Making MDF water resistant.

[LetItGoHome]

Hi. I have had a cloakroom under my stairs fitted. The basin sits on a laminate worktop. That has an MDF cupboard underneath which houses the gas meter and the basin plumbing. As it's just a toilet in there it's not steamy or humid but the MDF will need to stand up to a fair bit of splashing from my less than careful kids.
So how am I best to paint to it to give its best chance of survival. I was going to give it a couple of coats of multi surface primer/base coat. Then a couple of coats of gloss. Does this sound ok?

There's special water proof ply for bathrooms called aqua ply. There's anti dampness/anti-fungal paint you can get in paint shop. I'm not sure which is best. I usually ask in our local DIY Shop.

The OP already has the cupboard though?

I'd use a specialist MDF primer or the Zinsser shellac based one then a couple of coats of eggshell, satinwood or gloss paint. There's a Rustoleum satin finish furniture paint which gives a really durable finish. It's also available in a small tin the perfect size for a project like yours. Make sure you paint all the edges.

Yes, already got the cupboard! Sounds like I'm thinking along the right lines. I'll check out the Rustoleum
satin range .