Door trim paneling MDF: the pros and cons

 Door trim paneling MDF: the pros and cons

MDF door trim panel is used mainly on the front door in order to make it more harmoniously fit into the hallway interior. This method has gained great popularity due to the many advantages inherent in it, however, this solution has its disadvantages.

What it is?

MDF panels are plates of compressed sawdust glued together with lignin, which was separated during the heating of wood. This material is completely natural and, unlike similar fiberboard, MDF boards are completely safe for health.

Finishing features

MDF paneling allows you to turn an ordinary and boring metal door into an interesting wooden version.

This is especially true in cases where the hallway is furnished in one of the traditional or classical styles.

Depending on what type of panels for cladding was chosen, this or that unusual effect is obtained.

Upholstery of the front door from the inside allows to better fit it into the interior, and also contributes to the insulation. An air gap is formed between the MDF panels and the metal structure, which for apartments in high-rise buildings is enough for good insulation. If it is necessary to make the door warmer (for example, when it leads to the street), insulation material is placed in the gap.

Returning again to the aesthetic side of the MDF door trim issue, it is worth saying that you can get the effect of not only ordinary wood panels. Now carved wood inserts that finish the inside of the doors are very popular, thus adding chic and high prices to them.

If you finish with the help of MDF not only the door itself, but also the opening under it, you will be able to make it more accurate and harmoniously combined with the door construction. Thus, another benefit may be the effect of integrity.

Benefits

Like each of the existing materials used to sheathe a door, MDF stands out with a number of advantages:

Wide range of

There are several types of coatings of MDF, each of which differs from all the others in its characteristics, including its appearance. Thus, it is possible to create an absolutely unique composition, choosing a natural coating, imitation of valuable wood and similar options.

Long service life. The material is wear-resistant and will serve its owners for more than one year.

MDF has a high resistance to environmental influences, such as prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays, temperature fluctuations, and mechanical effects.

Harmlessness

There are no harmful compounds in the composition of MDF panels (unlike DSP, which contains formaldehyde resins). Gluing of sawdust occurs due to the naturally occurring material released by the material - lignin. It is absolutely harmless and does not bear any harm to human and animal health.

Easy care

Unlike natural wood, so similar to MDF, the compressed panel can simply be wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust or more serious dirt.

You do not have to purchase a special polish or spend extra effort on gentle care.

Easy installation

Despite the fact that when working with MDF, all actions must be carried out carefully and carefully, the process itself usually does not cause difficulties. Moreover, you need tools that are in almost every home, thus you will be free from the need to buy special tools.

The disadvantages of the panels

Despite the abundance of advantages, MDF-panels have a number of shortcomings, which for some may refuse the grounds for refusing to use this material:

  • Low impact resistance. Like it or not, and break through the panel of MDF, in which case you can easily. The whole thing is in the structure of the wood-based panel: under the great pressure it diverges, and as a result, a cavity is formed.

Do not be afraid to damage the panel by inaccurate pressing or similar innocent effects. To break it, the blow must be strong enough and focused.

  • Flammability MDF is the same wood, but in a different design. It is not surprising that it burns easily. To avoid a slight fire, it is advised not to put panels of this material in close proximity to the wiring (for example, if the door is practically “girded” by wires).

Kinds

In total, there are three types of panels: veneered, laminated and anti-vandal:

Natural Veneer

MDF panel covered with natural veneer.

Despite the complete external similarity with wood, veneered models are much cheaper.

This is due to the fact that the sawdust panel itself is covered with a thin slice of wood, as a result of which such a naturalistic imitation is obtained.

Contrary to the fact that the veneered models are the most spectacular and environmentally friendly, there are significant risks. Thus, the type of veneer panels is the most capricious of all presented, because it does not allow cleaning with ordinary water, does not withstand mechanical stress, is easily scratched and does not tolerate sunlight. Of course, it is easier to care for veneered MDF panels than for wood, but not by much.

Laminated

MDF panel coated with lamination. Lamination occurs by sticking a special coating onto the panel, imitating the color and in some cases the texture of the selected material. This option is the cheapest due to the fact that it is easy to produce, and it does not require any particularly rare materials.

Lamination offers the widest range of design solutions, increases the level of noise insulation, as well as it is more wear-resistant than veneer, and can last for several decades without losing the original look.

The film responds well to ultraviolet, however, it is not able to withstand high humidity or severe temperature fluctuations.

Anti-vandal

MDF-panel coated with plastic (anti-vandal). The anti-vandal surface is obtained by applying several layers of plastic, as a result of which the MDF panel gains many additional positive qualities.

Among them - extreme resistance to mechanical damage, good or complete resistance to chemicals, insensitivity to temperature extremes or humidity levels.

The only disadvantage of this variety is its cost. Not every person is willing to pay a tidy sum for MDF, even if covered with such wonderful material. More shortcomings given type does not have.

Options in the interior

Below is a photo gallery of images, partially showing a variety of MDF trim.

Despite the fact that the doorway itself is left metal, the door with MDF-paneling looks harmonious with it. Beautiful paneled surface attracts the attention of traditional, the color of the casing is selected a few tones lighter than the colors of the metal canvas.

In the absence of an internal (second) door to the apartment, you can trim the entrance door with laminated MDF panels. This will bring coziness to the room, at the same time allowing to harmoniously combine the entrance structure, which is often not very elegant, with the interior of the hallway.

It is interesting to look at the door structures, decorated with complex patterns, carvings. For this model, a deep and saturated color is chosen, which does not distract attention from the thread, but, on the contrary, shows the depth and unusualness of the chosen design. The door looks solid, stylish and expensive.

When trimming the door, do not forget to pay attention to the environment. So, the option looks nice when the entire door along the perimeter is also surrounded by a MDF panel, and it is not at all necessary that the panels are the same. Sometimes it is enough just to pick up harmonious colors.

A simple contrasting door will be an interesting element of the corridor or hallway, and the upholstery of the MDF will allow a little smoothness of sharpness and add to the comfort room. The color of the panels is matched to the color of the body of the wall sconce, which is a separate design move.

How the master knocks the metal door with MDF panel can be seen in the next video clip.

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Information provided for reference purposes. For construction issues, always consult a specialist.

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