What are mosaic mirrors made from?
We start with a backing board shape. The smaller shapes are usually made with Medium Density Fiberboard, or MDF, a composite wood product similar to particle board. It’s made out of wood waste fibers glued together with resin, heat, and pressure. MDF is found in many home applications, from cabinetry, in furniture, shelving, laminate flooring, decorative moldings, and doors. For us, MDF has some advantages over plywood. It’s very smooth because the wood fibers used in its manufacture are uniform and fine. When sawed, the ends have a smooth cut instead of jagged or splintered edges that give us slivers. We prefer using MDF over regular lumber because it has a lower impact on the environment. MDF is solely made from waste products, the leftover scraps that would otherwise be dumped in a landfill. The medium and larger mosaics are usually cut from 5/8″ or 3/4″ exterior-grade plywood, in spite of the sliver hazards we encounter, because the larger mirrors need a more rigid backing and sinc
