With the development of technology, more and more construction and finishing materials are appearing on the market. At the end of the last century we had MDF. There are MDF boards that are used in construction work, there are finishing panels that can be used to decorate walls/ceilings or make furniture.

What is MDF and its manufacturing method

MDF appeared on our market in recent years last century, and it was invented in the USA in the late 60s of the 20th century. You can understand what MDF is if you translate its English name - MDF - Medium Density Fiberboard. This translates into Russian as “fibreboard medium density" That is, the Russian-language name was formed using transliteration - instead of Latin letters The Russians set similar ones. A common phenomenon for our language.

MDF - medium density fiberboard

Manufacturing process

MDF is made from wood, ground to the state of very fine chips, almost to the state of fibers. Wood processing waste is mainly used, so the release of this material does not harm forests.

The ground wood is cleaned of sand and other foreign inclusions, washed and dried. The prepared mass is heated, a tape of the required width is formed from it, and then pressed. Under pressure, a natural binder, lignin, is released from heated wood fibers. It is he who is the binder in this material. The final shape of the products is given in a finishing press, which squeezes out the remaining air from the mass, forming a homogeneous MDF structure.

After pressing, the cooled material is submitted for grinding, where the flaws on the surface are removed from the MDF and the material is brought to the required thickness.

Not all types of wood provide a sufficient amount of binder. Then a similar, previously isolated lignin or other natural binder is added. Of all sheet wood materials, MDF is considered the safest, since the binder is natural, and formaldehyde emissions are comparable to those of wood (emission class F1, that is, it is allowed to be used for the manufacture of furniture for children's and medical institutions).

During production, fibreboards can be given special properties. Basically, moisture resistance additives increase moisture resistance and reduce flammability.

Appearance and release forms

In its “pure” form, the material has a grayish-brown color; when cut, it is a homogeneous dense mass. The exact shade depends on the type of wood ground and the amount of bark. In this form, the material is used as sheet construction - for the construction of light partitions and leveling walls.

The surface of MDF can be “refined”. It can be painted, laminated with PVC film, covered with veneer or plastic. It gives quite large number design options that are used in furniture industry, in the production of finishing materials.

Production technology allows you to form products various shapes, thickness, size. During finishing pressing, a certain relief can be formed, which is used in the production of furniture and doors. Finishing materials such as slabs and panels are also made from MDF. They make skirting boards, platbands, and other moldings from it. All these materials can be used for interior decoration premises.

The structure of MDF is fine-fiber; dust is generated during milling, which makes it possible to produce carvings. This is used in the manufacture of carved decorative elements - panels, decorative grilles, figured furniture facades.

MDF or chipboard - which is better?

Having appeared on the market, MDF created competition. This was facilitated by its properties:

All this led to the growing popularity of the material. Even though MDF is more expensive Chipboard. To some extent, MDF even competed with wood. For example, skirting boards, MDF trim, and finishing panels are increasingly used. This is due, firstly, to lower cost, and secondly, to greater practicality. Wood requires regular maintenance - painting, varnishing. MDF does not require special care. It is simply wiped with a damp cloth, using liquid detergent if necessary.

MDF boards

The manufacturing technology of MDF boards allows you to vary the density within a wide range: the minimum value is 760-780 kg/m3, the maximum is 1100 kg/m3 and even higher. Material with a lower density is used where the abrasion load is low: in the furniture industry, for finishing walls and ceilings.

High density MDF boards are used for floor finishing. The material in this category has high abrasion resistance: one and a half times higher than that of oak (oak - 6.9, MDF - 10-11). If we add that the coefficient of warping along the diagonal is only 1.2 mm for every meter of diagonal (for plywood it is 15 mm), the love of furniture makers and finishers for this material becomes clear.

Dimensions and tolerances

One of the most popular forms of release is slabs of different thicknesses and formats. They can be found with the following parameters:

It is convenient to work with MDF boards, since this material has very small tolerances for deviations from dimensions:

• the difference in thickness cannot exceed 0.2 mm (for plywood 0.5-2.5 mm);
• length may differ by no more than 5 mm;
• The width difference cannot be more than 2 mm.

When joining two sheets, the difference in thickness or size is very small or non-existent. Because MDF finishing sheets or panels move quickly.

Types of surface finishing of sheet material

MDF boards are available with different types of surface treatment:

If we talk about construction and repairs, they use polished MDF boards. When leveling walls or installing light partitions, when leveling floors and ceilings. Here is their approximate scope.

Frame mounting

If the surface of the walls or ceiling is uneven (deviations more than 1 cm), the method of installing sheet MDF is the same as for plasterboard - on a frame. The frame is usually assembled from wooden blocks, but no one forbids installing profiles under drywall. The cross-section of the bars is selected based on the unevenness of the wall - they must compensate for the entire height difference. Most likely, you will need 20*30 mm bars or something like that. They are stuffed horizontally in increments of 40 cm. With this step, the joints of the sheets (they exist if the ceiling height is higher than 280 cm) fall on the bar.

For the installation of sheet panels from the same timber, vertical jumpers are installed. They are placed in increments:

• 54. 3 cm - for sheets with a width of 2170 mm;
• 42.3 cm or 63.5 cm for a width of 1270 mm.

The installation step of the vertical jumpers depends on the thickness of the selected material. For thin sheets (3-4 mm) it should be smaller, for thick sheets (5-6 mm) you can make more.

TO assembled frame MDF sheets/boards are attached. The peculiarity (compared to drywall) is that for hidden fastening you need to drill holes for the fasteners. Otherwise, the fasteners will not fit into a dense slab. To prevent the caps from sticking out above the surface, the hole under them is widened using a drill of a larger diameter.

After installing the screws, holes remain on the surface. They are sealed with putty. If you are planning to putty the walls next, proceed as before - first seal the holes with putty, immediately removing the excess with a spatula. After drying, the putty areas are covered. sandpaper with fine grain - to finally get rid of possible unevenness. Then, having cleared the surface of dust, they begin to putty the walls.

Glue installation

If the walls are smooth, you can mount MDF boards without a frame - using glue. You can use liquid nails or a composition like SM-11. The operating procedure is as follows:

To ensure that the sheet does not move anywhere during installation, you can make holes in the corners and, after leveling, fix the sheet. Even if the self-tapping screw only sticks to the plaster, this will help, since it is required only at the initial stage - until the glue begins to harden.

This method seems simpler and costs less (due to the absence of a frame), but leveling bulky MDF boards is not at all easy. It's better to try on a small section of the wall. The thing is that it is impossible to disassemble what is installed. Only if you destroy the casing completely. So it’s worth thinking about which method is better.

Installation of sheet MDF on the floor

For laying on the floor, choose high-density moisture-resistant MDF boards (from 900 kg/m 3 and above). Sheet thickness - from 5 mm when laid on a subfloor and from 10 mm when installed on joists. IN in this case the installation method is similar to leveling the floor using plywood, only the gaps are smaller, as it changes its parameters wood board much less plywood. Otherwise the rules are similar:

After sanding the putty, the surface of the MDF floor is ready for painting. If you do everything carefully, you get a perfectly flat floor. This base can also be used as a base for flexible finishing materials or laminate.

MDF finishing panels

Finely dispersed pressed boards serve as the basis for the production of decorative finishing panels. The front surface is covered with paper. This is the most cheap option. Slightly more expensive ones are laminated with PVC film. There are also panels covered with veneer. This is a more expensive material. There are also options with plastic, but very rarely.

MDF panel with three-dimensional image - 3D

Decorative MDF panels are most often used to cover walls and sometimes ceilings. This finishing method saves time: the surface is leveled and immediately takes on its final form, since no additional finishing is required.

Types of decorative MDF panels

We will not talk about colors and shades, but about the shape of the intake and the type decorative surface. The shapes of finishing panels made of pressed wood fibers are:

When choosing MDF panels, pay attention to the type of finish. Most cheap material covered with paper, on top of which a thin layer of protective coating is applied. It is clear that such a surface gets scratched quickly; it can only be wiped with an exceptionally soft, slightly damp cloth. You cannot even use a rough sponge, otherwise light spots will form. Such MDF panels are good for finishing the ceiling - there is no mechanical load at all. If you install them on walls, it is better to immediately cover them with two layers of varnish. You choose the type of surface yourself - gloss, semi-gloss, matte, semi-matte... It is important that the film is durable.

More expensive ones - with PVC and veneer - do not require additional finishing, but the price is 2-3 times more expensive. If your budget is limited, the option described above is not bad.

Installation methods

MDF panels are mounted either on the frame or directly on the wall using glue. The technology is described in the previous paragraph and differs only in that clamps are used for installation - special fastening plates for hidden mounting. The first panel on the wall is installed in the corner. Here it is attached through and through using self-tapping screws. All others are fixed with clamps. After installation is completed, the corners are closed with a special corner profile. It is mounted on glue - applied thin layer and press at the installation site.

There is also a system of profiles - starting, finishing, connecting and corner (outer and internal corner). But this fastening system is more expensive; it is used with veneered MDF panels, square or rectangular.

There is another subtlety of installing decorative MDF panels on the ceiling. If you use thin sheets/planks - 3-4 mm thick - you need to install hangers often, otherwise the material will bend under its own weight. When using slabs 6-8 mm thick, hangers can be installed less frequently. They are more rigid and do not bend. But the weight of the finish will be greater, so you will have to use more powerful guides and the hangers themselves.

For covering dry surfaces and decorating various rooms MDF panels are used for wall decoration.

The products are thin board of a certain width and length, covered with decorative material.

The most widely used panel base is MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), a medium-density fiberboard.

Colloquial decoding – small wood fraction.

For production use wood waste, crushed to a certain fraction. The slab is obtained after heat treatment and pressing of raw materials.

In the process of temperature influences, lignin is released from wood dust, which is binder, holding together all the constituent elements of the product.

Subsequently, a panel is cut from the semi-finished product, which is covered with melamine film in order to give the product a decorative appearance.

Types of MDF panels

Despite the variety of designs, products are conditionally grouped by type of coating:

Veneered, - as exterior finishing natural or artificial tree veneer is used.

Thanks to this, the panel acquires a noble appearance, looks expensive and presentable, but loses its attractiveness for mass demand due to its rather high price.

Laminated - decorative melamine film is used.

The ease of application of the coating, a wide selection of patterns, and a price affordable for most consumers have made this type of MDF the most advantageous material For .

Painted - to decorate the work surface, various paints are used, giving the finishing material different color shades.

But at the same time, the natural naturalness is lost—paint and varnish compositions do not reproduce the structure of the wood.

Consumer properties

Affordable price due to its use in the production of wood waste.

Various designs and aesthetic appeal of products.

Environmentally friendly - no harmful formaldehyde resins are used in production.

Have good performance on heat and sound conductivity.

Quick and uncomplicated installation - any untrained person with little application skills can handle this work construction tools(hacksaw, hammer, screwdriver and others).

No need for preliminary preparation surface - work can begin without removing old paint coatings, without plastering and leveling the walls.

MDF panels can be mounted vertically, horizontally, diagonally, on walls located at angles.

• The products can be used for finishing only dry rooms - MDF is a non-moisture resistant material;
• The surface layer does not have high mechanical strength and is damaged quite easily, so it is not used for areas with high traffic;
• It belongs to the class of flammable materials, as a result of which it has restrictions on use in public buildings, especially in places of evacuation of people;
• They have increased weight compared, for example, with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) panels.

Dimensions

Among the manufactured products, the most common parameters are the following:

Length - list of sizes 2600, 2700, less often 3000 mm. This line is explained by the common heights to the ceiling in residential and public spaces. There are also products in 2400 and 2500 mm.

Width - the range of sizes is 150–300 mm, but most often on the market there are sizes 220–300 mm.

The most popular thicknesses are 6, 8 and 10 mm. Such dimensions give the panels a certain strength, allow for a textured surface and at the same time do not make them overly massive.

Application

Decorative products are intended for cladding inner surface residential and civil buildings:

Offices, warehouses, industrial and residential premises.

Retail outlets in pavilions and stationary stores.

Hallways, dressing rooms.

Closing the inner surface attic space or attics.

Cladding of glazed balconies and loggias.

Installation

MDF panels for wall decoration are fixed in several ways:

The latter is made of wooden blocks with a cross-section of 20 x 40 mm, attached to the surface to be finished. Fixation is carried out:

• Staples (clasps);
• Nails or screws with a wide flat head;
• Furniture staples hammered in using a stapler.

Varieties of lathing are the use of a metal profile used to fasten drywall or a mounting strip, which is used to fix PVC panels.

The MDF panel is screwed to the metal using metal screws or glued with glue from the “liquid nails” series.

On the bar decorative item attached with a special metal bracket.

In the latter case, the thickness of the panel tail should not exceed 1.5–2 mm.

Installation on a flat, flat surface made of wooden products, for example, from plywood or OSB (oriented strand board).

In this case, lathing is not required; fixation can be carried out using nails, self-tapping screws or a furniture stapler.

Installation on uneven surface, for example, made of brick or concrete.

To do this, you can use a special professional polyurethane foam, which, in addition to fixation, will ensure leveling of differences on the wall.

If you are finishing a flat surface, you can use “liquid nails” glue.

Conclusion

Wall panels are an economical decorative material that significantly reduces installation time.

Please watch another additional video:

It allows you to avoid the dirt inherent in “wet” finishing methods, and at the same time creates an even beautiful surface with various designs.

A variety of panels for wall decoration are used very often in the renovation process. However, when choosing, many focus solely on price, ignoring many important technical specifications, which determine not only the service life of the material, but also the impact it can have on human health. Let's look at what is remarkable about MDF wall panels: prices, a catalog of photo examples, characteristics and operating features of this material.

If you look at the catalog of MDF wall panels, you will find that in appearance this material is not much different from all other fiberboards, which are made by pressing wood chips under strong pressure with the addition of special organic binding materials. Due to the effects of pressure and high temperature, the final product has a dense, uniform structure, which significantly expands the possibilities of its processing even in comparison with natural wood.

In order to make MDF sheets, as a rule, products obtained from wood processing or low-grade wood are used. At the same time, the resulting product fully complies with established environmental and technical requirements and provides extremely ample opportunities for use. MDF boards are painted or covered with a special film, which gives them an excellent appearance.

Among the advantages that MDF has over other similar materials are:

• complete absence of synthetic substances, environmentally friendly;
• providing additional sound insulation;
• resistance to moisture: high-quality panels do not deform under the influence of steam or water;
• the slab can be independently decorated in any style using one of the methods for its final finishing;

• the surface of this material is not a favorable environment for the emergence and development of various microorganisms, mold and fungi;
• the material lends itself perfectly to any mechanical processing, including sawing and decorative carving;
• MDF boards have a dense structure, due to which they perfectly hold elements screwed with screws or nailed to them;

This solution has many advantages, not the least of which is price. You can also buy from MDF much cheaper than if you purchase high-quality plastic. At the same time, photos of MDF panels indicate that the range color solutions is very large and you will not be limited in your choice by anything.

Useful advice! You can order a kitchen apron made of MDF with photo printing. It will be quite expensive, but in this way you can bring any of your ideas and preferences to life.

Another remarkable ability of this material is to hide the imperfections of the base. An excellent example of this is MDF door trims. Their price is simply incomparable to what it would be if the door had to be completely replaced. At the same time, the effect that you achieve using MDF panels for doors can be considered more than worthy.

How to choose high-quality MDF panels for walls yourself

To buy MDF wall panels, you will need a small amount, but when purchasing, you should pay attention to the quality of the purchased material, so that in the future you will not have to spend money again on purchasing an already high-quality product. Let's look at what you should pay attention to before buying MDF boards:

1. Availability of a product certificate, which must indicate that only environmentally friendly raw materials were used in the production process. It must also be stated that the product does not contain formaldehyde or other toxic or hazardous impurities.
2. Make sure that the product offered to you corresponds to the characteristics that the seller initially stated. Inspect the batch, assess how large the number of defective products is. If you see that the number of low-quality units is large and there are cracked, chipped or uneven panels, it is better to refuse to purchase a product from this manufacturer.
3. It is worth paying attention not only to the sizes and prices of MDF panels for walls, but also to their colors. In addition to the fact that you just have to like the color of the MDF panel, make sure that it is evenly applied by meticulously examining several slabs from the batch.

Colors of MDF panels: catalog of the most popular solutions for creating an interior

Technical characteristics and price of MDF wall panels do not always play a decisive role in the matter of choice. Often we focus on color, wanting to choose the most suitable option which will fit perfectly into the interior. In order to appreciate the diversity of the offered assortment, just look at the photo of the decoration of the hallway or any other room with MDF panels, which are offered on specialized resources.

On sale you can find both plain versions and imitations of the most various surfaces: MDF panels for brick, stone, exotic wood, white gloss MDF, and much more.

You can often see furniture made from this material. Most often on the Internet you can find photos of kitchens made of MDF. Both the prices and characteristics of such products are much nicer than those made from many other materials, and the design possibilities are almost limitless. This was the reason for their popularity.

How to attach MDF panels: lathing size and sheet installation

It is quite possible to install MDF wall panels yourself. For this purpose, it is enough to buy MDF panels for walls, the dimensions of which correspond to the requirements of the existing room, and also find some tools that everyone will probably have in their pantry.

There are two possible ways fastening: on an adhesive base or on a lathing. The second option is mainly used, since it is this that allows you to hide existing communications, and also not to worry about dismantling the previous coating. If glue is used, the prepared surface must be perfectly flat and smooth, which is not always possible.

To work you will need a tape measure, building level, screwdriver, metal corner, hand saw or a jigsaw, as well as screws or glue, depending on which method you choose.

In order to evenly attach the panels with glue, you first need to apply the appropriate markings, starting from the corner of the room. The vertical and horizontal boundaries of each panel that will be fixed are indicated. After this you can apply glue to reverse side panels as indicated on the packaging and glue the element to the wall. As a guide, it is recommended to look at photos of wall decoration with MDF panels.

Useful advice! Proceed with gluing the next panel only after you are sure that the previous one has been placed level. To do this you need to use a building level.

If you decide to do the sheathing, then you must adhere to the standard recommendations for this type of work:

• to create the sheathing, you can use both metal guides and simple wooden blocks;
• the distance between the sheathing elements should be 40-50 cm. This will ensure the most reliable fixation of the panels;
• It is necessary to strictly ensure that the sheathing is level. Otherwise, this may affect the cladding - it will be wavy;
• you need to start attaching the slabs from the corner of the room;
• it is necessary to check that at the joints the panels fit tightly to each other without forming gaps;
• between the floor and the panels it is necessary to leave some distance, which will subsequently be closed;
• in order to give the corners an aesthetic appearance, use a special flexible corner.

Like any other renovation work, wall cladding with MDF panels requires effort and attention. However, this task can be done by almost anyone who has at least basic skills in working with tools. To make your task easier, you can use detailed videos or photo instructions, of which there are quite a lot on the Internet.

Regardless of the area of ​​use, MDF wall panels for interior decoration demonstrate equally good performance. The main thing is to approach their choice responsibly, conduct a thorough inspection and make sure that the products comply with certification, are environmentally friendly and can serve you for a long time.

Repair is complex process, which consists of both preparatory work, and from finishing. The wide variety of design solutions for the interior of premises is amazing in its quantity. One of the popular ways to perform individual and unique decoration is to decorate walls with MDF panels, which not only save time and money on preparing walls, but can also create the most various options combinations of textures and colors.

Features of MDF panels

MDF is a material based on carefully crushed wood (woodworking waste, shavings, sawdust). Under the influence high temperatures, the wood crushed into dust is pressed. Paraffin or lignin is most often used as a binding material.

Important! Due to the absence of MDF harmful resins and formaldehyde, this material is safe and can be used for interior decoration of premises with constant occupancy

MDF is widely used for decorating walls and ceilings, both in ordinary rooms and in rooms with high humidity.

Main types

MDF panels can be classified:

• According to production technology;
• By type of design of the front part;
• By type of sizes produced.

Types of panels by production technology

Depending on technological features During the production process, MDF wall and ceiling boards can be:

• Whole pressed;
• Laminated;
• Moisture resistant.

Solid pressed ones are made from wood pulp using hot pressing under pressure. The result is a slab with a smooth surface on both sides. This production technology produces a material with high heat and sound insulation characteristics, as well as resistance to moisture.

Laminated panels are produced in the same way as solid pressed sheets, but at the final stage of production they carry out the process of covering the surface with a thin film of polymer material. This material provides greater strength and wear resistance, as well as protection from moisture and mechanical damage. And thanks a large number colors, available in a wide range of colors.

Panels for interior decoration with moisture-resistant production technology are also produced by hot pressing, but the process of temperature exposure is longer, and the wood dust that is used has a more dense structure and consists of high-quality varieties of wood species.

Attention! Moisture-resistant panels MDF is widely used for finishing and decorating rooms with high humidity - bathrooms, loggias and balconies.

Types of panels according to the method of design of the front part

Depending on this parameter, products are distinguished:

• Veneered;
• Glossy;
• Painted.

Veneered boards are slabs that imitate natural wood. Wood texture can be created by covering the rough panel with thin wood veneer (up to 3 mm). Such a slab quite accurately recreates the texture and color scheme natural wood, and can be used for universal and classic styles interior

The glossy board is an MDF sheet coated with a special polymer film, the color of the coating has a glossy smooth surface and can come in a wide variety of colors.

Painted panels are the most common. They are also created by hot pressing, but a special paint is applied to the rough version of the slab, smoothing out all the irregularities and creating the required shade.

Types of MDF panels by manufactured sizes

Depending on the release form and size, MDF for interior decoration can be classified as:

• Tiled;
• Rack and pinion;
• Leafy.

Tile panels are most often small slabs, usually square shape with a side size of 30 or 90 cm. They are mounted using glue and can act as an independent decorative material for walls and ceilings, and combined with other types of materials. It is important to carefully prepare the wall before installing them, making the surface as smooth as possible.

Rack-type panels are slats with a length of at least 250 cm, and their width can vary, the thickness ranges from 8 to 12 mm.

Attention! Rack-type MDF panels are especially relevant for small rooms, as they can visually expand the space of the room.

Fixing such slats on the wall is done by attaching them to the sheathing.

Sheet panels are relevant when it is necessary to finish a large room. They usually have rectangular shape and sizes from 122*244 cm. This finishing material can be attached either to the sheathing or using special adhesive compositions.

The large sizes of MDF sheets for interior decoration allow you to decorate the room quickly and without any special material costs, without any effort.

Advantages and disadvantages of the material

Like any finishing material, MDF has its advantages and disadvantages. Among positive aspects Applications of such material can be distinguished:

• Cost-effective: both material for preparatory work before installing panels and time for their installation. Before installation, it is not always necessary to ensure a perfectly flat surface, and they can be fastened using lathing, without the use of construction and adhesive mixtures;
• Possibility of installing an additional insulating or sound-absorbing layer under the panels;
• Simplicity of finishing work;
• No dirt or dust during installation;
• Easy to care for;
• Durability;
• Possibility of use in rooms with high humidity levels;
• Environmental friendliness;
• No need for additional surface finishing;
• Variety of colors and textures;
• Wide price range.

However, this material also has its disadvantages, which do not always provide a choice in its favor:

• Although production technologies make it possible to create types of material that are moisture resistant, the presence of wood dust in the composition makes them vulnerable to large amounts of moisture. When finishing the ceiling MDF material It is worth considering that in the event of flooding by neighbors, the slabs may become wet and swell, which will require complete dismantling of the covering.
• Not the best high level strength. Mechanical damage can ruin the appearance of the panels, but the ease of installation and the ability to replace only the damaged element makes this drawback not so significant;
• High fire hazard of the material. The wiring that runs behind the panels must be laid in a corrugated material made of non-flammable material, and installing the panels as a ceiling covering in the kitchen is not the best option.
• Installation of panels conceals usable area premises, which means it is advisable to use them for finishing large spaces.

Depending on the types of MDF panels, they are installed in various interiors, for example, for the living room, tiled options with decorative elements, and for the corridor good option for walls - slatted laminated panels.

For additional information about the types and types of existing MDF panels, their advantages and disadvantages, methods of application and operating features, you can watch the video

Features of installation of MDF panels

If as decorative covering decided to use MDF, then knowing the features of their installation, you can quickly and easily carry out all the work on your own, without the involvement of specialists. And although the installation of this material does not require a special preparatory process, it is still recommended to prepare the surface for higher durability of the structure.

Attention! It is especially important before installing MDF boards to remove the layer of plaster, which can absorb moisture and worsen the condition and appearance over time. decorative panels.

Cleaning the surface of a wall or ceiling from the previous one during preparation finishing material should result in a basic level surface. This is especially true for installation methods based on adhesive compositions. Next, the surface is treated with an antiseptic and primed.

When installing sheet panels, the sheathing is installed at the very beginning, which is the frame of the structure on which the MDF will be attached. If it is decided to make the sheathing from wooden slats, then they are also pre-treated with antiseptics to prevent the appearance of fungus and mold.

As a tool to help you quickly complete the installation, you may need:

• Mounting level;
• Screwdriver;
• Wood hacksaw;
• Metal scissors;
• Roulette;
• Hammer.

In addition, it will be necessary and consumables(nails or staples of a construction stapler, metal screws), and in the case of gluing the surface with panels - an appropriate adhesive mixture.

Installation of wall and ceiling MDF panels requires their tight fit and the absence of space at the joints. Depending on the type of connection to each other, the panels can be connected through:

• Tenon-groove is a simple connection in which a tenon (protrusion) of another panel is inserted into the groove of one panel;
• Groove-groove - the connection is made by fastening the groove-to-groove panels to each other;
• Fastening using profiles - the slabs are joined together in the sheathing profile;
• Fastening with glue - requires preliminary leveling of the surface and cannot be used for MDF panels with too much weight.

Attention! The arrangement of the panels can be either vertical, horizontal or even diagonal, depending on the preferences and style of the room.

When installing panels on the sheathing, the wiring is pre-installed, which is covered with fire-resistant corrugation, and, if necessary, sound insulation or insulation materials are installed.

Attention! When installing moisture resistant MDF panels, the use of nails is not permissible. For their installation, special glue is used. In this case, a small distance is left between the panels, which is advisable to fill with sealant.

Construction materials for interior decoration of walls and ceilings made of MDF steel have been used for these purposes not so long ago, and thanks to their undeniable advantages they quickly became popular and in demand materials, and were also able to provide the possibility of creating any interior designs.

You can make repairs in any room using special coatings yourself. The choice of covering depends on design solution, features of the room. Today, MDF panels for wall cladding are considered the easiest to install and at the same time aesthetically pleasing material, which compare favorably with PVC and chipboard products.

What are MDF panels

Very common wood material which is used for cladding - MDF panels for walls. It is made from natural, steam-treated fibers. Its usual name is fiberboard, but Medium Density Fiberboard is an improved version of it. New technologies are used in production, so the result is a more modern product with new properties. Its advantages include:

• environmental friendliness;
• aesthetics;
• strength;
• durability.

The new fibrous material is used for the production of furniture, flooring, and ceilings. The environmental friendliness of medium-density wood fiber products is due to the fact that safe resins and plant lignin are used in production to bind fibers during dry pressing of wood fibers instead of toxic formaldehyde. Finished goods can be additionally coated with varnishes, waterproof and fire-resistant mixtures.

What types of MDF wall panels are there?

Depending on MDF applications wall panels have different thicknesses, designs and protective coatings. Most often, such products are used for interior work, cladding door designs. For different rooms with different humidity and temperature, use cladding with special protective coatings, filling. To choose the right cladding, you need to know about the features of production and use of each type of fibrous material.

Solid pressed sheet

Solid pressed products - sheets with medium density, which are often used in cladding work office premises. Whole-pressed sheets are strips of fibrous material, smooth on both sides, that are attached to the frame using special clips (the main method). Sometimes glue is used for installation, but only in cases where the wall in the room is smooth and has no defects.

Laminated

The material differs from solid pressed material by being treated with a special decorative varnish without color, which provides greater moisture resistance, durability and better aesthetic properties. However, even laminated cladding is not intended for use in damp areas or with prolonged contact with moisture. Laminated MDF is used both for cladding and doorways.

Moisture resistant

The resistance to non-standard environments of the bathroom, shower, and kitchen of this type of product is due to its increased strength. Moisture-resistant cladding is the most durable. In addition to moisture-proof properties, the sheets are soundproof and heat-retaining. The coating, often acrylic, is not destroyed by water, so moisture-resistant products can be used when decorating kitchens and bathrooms.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of MDF wall panels?

Medium density fiberboard is chosen because this material easy to install even with your own hands (without a specialist), does not require pre-treatment surfaces. All that is needed is a fastening in the form of a frame on which the sheets are placed. Installation is simple and you can do it yourself. Correct calculation of the size and number of stripes is half the success. The main advantages of the material also include durability and cost-effectiveness. MDF panels for wall decoration have a number of disadvantages:

1. The main disadvantage of fiber boards is the fear of moisture. The presence of a water-repellent coating does not mean that they are intended to come into contact with water.
2. The thickness of MDF is less than a centimeter, and its strength is less than that of drywall.
3. Appearance – this type cladding is intended mainly for work areas, it is rarely used at home, more often for offices, and special water-repellent sheets on a fiber basis are used for kitchens and baths.
4. Minimum fire safety– fiber boards are highly flammable.

How to choose MDF panels for the kitchen and other rooms

Manufacturers of wall cladding, such as Kronostar, Omis, Rico, have a wide range of products with different designs. Release material under white brick, ash, wenge, wood shavings and with other drawings. For example, Kronostar produces fiber sheets of various coatings, with a wood or tile surface, for cladding ceilings and walls. different rooms.

Before making a choice, you need to familiarize yourself with the range of medium-density fiberboards. They are produced with the following types of coatings:

• paper;
• lamination;
• veneered;
• special water-repellent.

Depending on the type and interior of the room, its humidity and lighting, the type of finishing is chosen. For example, cladding with a special water-repellent coating is suitable for bathrooms; the same sheets can be installed in the kitchen. Glossy lining is more often used for office spaces, corridors and living rooms, as it has greater density and better aesthetic properties.

Where to buy and how much do wall panels cost?

You can buy slabs at any hardware store or order by studying catalogs on specialized websites on the Internet. Often, when selling, they provide related services: they measure and cut the material to suit your order. The price of fiber boards is not the highest, ranging from 120 rubles. for 4 m2 up to 1000 rubles and more for the same area. The cost depends on the manufacturer of the material, special coating and decor.

Installation of wall panels

How to attach mdf panels to the wall? Fiberboards are mounted on a frame, usually wooden. The beams of the structure are located at a distance of 40-50 cm. It is important that the sheathing is attached evenly, otherwise the cladding may become wavy. To install the frame correctly, you need to periodically check the structure with a level. Installation of MDF panels is carried out in the following sequence:

1. After processing the walls, the frame or sheathing is installed.
2. The plates themselves are attached, starting from the corner of the room, using self-tapping screws.
3. The first sheet is mounted from the corner, the rest are attached using special staples, which fasten the material together.
4. Each subsequent strip is placed on a bracket and attached to the previous one. It is important to connect them tightly at the joints so that the facing of the room has an even appearance. If necessary, the sheets are cut to the required size.
5. Installation is carried out at a certain distance from the floor. Leave space for the baseboard. Corners are processed using a flexible corner. All components for installation can be purchased from the same manufacturer.

Video: Wall decoration with MDF panels