Wood Ceiling Planks Comparison

"The beauty of the finished product – coupled with the ease of installation – made me a convert. It also made our first MDF customer very happy." Ron Hazelton, DIY Expert and TV Personality gives his thoughts on comparing real wood ceiling planks vs. pre-finished MDF.

Beautiful Option, Easy Installation

Recently, I worked with a homeowner who had started a home remodeling project, which included the kitchen. She wanted a wood ceiling to help create a “beachy” vibe. After doing some research, we recommended WOODHAVEN ceiling planks.

The planks’ beveled tongue and groove edges help to minimize any appearance of gaps, and their staggered installation keeps waste to a minimum. The best part is they snap right into the EASY UP track and clip system for an easy install. Unlike MDF planks, some real wood planks do not have the tongue and groove feature, and if they do, imperfections in the wood might leave gaps that need to be filled with caulk.

MDF: Strong, Dense, Stable

The composite ceilings have a strong structure, allowing them to be cut and drilled smoothly. Under certain conditions, MDF may perform better than solid wood, too. Solid wood tends to warp or crack when exposed to changes in humidity or temperature because of its inherent structure. This also makes some WOODHAVEN planks a great option for walls too!

But the composition and heat treatment keep the fibers in MDF evenly distributed. Although MDF can still warp sometimes, it is generally more stable and less likely to expand and contract in heat and humidity than solid wood ceiling planks.

Prefinished Planks Save Steps

One thing my crew and I appreciated with the WOODHAVEN product was the steps it saved us during installation – a big plus for DIYers as well. With completely pre-finished wood ceiling planks, there was no need to sand, stain or seal – it is truly an out-of-the box solution.

Compare that to the multiple priming, sanding and varnishing steps for a raw wood ceiling, or to the many priming and painting steps required for a drywall ceiling. Once the MDF planks are up, the project is done.