Natural variation is not a defect. Actual defects are always resolved.
Wood and wood-based products vary naturally. This page defines exactly what constitutes acceptable natural variation across our MDF and pine product range, what crosses the line into a genuine manufacturing defect, and what we will do to put things right if something genuinely goes wrong. We are plain and specific on both counts — because vague policies help nobody.
Last updated & effective: 25 June 2026
What this policy covers
This policy applies to all products sold on lunaireworks.com, across all product types, thicknesses, and pack sizes.
MDF wall panels & kits
Shaker-style panel kits, tongue & groove kits, build-your-own individual slats, and bulk panel packs — in 6mm and 9mm thickness. Includes our pre-primed MWPKT-2 and MWPKT-4 moulding kits. These products are manufactured from engineered fibreboard and have their own specific variation characteristics distinct from natural timber.
Pine mouldings & dado kits
Cheshire Moulding dado kits, slim dado kits, and Cheshire Moulding shaker panel kits incorporating pine decorative components — capping rails, dado rails, and horizontal slats. Pine is natural timber and has a broader range of natural characteristics than engineered board. This policy sets out clearly which of those characteristics are acceptable and which are not.
Moisture-resistant (MR) MDF
Our moisture-resistant MDF board range — supplied for use in kitchens, bathrooms, and higher-humidity environments. MR MDF has a distinctive green tint throughout the board, which is a product of the moisture-inhibiting resin used in its manufacture. This green colouration is a deliberate and expected characteristic, not a defect, and will be covered over when the board is primed and painted.
Acceptable variation — MDF panels
MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) is an engineered wood product made by binding wood fibres under heat and pressure. It is more uniform than natural timber but not perfectly consistent, and the following characteristics are within the normal range for a product of this type.
Surface colour variation
MDF panel faces are off-white to light beige in their raw, unfinished state. Minor variation in the base colour between panels — including slightly more cream or slightly more grey in tone — is a natural result of the fibre composition and compression process used during manufacture. It is also possible for panels from the same batch to have slightly different base colours if different fibre lots were blended during production. This surface colour variation is entirely covered when the board is primed and painted, and has no effect on the structural or functional quality of the panel.
Acceptable variationMinor surface inclusions
Small inclusions — such as a tiny fibre cluster, a very minor density irregularity visible as a slight discolouration in the surface, or an occasional small pit no deeper than 0.3mm — are within acceptable manufacturing tolerance for paintable MDF. These are absorbed by a standard primer and topcoat combination and do not appear in the finished, painted surface. They do not affect the panel's structural strength, its cut precision, or its suitability for use.
Acceptable variationEdge porosity differences
MDF cut edges (end-grain and long edges after machining) are inherently more porous than the pressed panel faces. This is a structural property of how MDF is manufactured — the fibres are oriented parallel to the face and compressed there, leaving the edges more open. Edge porosity means that cut edges absorb primer more readily than faces, which is why we recommend applying two coats of primer to edges and one to faces. A difference in texture between an edge and a face on the same panel is normal and expected, not a defect.
Acceptable variationVery slight bow or spring
Panels under 9mm thickness — particularly longer panels of 120cm or more — may have a very slight natural bow along their length when laid flat on a surface. A deviation of up to 2mm across a 120cm span is within manufacturing tolerance and is consistent with the behaviour of thin-section sheet material. This resolves entirely once the panel is fixed to the wall using adhesive or pins, and does not affect the panel's fit or final appearance in any way.
Acceptable variation — resolves on fixingMR MDF green colouration
Our moisture-resistant (MR) MDF is green throughout the board. This colour is produced by the water-repelling resin incorporated into the fibre mix during manufacture and is an intentional, industry-standard indicator of moisture-resistant board. The intensity of the green tint may vary slightly between boards or batches; this variation is a property of the dye-to-resin mix and does not indicate any difference in the board's moisture-resistant performance. The colour is entirely covered on priming and painting.
Expected & intended characteristicLight handling marks on raw board
Raw, unprimed MDF is relatively soft on its surface before it is sealed with primer. Light handling marks — minor scuffs from packaging contact, very faint press marks from transit, or a small surface rub — that are visible on raw board but which will disappear under a coat of primer are considered acceptable. If a handling mark is so deep that it creates a visible indentation that would show through a primed and painted surface, this is a defect and should be reported to us. If you are uncertain, contact us before priming and we will advise.
Acceptable if not depth-marking — contact us if uncertainAcceptable variation — pine mouldings
Pine is a natural timber — each piece grew in a real tree, under real conditions, and carries the marks of that. The characteristics below are inherent to pine as a species and are not manufacturing failures.
Colour variation
Pine naturally ranges from very pale cream through light yellow to a warm honey-orange, and different pieces from the same tree — let alone from different trees or different felling dates — will sit at different points in that range. This colour variation is expected and completely normal for pine. Pieces supplied in the same kit may not match perfectly in base colour while unfinished, but will appear consistent once primed and painted to a single colour. Slight pinkish, yellowish, or whitish tonal differences between pine mouldings within the same order do not constitute a defect.
Natural & expectedGrain variation
Pine grain patterns vary considerably: some pieces will have widely spaced, gentle grain lines; others will have tight, closely packed grain; some will have wavy or cathedral grain patterns. This variation is a fundamental property of natural timber and is not something that can be controlled in production. Grain variation between mouldings in the same kit or order is expected and does not indicate a defect. Once painted, grain variation is not visible; once primed and painted, all pieces will present a smooth, consistent surface regardless of the underlying grain pattern.
Natural & expectedSmall knots
Pine is a knotty species. Small, tight, sound knots — those firmly embedded in the surrounding timber, with no gaps, looseness, or surrounding cracks — are an acceptable feature of pine mouldings, consistent with the grade of timber used in decorative interior joinery. A small sound knot (typically up to 8mm diameter) that does not compromise the structural integrity of the moulding, and which can be filled and sanded as part of standard finishing preparation, is not a defect. Filling small knots with a knotting solution before priming is standard practice for painted pine and is part of the expected finishing process for timber products of this type.
Acceptable — fill before primingResin pockets
Resin pockets — small, localised concentrations of natural pine resin in the surface of the timber — are a natural characteristic of pine and other coniferous species. A small resin pocket that does not significantly disrupt the profile of the moulding is within acceptable variation. Resin pockets should be treated with a shellac-based knotting solution (such as Zinsser BIN or a traditional shellac knotting) before priming; failure to do so may result in the resin bleeding through the paint coat over time, which is a finishing issue rather than a product defect. We include guidance on resin treatment in our finishing instructions provided with each order.
Acceptable — treat with knotting solutionMinor surface marks from machining
Pine mouldings are shaped by machining — planing, routing, and cutting to the required profile. Very fine, shallow tooling marks (sometimes called "mill marks" or "planer marks") may be visible on the face of the moulding when examined closely. These are characteristic of machined timber, are typically no deeper than 0.1–0.2mm, and are removed entirely by light sanding with 180-grit sandpaper before priming. They are not defects. Our pre-cut and pre-mitred kits are supplied at a quality level consistent with other painted interior moulding products of the same type sold across the UK.
Acceptable — removed by light sandingNatural movement in transit
Pine can absorb and release small amounts of moisture from the atmosphere, which causes minor movement in the timber even after machining. A very slight curve along the length of a pine moulding — of up to approximately 2mm across a 2m length — resulting from this natural movement is within acceptable tolerance and typically resolves or becomes negligible once the moulding is fixed in position with adhesive or pins. A pine moulding that is so warped it cannot be drawn flat against a wall and fixed without excessive force is a defect and should be reported to us.
Acceptable within 2mm/2m — contact us if worseDimensional tolerances
All our products are manufactured to defined dimensional tolerances. A panel or moulding that measures within these tolerances has been correctly manufactured. A panel or moulding that falls outside them is a defect.
| Dimension | Product type | Acceptable tolerance | Outside tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | MDF panels (all thicknesses) | ±2mm on lengths up to 1,200mm | More than 2mm short or long of stated length |
| Width | MDF panels (all widths) | ±1mm on stated width | More than 1mm variation from stated width |
| Thickness | 6mm & 9mm MDF panels | ±0.5mm (industry standard for MDF sheet) | More than 0.5mm from nominal thickness |
| Mitre cut angle | Pine mouldings (pre-mitred kits) | ±1° from nominal 45° mitre | Visible gap in assembled joint at the wall exceeding 1mm |
| Length | Pine mouldings | ±3mm on lengths up to 2,000mm | More than 3mm short or long of stated length |
| Profile depth / width | Pine dado rail & capping | ±1mm from stated profile dimensions | More than 1mm variation from stated profile size |
| Square cut angle | All square-cut MDF panels | ±0.5° from 90° | Visible gap in square-cut joint exceeding 1mm |
| Pack quantity | All kits and packs | Exact count as stated on product page | Any shortfall in panel, slat, or component count |
What constitutes a genuine manufacturing defect
The following are genuine defects — not natural variation — and we will resolve every one of them under the remedies set out in the next section.
MDF defects
- Delamination or face separation: any area of the panel where the surface layer or face has separated, lifted, or begun to peel away from the core board.
- Structural core damage: cracking, fracture, or significant compression through the board depth that compromises its ability to be installed correctly or to hold fixings.
- Deep surface voids: holes or depressions deeper than 0.5mm that would remain visible through a primed and painted surface and cannot reasonably be filled as part of standard preparation.
- Dimensions outside stated tolerance: panels or components that fall outside the dimensional tolerance table above.
- Missing pieces from a kit: any kit or pack that arrives with fewer panels, mouldings, or components than the stated count on the product page.
- Wrong product supplied: receiving a product that is not what was ordered — a different thickness, profile, or product type from what appears on the order confirmation.
- Pre-primed kit: primer adhesion failure: on MWPKT-2 and MWPKT-4 kits supplied pre-primed, any area where the factory primer coat is visibly peeling, flaking, or has failed to bond to the board surface.
Pine moulding defects
- Loose or missing knots: a knot that is not firmly bound into the surrounding timber — where the knot moves, is partially hollow, or has completely fallen out, leaving a hole in the moulding — is a defect. Only sound, firmly embedded knots are acceptable.
- Splits or shakes: any lengthwise split in the timber (a "shake") that runs along or through the piece, whether visible at the surface or through an end. Even a small split can propagate under stress and is a genuine structural defect.
- Warp or twist beyond tolerance: a moulding that cannot be drawn flat against the wall surface and held in position with standard adhesive and pins — a deviation of more than 2mm across a 2m length — is a defect.
- Profile damage in machining: an area of the moulding profile where the router or planer has visibly gouged, skipped, or removed material from the intended profile shape, leaving an irregular or incomplete cross-section.
- Mitre cuts outside tolerance: a pre-mitred joint that, when assembled, leaves a gap of more than 1mm at the corner due to an inaccurate cut angle.
- Transit damage: dents, fractures, snapped sections, or crushing damage to any component caused by inadequate packaging or handling during delivery.
- Missing kit components: any dado kit, shaker kit, or moulding set that arrives short of the listed component count.
What falls outside this policy
The following are neither natural variation nor manufacturing defects. They arise from choices, actions, or conditions after the product leaves our workshop.
Finishing issues
Raised surface grain, fibre texture showing through paint, or an uneven topcoat that results from applying paint directly to raw MDF without a primer coat first. Priming before painting is a stated requirement on every product page. These outcomes are a result of the application method, not the board.
Customer finishing — not a product defectMoisture damage after delivery
Swelling, delamination, or surface bubbling of standard MDF panels resulting from installation in a high-humidity room (bathroom, kitchen, utility) where moisture-resistant MDF was the appropriate product. The suitability of standard vs. MR MDF for different environments is clearly stated on all product pages and in our Finishing & Surface Treatment Policy.
Incorrect product for environment — not a manufacturing defectDamage caused during installation
Splits, cracks, chips, or snapped pieces resulting from cutting, drilling, or fixing the panels — for example, over-tightening a screw and splitting the board, or cutting with a saw blade that is not appropriate for MDF and causing tear-out at the cut line. Damage of this kind occurs after the product leaves our workshop and is not a manufacturing defect.
Post-delivery damage — not a manufacturing defectResin bleed-through in pine
Yellowish staining or bleed-through visible in the paint over a pine knot or resin pocket, resulting from failure to apply a shellac-based knotting solution before priming. Resin bleed-through is a known and well-documented characteristic of pine that is prevented by correct preparation — it is not a defect in the timber.
Preparation omission — not a product defectColour or tone differences between orders
Variation in the natural colour or grain density of pine mouldings ordered in separate, non-simultaneous orders. Because pine is a natural material, batch-to-batch variation is expected and cannot be controlled. This is not a defect in either order; it is an inherent characteristic of natural timber supply.
Natural material property — not a defectCustom-size panels: measurement errors
Custom or bespoke-sized panels manufactured to the exact measurements provided by the customer, where those measurements turn out to be incorrect for the intended installation. We manufacture custom panels to the dimensions supplied to us — if the supplied dimensions are wrong, the resulting panel size is not a manufacturing defect. Always double-check measurements before placing a custom order.
Customer measurement error — not a manufacturing defectYour rights & the remedies we offer
Where a genuine defect exists, here is exactly what you are entitled to and what we will do.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015
As a consumer purchasing from a UK business, you have the right to goods that are:
- Of satisfactory quality — free from defects, safe, durable, and finished to the standard a reasonable person would expect given the price and description.
- Fit for purpose — suitable for the use described on the product page and, where you have told us the specific purpose you intend, suitable for that purpose.
- As described — matching the description on the product page, including stated dimensions, thickness, composition, and surface state.
If any of these requirements is not met, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you the following tiered rights, which we honour in full:
- Within 30 days of delivery: you are entitled to a full refund (short-term right to reject). You do not need to accept a repair or replacement if you do not want one.
- After 30 days but within 6 months: we must repair or replace the defective product. If repair or replacement is not possible, you are entitled to a price reduction or a full refund. Defects discovered within 6 months of delivery are presumed to have existed at the time of delivery unless we can demonstrate otherwise.
- After 6 months: you may still have rights, but the burden shifts to you to show the defect existed at delivery. We will consider each case on its merits.
Sale of Goods Act 1979
Where business customers purchase from us (rather than consumers), the implied terms under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 apply — specifically that goods must be of satisfactory quality (s.14(2)), fit for purpose (s.14(3)), and correspond to description (s.13). Our defect definitions and tolerance standards on this page are consistent with the "satisfactory quality" standard as interpreted in UK commercial law. We apply the same practical resolution process — replacement, repair, or refund — to business customers reporting genuine manufacturing defects.
What we will do in practice
Acknowledge within one working day
We confirm receipt of your report and tell you whether we need any further information — usually just a photograph and the order number.
Agree the resolution
We confirm whether the issue is a defect and agree the remedy — replacement panels dispatched, partial or full refund — according to your preference and your statutory rights under the CRA 2015.
Execute without delay
Replacements are dispatched as quickly as our manufacturing schedule allows — typically within 1–2 working days. Refunds are processed within 10 days of us confirming the defect.
How to report a defect or raise a dispute
We keep this as straightforward as possible. Here is everything we need from you, and the fastest route to a resolution.
What to send us
- Your order number (found in your confirmation email or on the packing note).
- One or more clear photographs showing the issue. Good natural lighting and a close-up shot alongside a coin or ruler for scale are most useful.
- A brief description of what you are seeing and, where relevant, when it became apparent — on delivery, after cutting, after priming, etc.
- How many panels or pieces in the order are affected — one, several, or all.
- Your preferred resolution — replacement panels, a refund, or advice on whether the issue is one that can be resolved at your end — so we can address it directly without back-and-forth.
Contact channels
- Email (preferred for photo attachments)info@lunaireworks.com
- Phone+44 33 0043 9923
- Live ChatAvailable on the website during business hours
- Business HoursMon–Fri, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (GMT, UK)
Legal framework & company information
The UK legislation that governs this policy and our full registered company details.
Governing UK legislation
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 — the primary statute governing consumer transactions in the UK, setting out the rights of consumers regarding goods, services, and digital content. This policy is designed to be fully compliant with the "satisfactory quality", "fit for purpose", and "as described" requirements under this Act, and we do not attempt to restrict or limit any of the rights it confers.
- Sale of Goods Act 1979 — continues to apply to business-to-business transactions, providing implied terms as to satisfactory quality (s.14(2)), fitness for purpose (s.14(3)), and correspondence with description (s.13).
- Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 — we do not use misleading descriptions, omit material information, or create false impressions about the condition, quality, or characteristics of any product. This variation policy forms part of our commitment to transparent, accurate product descriptions.
- Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 — you have a 14-day right to cancel distance purchases. Our 30-day money-back guarantee extends beyond this statutory minimum, but the statutory right remains unaffected and cannot be waived.
- Companies (Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2008 — all required company identification information is displayed below and on our About Us page.
Registered company details
Lunaire Works is a trading name of STERZEAL HATS LIMITED, a company registered in England and Wales. This Variation & Defect Policy is published and maintained by STERZEAL HATS LIMITED.
- Registered company nameSTERZEAL HATS LIMITED
- Company registration no.13249070
- VAT numberGB433989551
- EORI numberGB084160128000
- Registered address126 Newark Avenue, Peterborough, PE1 4NP England, United Kingdom
- Phone+44 33 0043 9923
- Emailinfo@lunaireworks.com
Questions? We're straightforward to deal with.
If something with your order isn't right — or you're not sure whether what you're seeing is natural variation or a defect — just get in touch. We'll tell you honestly.
Last updated & effective: 25 June 2026 | Lunaire Works is a trading name of STERZEAL HATS LIMITED (Company No. 13249070)
