Dollhouse Building Materials

Dollhouses can be successfully built from a number of different materials.Plywood of various types and thicknesses is very often used. Fiberboard and even heavy cardboard are easy to cut and work well. Here is an articl on the subjecte published by About.com: http://miniatures.about.com/od/materialsforminiatures/bb/mdfbalticbirch.htm which was authored by Leslie Shepherd:  http://miniatures.about.com/bio/Lesley-Shepherd-26104.htm

Learn which materials are used to build dolls'houses and scale buildings. The materials you use may influence your choice of building components like windows and doors, or determine how you should best finish your house. Each type of materials ans pros and cons. Before you start construction, read about these materials to familiarize yourself with the tools, techniques, and characteristics of the various building materials.
Baltic Birch Vs Medium Density Fiberboard


Dolls houses and other miniature scale buildings often come as kits or completed structures made from MDF (medium density fiberboard) or Baltic Birch plywood. There are pros and cons to each material which are discussed here. Both materials give off some gasses, so they should never be left unfinished. Plywood structures are lighter and can be built to be dismantled or added on to at a later date. The decision of which to use is personal, but this article gives you some of the pros and cons of each material. If you use MDF, make sure you prime it before you paint. How to Prime Mdf
There is a lot of discussion about what type of material is better for dolls houses or other scale buildings, should you use MDF (medium density fiberboard) or Birch / Aircraft Plywood? What are the differences for dolls house or miniature scale buildings? Each material has strengths and weaknesses that may affect how your scale building survives, or even the technques you use to build and finish it.
Medium Density Fiberboard - MDF


MDF is Medium Density fiberboard (not particleboard). It is a durable wood product with an even density throughout. This makes it easy to cut precise edges and shapes. On a dolls house this allows detail like a pre cut exterior siding finish which requires no cutting and gluing of additional pieces of wood siding. MDF requires power tools to cut well, it creates very fine dust. It is very resistant to water penetration, although it will dent and split more readily than plywood. MDF is usually found at thicknesses of 1/4 inch up. 3/8 in. MDF is the most common thickness for dolls houses and similar structures. Lines for Electrical Wiring can be easily "cut" in MDF with common grout cleaning tool or grout saw
Baltic Birch Plywood


Baltic Birch Plywood is a plywood with a very fine wood grain available in several different ply numbers and thicknesses. The more plys (layers) there are, the more stable the board is. Baltic Birch plywood has a finer grain than does most other plywood. Its method of construction means there are no holes or voids in between the layers. It can be found in thicknesses from 1/8 inch up. Baltic Birch plywood does have a wood grain, but it is a very fine and flat surface which takes paint well. Baltic Birch Plywood can be used at a thickness of 1/4 inch to construct dolls houses and other miniature buildings. It is often found sold as 'aircraft plywood' in hobby and model stores.
Pros and Cons to Using MDF for Dollhouses and Other Miniature Structures


MDF has a very even surface. Unfortunately it does dent and chip. It is also much heavier than a similar thickness of plywood. Large doll houses or other structures made of mdf will be very heavy. MDF does not take nails or screws easily. Joins are best glued and dowelled. MDF is very hard to attach brads to, so electrical systems which use brads and pins may be difficult to attach. MDF can be milled, so doll houses with exterior trims such as siding, may have this texture milled into the mdf, making initial finishing much simpler but future exterior changes or additions will be difficult or impossible. As MDF absorbs water, it is best primed to prevent 'fuzzies' from occuring on a painted mdf surface.How to Prime MDF For a Better Paint Finish
Pros and Cons to Using Baltic Birch Plywood for Dolls Houses & Other Structures


Baltic Birch Plywood is considerably lighter than MDF of a similar size. It is stronger for it's thickness than MDF. Plywood easily accepts screws, nails and brads. Using electrical tapewire systems in plywood structures is easier than in those made of MDF. To construct dolls houses which need a finished interior, you need plywood which is good on both sides, or you must cover the worst side with siding or some other finish.

The above article is quoted from About.com: http://miniatures.about.com/od/materialsforminiatures/bb/mdfbalticbirch.htm

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