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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be concerned about MDF

17 replies

Igglepiggle3 · 17/09/2020 22:04

Hello all
Have just moved into a new house and wanted the fitted wardrobes in the main bedroom replaced. There was nothing wrong with them, infact they were super good quality but the colour was just not for me.
We contacted the usual suspects such as sharps, Hammonds - all of which were over the budget we wanted to spend. So we decided to try a local carpenter. I contacted a fair few and no one came back to me apart from one. We agreed on a quote and he commenced the work.
After a week the wardrobe was a total disaster, very shoddy, MDF pieces not cut to size properly, poor finish and not to mention lack of care - paint all over wooden floor, no furniture was covered, doors made from MDF were made outside and there was dust all in the garage, down the side of the house, paint on stone on the driveway. I have removed all the paint covered stones and cleaned the dust out of the garage today. I will also hose down the side of the house.
These are now my questions. I suffer from severe anxiety and I did not realise MDF contained harmful chemicals, if I had known then I would not have agreed to use MDF.
So when he installed the wardrobes (Carcas is chipboard, doors MDF) there was some dust from screwing in screws and hinges. I did not clean it up straight away as we did not use the wardrobe as it was so shoddy and we are going to take it down ASAP. I have cleaned it now after reading the dust is bad to breathe in. Here is my concern, sometimes my toddler comes in with us and I’m worried she could have breathed some of the dust in. Is this an issue or is it more the dust from sawing?
There was also an awful smell from the doors, I don’t know if it was the paint or MDF we took them off after a couple of days.
Second question, is it unfair to refuse payment for the wardrobe as it is substandard? Honestly, I don’t think any rectifying would make a difference!

OP posts:
CSIblonde · 18/09/2020 07:58

If you cleaned up after & opened a window I really wouldn't worry. It won't linger chemical wise if so.Re the wardrobe, if you still have the original which was great quality but wrong colour, chalk paint is very forgiving & covers any surface well: & there are endless You Tube tutorials on painting furniture with it. The end results always look so great, I wish I had something to paint!

Oysterbabe · 18/09/2020 07:59

Why didn't you sand and paint the existing wardrobes?

Bikingbear · 18/09/2020 08:04

The dust from MDF is the issue but it's more of a consistent exposure to it, when it's being cut than a one off.

DdraigGoch · 18/09/2020 08:05

Why didn't you just repaint the old one?

CasperGutman · 18/09/2020 08:14

YANBU to be unhappy with the work. It sounds pretty shoddy, all round.

YABU to worry any more about the dust though (and you probably know it - that's why you mentioned your general issues with anxiety). You've cleaned it up and ventilated the room. It'll be fine.

TitsOutForHarambe · 18/09/2020 08:35

I don't understand why you didn't just paint the existing wardrobes?

If he's done a really shit job then I wouldn't pay.

Igglepiggle3 · 18/09/2020 10:07

Hello. The issue with the previous wardrobe is that it can’t be sanded - the sides for example were chipboard with a vinyl wrap and that vinyl wrap was walnut colour. Maybe I could have just painted over. But it’s out now unfortunately.
I was concerned as I left some of the dust on the shelves whilst he was working on it and he was so careless he didn’t cover any of our furniture so some dust may have been on our bedding and one night for sure she came in with us. He didn’t do any cutting or sawing in our room but there was abit on the shelves. Was just abit concerned....

Anyway, the work is terrible and I did a reverse google search on some of his photos on Facebook and they have come from Pinterest and redrow homes website. He hasn’t actually said he has done the work but the fact they are there lulls you into believing it is!

OP posts:
AlwaysCheddar · 18/09/2020 10:11

Have you paid him yet? I wouldn’t.

MrDarcysMa · 18/09/2020 10:45

Honestly, you'll be fine. I worked with mdf for years. Sounds like did the majority of the cutting outside anyway.

Igglepiggle3 · 18/09/2020 11:19

We paid him half but have told him we aren’t paying the rest. He danced 2 lights as well. I don’t know if we should pursue getting the money back or just put it down to a bad experience!

OP posts:
Igglepiggle3 · 18/09/2020 16:19

Sorry, not danced- *damaged

OP posts:
Igglepiggle3 · 18/09/2020 21:30

@MrDarcysMa you mentioned you worked a lot with MDF - is it regulated in the UK? I’m reading a lot about formaldehyde??

OP posts:
CSIblonde · 18/09/2020 23:13

You're obsessing now with the formaldehyde comment. Get some real wood unsanded doors which are dirt cheap anywhere ,paint and add to the shell . You said the old one was great quality then say its vinyl wrap!? You can paint chip board & surfaces like kitchen worktops & melamine wardrobes & furniture , there are special paints available.

BumbleBee5w · 18/09/2020 23:46

With regards to the MDF do not worry. Think of all the millions of people that assemble flat pack ikea furniture every day in their homes, in the vicinity of their children. Most children's furniture is MDF. It does contain chemicals that arent great for us and people working with it on a daily basis should wear PPE so that they are not breathing excessive amounts of it in. However, we are exposed to so many chemicals and toxins each day. It's just life and you cant worry about it. Just donft worry about that at all.

Definitely do not pay for substandard work though!!

Mutunus · 19/09/2020 00:11

MDF is considered dangerous in places like carpenters shops where where large quantities are generated hence the extraction facilities and PPE in place. I wouldn't worry too much about a little bit left on the shelves. Hoover it up and you're good to go.

1990s · 19/09/2020 00:19

Most MDF has to meet EU standards now, and is much lower in formaldehyde and other chemicals

Igglepiggle3 · 19/09/2020 20:47

Thankyou all for the reassurance on the MDF. I won’t worry about that.
We took the wardrobes out today and the work was so much worse that initially anticipated?
! Between the top of the wardrobe and the ceiling he had put some caulk but because there was such a gap he had put little bits of cardboard! Screws missing, poor workmanship all round. I don’t know if it’s worth progressing to a small claims court?

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