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Particle Board Has Its Place: Nowhere Near Water

Particle Board Has Its Place: Nowhere Near Water

Particle board is an economical, lightweight construction material that is made by taking sawdust, wood chips, and other small scraps and pressing them together and, along with some sort of binding agent, made to simulate a more natural-looking wood. While particle board is solid, durable, and able to withstand normal wear and tear, it definitely comes with its own share of problems — one of those being how particle board reacts to water.

Because particle board is literally made up of small pieces of wood and sawdust crammed together, it is especially susceptible to water damage. In fact, any exposure to water that isn’t immediately dealt with runs the risk of damaging the particle board, as all those spaces between the wood can suck up the water. The result is a swollen, flaky, ugly, misshapen piece of particle board that can not be repaired, only replaced.

This is why, if you are going to use particle board as a building material, it’s important to use it only in places where exposure to water is minimal. Cabinets, for example, are a relatively safe and water-free application, as they tend to stay above the ground and out of the reach of moisture. Using particle board as a sub-floor in your kitchen or bathroom, however, can be dangerous as those areas are much more prone to water.

Using particle board in your walls might seem like a safe idea, however, if those walls have plumbing running through them, it’s possible that those pipes (especially in older houses) can spring small leaks that go undetected for quite some time. While you may not notice anything, inside the walls the water is starting to interact with the boards in the walls, and by the time you notice anything it’s too late to fix the problem without tearing out and replacing much of your walls.

Another problem with water damage and particle boards is mold. Because of its more porous nature, particle board is especially good at growing mold and mildew, which can lead to a lot of health hazards, including breathing problems such as asthma or bronchitis. Certain types of mold, such as black mold, can be even more dangerous and life-threatening. This is why, if water damage does occur, it’s important to replace it as soon as possible.

If you have questions about using or replacing particle board in your home, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you!