you spill water on it.