How to mount MDF panels?

MDF panels are a popular and attractive material that is perfect for the interior decoration of almost any room. With this facing you can transform the situation, making it more presentable and aesthetic. Today we will understand in more detail how to fix the MDF panels.

MDF panels are a demanded material for finishing, which is produced from wood waste. Many consumers mistakenly confuse them with chipboard or fiberboard panels. And these are completely different materials, since MDF is more durable, reliable and environmentally friendly, since in the process of its manufacture no additional chemical means are used.

MDF sheets have a characteristic texture resembling feltwhich consists not of wool, but of wood fibers. As a rule, MDF-panels are attached to one or another base on usual liquid nails and other qualitative compounds. Due to the large selection of adhesive products, consumers can choose a mixture that will fit the panels in color.

Modern MDF panels are distinguished by the fact that they can be installed independently, without attracting specialists. Even an inexperienced home master can easily cope with such work. The main thing is to follow simple instructions, as well as purchase quality tools / materials.

MDF panels have their advantages and disadvantages.

For a start, let's take a closer look at how good such finishing materials are.

• MDF panels are environmentally friendly and completely safe finishing material. There are no harmful chemicals and toxic adhesive components. Due to this quality, such materials can be safely used in any rooms.
• Quality MDF panels are fairly easy to attach to the walls, because they perfectly hold the original shape. They are very tough, which has a positive effect on their strength characteristics.

• Such a finish is durable and wear resistant. MDF panels are not easy to damage or break.
• MDF panels are materials on which the mold and fungus does not start.
• Such finishing materials are not afraid of dampness and moisture. This is due to the fact that on the surface of the panels there is a special laminated film or plastic.
• Such wall cladding is practical. MDF panels do not accumulate dust and dirt. If dirty spots appear on the surface of the finish, they can be wiped with a damp cloth.
• These finishing materials can be smoothly cut and trimmed if necessary. In addition, original curvilinear shapes can be formed from MDF panels.

• With the help of such panels you can make the room warmer, as they have quite good heat insulating properties.
• It should be noted the beautiful appearance of such finishes. With the help of MDF-panels, you can make the interior richer and more solid.
• This finish can be mounted in private country and wooden houses, and in city apartments.
• Wall decoration such panels are relatively inexpensive, especially when compared with the veneer of natural wood.

Of course, MDF panels are not ideal finishing materials. They have their weaknesses.

• If these canvases have poorly treated edges, they can absorb moisture and moisture, and then swell and deform. To correct such defects is unlikely. That is why in the decoration of the bathroom and kitchen such coatings are not recommended.
• MDF panels are quite durable, but they can still be damaged. For example, with a strong punch such a material can crack, because it does not have sufficient elasticity.
• If condensate may collect on the ceiling, then it is impossible to install MDF panels on them, as they do not have high moisture resistance.
• MDF panels are flammable materials. Elements of wiring and various cables are recommended to hide in separate boxes. An additional insulating layer of mineral wool can be applied.
• The range of such finishing materials can hardly be called rich. The choice of shades and textures of MDF panels is very modest.

There are several types of MDF panels. Each of them has its own distinctive characteristics.

Such panels are the most common. They are canvases having a perfectly smooth surface on both sides. Such panels are made by pressing a wooden mass under high pressure and under high temperature conditions.

The second most popular are laminated panels. They are produced in the same way as solid-pressed ones, but at the final stage their front side is covered with the thinnest polymer film. The result is a complete protection of the base from mechanical damage and other adverse factors.

Such MDF sheets are made from dense and durable materials. In the production of such products are used only high-quality and environmentally friendly materials, for example, natural wood. It is pressed for a long time at high temperatures. Conventional MDF panels can not boast of sufficient moisture-resistant characteristics, so they are not recommended to be installed in rooms such as a bathroom or a kitchen. The exception to this rule is only the specified moisture-resistant sheets, which are quite acceptable to apply for decorating such areas.

These panels differ in that they have an attractive wood texture. For the repetition of natural raw materials on the surface of draft sheets fit thin veneer, consisting of natural wood. The thickness of this element, as a rule, is no more than 3 mm. Most often, veneered panels imitate oak, ash and other precious woods. Such finishing materials are very popular because they look rich and are quite wear-resistant.

Similar types of panels have glossy surfaces.They are made by laminating the front of the sheets with a transparent film on a polymer base. Such materials have a beautiful glossy sheen.

Such MDF panels are rightfully recognized as the most common. They are created this way:

• a special coloring composition is transferred to the draft basis;
• it aligns all the differences on the panel;
• special paint forms a glossy or matte shade.

Wall paneling is inexpensive and aesthetic. Of course, if you want to give the room a more luxurious image, then you better turn to the expensive options made of natural wood. MDF panels are rarely used in the design of the living room in a private house. As a rule, they are used for lining the accent wall, for example, behind a couch or TV. Such materials are more often found in conditions of solid offices. In addition, MDF sheets are used in the decoration of office premises or spacious corridors.

As for ordinary city apartments, here you can meet MDF-panels even in conditions of a toilet or a bathroom. Of course, for such spaces, you can use only moisture-resistant material. Otherwise, the sheets will swell and deform, forever losing their visual appeal.

MDF can be sheathed balcony block or loggia. With such decoration, such spaces can acquire a more “lively” image, especially if they are supplemented with suitable lighting fixtures and a pair of chairs / chairs. Of course, for such conditions it is better to acquire more reliable and wear-resistant materials. If your balcony is open and unglazed, then instead of MDF panels, it is better to use another cladding.

Often, such finishing materials are used in the lining of the hallway. Designers recommend installing lighter panels in such conditions so that the space does not seem too cramped and “oppressive.” Some owners combine in the hallway materials that imitate wood and masonry.In a single tandem, this design solution looks very beautiful. MDF panels often get off not only the walls in the room, but also the ceilings. In addition, from these popular materials you can build a beautiful edging of a door or window opening, an elegant arch, slopes and even sheathe the doors with them, attaching a beautiful trim to them.

Many consumers use MDF panels to transform the old front door. The stores sell special linings that completely hide the old door leaf.

MDF panels are also used in other areas:

• in the manufacture of billboards and signs;
• they produce mobile homes and mobile buildings;
• MDF panels are suitable for creating shelves, cabinets and racks;
• from these materials make the body of musical instruments;
• MDF sheets are used in the manufacture of speakers, radio receivers, gearboxes.

Before proceeding directly to the finishing work, it is necessary to prepare all the necessary tools.

For wall cladding with MDF panels you will need:

• jigsaw;
• construction level (laser or bubble) and plumb;
• roulette;
• metal ruler;
• special construction corner;
• pencil or marker;

• electric drill;
• screwdriver;
• simple screwdriver;
• pliers;
• hammer.

If you stocked up with all the necessary tools, then you can proceed to the preparatory work. The walls on which you intend to install MDF sheets should be perfectly dry.

It is impossible to start facing, if:

• wet or wet areas are present on the floor;
• there is frost on the surface of the base;
• on the walls there are traces of the formation of fungus or mold;
• the upper layer of the overlap is subject to destruction.

If there are no such defects on the wall ceilings, then they can be safely prepared for the future lining.

• Remove from the walls of any old finish, because on it in the future bacteria can begin to multiply. When the adhesive method of installation, they will interfere with the quality adhesion of materials, and the panels will lay on the wall unreliably.
• Remove the whitewash layer. Many experts argue that this work is not mandatory, however, if you need to put a primer on the base, the old whitewash will interfere with its absorption, so it is better to remove it from the wall.
• Mold and fungus on ceilings is a common problem. To deal with it is not easy. To do this, you can treat the damaged areas with special solutions. Some companies issue such funds in the form of a spray.

It is worth noting that it is possible to completely get rid of the fungus only after removing the entire mycelium, therefore the only way out will be to clean off the old plaster and thoroughly soak the opened area with the appropriate solutions.

• After that, it is necessary to cover up all the cracks that exist on the ground. To do this, you need to prepare high-quality putty mixture (more suitable acrylic or plaster).
• Pre-seams need to expand. They must be cleaned from the remnants of the former solution.
• These areas should be impregnated with a primer.
• When the soil is completely dry, it is necessary to embed the mixture into the floor, which will cover all voids.

Installation of MDF panels can be made in a frame and adhesive way.

Consider in stages how to install the panel on the frame.

• First you need to make a crate of walls. It can be metal or wooden (from a bar with a certain section).
• If the frame is made of wood, then it is better to choose a timber with a square section and a side length of 3 cm. In addition, these parts should have a moisture level of less than 15%.
• Wooden frames should be treated with antiseptic.
• Now you need to know the size of the walls with the help of roulette. At the same time, the length of the bars should be slightly less than the calculated figures.
• If the panels are horizontal, the crate should be vertical and vice versa.

• Transfer all measurements to wooden elements. Next you need to cut the bars in accordance with the applied measurements. Position the hacksaw perpendicular to the wood to avoid the appearance of curved ends.
• Now the slats need to be fixed on the walls with dowels, if the foundation is brick or concrete.If it consists of wood, then self-tapping screws should be used.
• After that you need to lay insulation in between the parts of the batten.
• To fix the finishing cloth, you need to use a Kleimer for MDF panels and screws (3x20 mm). They need to be installed in the grooves, or use special nails with a thin cap.
• At the end of the finishing work it is necessary to interconnect the outer planks and the inner corners.

Installation by the glue method can also be made by hand. With this method of installing MDF panels, the base should be perfectly flat.

• Walls can be coated with a deep penetration primer to make the substrate more reliable and to obtain additional adhesion.
• After that, MDF panels should be cut with a jigsaw or hacksaw into pieces of the desired size.
• Then you need to knead the required amount of glue.It is applied on the back of the skin. The mixture is recommended to impose portions. Places covered with glue should be as much as possible.
• Laying the launch pad must be done from the bottom of the ceiling.
• Next, each panel should be pressed to the wall and hold it for some time in this state. Work should continue until you lay out the MDF-plates on the floor.
• Dock all the elements should be carefully, so that between them did not remain large noticeable gaps.
• At the end of such works, the fastening of the interposer is made, and the corners are also installed. They are fixed on the surface with liquid nails.

Often the installation of MDF sheets is carried out on a plasterboard basis. This inexpensive material is used in the construction of the frame, and is installed directly on the floor to align it.

Installing MDF panels at home without the involvement of experts is quite possible.To do this, you only need to stock up on high-quality tools and materials, as well as follow the instructions.

Perhaps in the work you will find some tips and advice from experienced finishers.

• At the preparatory stage, remove the plaster from the ceiling to the ground. This will reveal the hidden defects of the walls, as well as reduce the cost of fasteners.
• If you are installing a metal frame, it is better to use a small grinder or a circular saw. With a jigsaw for metal work can dramatically delay.
• Timber frames are simpler. It’s easier to work with them. They do not need a large number of hardware. In addition, such structures absorb moisture, and then give it up at the level of MDF-plates. The main thing is to immediately treat the frame with an antiseptic, and it will last as long as possible.
• Trim finishing materials neatly. During such work, you can accidentally damage the front side, if you “capture” an extra part of the part. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account how the teeth are located on the jigsaw.

• If you use a metal frame, then it is recommended to fix the clamps with small screws with small caps. Such an attachment will not interfere with further work.
• Consider that the diagonal method of laying MDF panels is more expensive.
• It will be easier to work if you draw or photograph the resulting crate, denoting all the coordinates of the intersection of bars and profiles.
• Such accessories as MDF-corners are ideal for closing corners. Inside these elements will be able to hide the self-tapping screws, which fix the extreme panels. Attach similar parts to glue or liquid nails.
• To trim the slopes, use the remaining pieces of MDF panels. Attach similar elements along and across. So, if the slopes are narrow, then the pieces are attached across, and if they are wide, then they should be fixed as the owner wishes.

Finishing floors MDF-panels can make the interior more alive and original. Such materials can be used in ensembles of various styles. For example, it may be a modern setting with a multi-level stretch ceiling, hanging cabinets, LED lighting and a leather soft corner.

MDF panels look great in terms of bedrooms. For example, materials of a neutral brown shade can be issued a wall behind a double bed.In such a situation, the floor, trimmed with parquet or laminate in color panels on the floor will look harmonious. So that the overall image of the interior does not merge, you should beat it with colorful wall paintings and contrasting decor items, for example, a white fluffy rug.

If you want to install MDF panels in the kitchen, then you should get moisture-proof options, since in such conditions, conventional coatings can quickly become unusable. On the background of the walls, lined with wood panels, almost all types of headsets and technology will look organic. It can be both items with wooden textures, and high-tech parts with chrome and shiny surfaces.

Especially solid and organically quality plates look in the office. It can be both light and dark coatings. Glass or wooden tables, leather chairs and sofas, as well as modern lighting and wall paintings with calm landscapes will look presentable against their background.

Particularly impressive MDF panels of dark shades look in cabinets with large windows that let in a lot of natural light.

Review the installation of MDF panels on the wall, see the following video.