Finishing MDF is an easy way to transform a room with minimal costs. Wall cladding with MDF panels: doing it right Make mdf walls

MDF panels are a fairly popular material that many people know about, and who does not know, they will definitely get acquainted with it in the process of selecting coatings and compositions for wall decoration. MDF is a fairly thin and light type of coating that can be used for a number of jobs, which include finishing vertical surfaces. Panels are made from small particles of wood, interconnected into a single array using high pressure, accompanied by heating. The main component is lignin, a natural substance released by wood under the influence of high temperatures. And the main advantage of MDF panels is that they do not contain substances hazardous to human health (for example, phenol, which can be part of a number of adhesives used to create other derivatives from wood residues). Although a number of third-party substances, in addition to lignin, each panel still contains. It can be epoxy resin, which, when cured, does not pose a danger to the body.

On a note! The abbreviation MDF stands for "fine fraction".

The panels created in production are then decorated. That is, they need to be painted, pasted over with a special film, and laminated. Only then can the panel perform a decorative function. She is often capable of imitate various natural materials such as wood or stone, but it can also have a completely different, brighter and more creative color.

MDF is used in various fields of human activity, but above all - for the production of furniture, doors, materials used to decorate surfaces inside rooms. In the latter case, we can say that the panels are suitable for finishing vertical and horizontal surfaces, including for the ceiling, sometimes they are used for decorating floors, but extremely rarely (here a lot will depend on the type of MDF, which will be discussed below). Most often, all the same, the panels can be seen precisely on the walls and ceilings.

Important! MDF panels, which do not have a specific treatment, do not like high humidity, therefore, they can only be used indoors, provided that they are sufficiently dry and warm. Otherwise, the material will deteriorate very quickly. But laminated panels can be used to decorate kitchens and bathrooms.

The coating fully complies with sanitary standards and requirements, which means that the panels can be used for decoration even in bedrooms and children's rooms, if desired. Panels are a great option to keep walls flat and pleasing to the eye in any room. The main thing is to choose them correctly.

Find out how to do it, as well as read interesting ideas (photos) and instructions, in a special article on our portal.

Panel types

Not all MDFs are the same and can be purchased for all types of work. It is important to understand here that there are certain types of panels, and each is used only in certain cases.

Table. The main types of MDF.

View	Characteristic
Solid pressed	This is a standard panel that is produced just in the normal pressing process and is a web of wood fibers. The material will have moderate strength, smooth surface, good heat and sound insulation. Such MDF is inexpensive, but environmentally friendly and safe. Compared to analogs, this is the cheapest option. But the material does not differ in increased moisture resistance, does not have any additional processing, and the color of different boards may differ even in the same batch. Typically, such slabs are used to decorate premises for various purposes.
Moisture resistant	This panel has increased resistance to moisture, it is more dense than the previous version, more durable and resistant to mechanical stress. Such panels can be used to decorate bathrooms.
Laminated	This is a rather expensive panel, but it is resistant to a number of impacts. It is not afraid of water, as its surface is laminated and will not let moisture inside. The panels are not afraid of abrasion, as well as exposure to a number of substances. Sometimes, due to their stability, such panels can even be used for outdoor work (the main thing is that they are not exposed to constant exposure to water, so such panels should be mounted on the street only under awnings).
Other special	In theory, a moisture-resistant panel also belongs to this category, but it is used quite often and therefore was described separately. And in this way they also distinguish heat-resistant, flexible panels and a material that has an increased density. Flexible ones can be used to decorate arches and other curved structures, high-density panels will perfectly cope with strong mechanical stress, but heat-resistant or fire-resistant ones are not afraid of fire and practically do not burn due to the content of a number of special substances in them. And they can be fixed in the area of ​​fireplaces and stoves, as well as very close to heating boilers.

Depending on how the MDF panel is finished, it is also subdivided into several types.

1. Veneered, which resembles an ordinary natural wood in appearance. Sometimes it is almost impossible to distinguish such a panel from an ordinary wooden board. That is, the panel is covered with veneer on the outside - thanks to it, it is possible to achieve the desired appearance. Veneer is the thinnest layer of natural wood. This is the most expensive version of MDF.
2. Painted panel can have any color, which can be achieved due to the application of coloring compositions to the material. Moreover, MDF can be matte or glossy. There is no imitation of wood texture.
3. Laminated panel- cheap and affordable, this explains its popularity. The outside is usually covered with a melamine film. Such panels look beautiful, and they are not afraid of water. They are also easy to clean.

As for the format, the following can be used for wall decoration:

• slatted MDF, 2.5-3.8 mm long and 13-28 cm wide;
• tiled square shape with a side width of 30-98 cm;
• sheet, with a length of one panel 1.25-2.5 m.

In the apartment, you can use both slatted and tiled variations of MDF. But for finishing spacious rooms it is better to buy a sheet version.

Prices for MDF panels

MDF panels

Advantages and disadvantages

We can say that MDF is one of the simplest, easiest and most convenient ways to decorate walls and align them. But these panels have a number of other advantages as well.

MDF characteristics

1. Panels can protect walls from external influences.
2. The price of the material is relatively low, while it is quite environmentally friendly and safe for humans.
3. It is easy and convenient to work with MDF - they are light and easy to handle, do not generate dust, a minimum of construction waste is generated. And you can use both a hacksaw and a jigsaw to cut the panels. To install the panels, you do not need to have any special skills, just read the instructions on the web. Yes, and you will not have to level the walls beforehand if the fixation of the material is made on the bars.
4. If necessary, MDF is easy to dismantle.
5. Cleaning the panels is simple - you can easily remove dirt from them using a damp cloth.
6. The material has a beautiful appearance, is able to simulate various surfaces, and also has heat and sound insulation properties. This judgment is especially true if the panels were attached to a wooden frame base.

But it should be understood that there is not a single material that does not have flaws. And MDF has them too. So, the material (especially - simple, not laminated) is afraid of an increased level of humidity. Also, the panels are not durable, and if desired and as a result of carelessness, they can be easily damaged. Therefore, in fact, they are rarely trimmed with floors. MDF, in addition to the refractory version, burns well, and this is also its minus. It is important to remember that when mounted on a wood frame, the panels will take up some space and may somewhat narrow the room. So it's not always worth mounting them in cramped rooms.

Find out what to use for, as well as familiarize yourself with the options and the installation process, in a special article on our portal.

Where to start work? Tools and materials

Working with MDF is easy and simple, but nevertheless, the master will need a certain set of tools and materials. So, it is without fail a jigsaw or a hacksaw for sawing, a screwdriver, a pencil, a puncher, a tape measure. Of the materials in the right amount, you need to purchase fasteners, the panels themselves, as well as wooden bars or metal profiles. If wires will be laid behind the panels, then it is advisable to purchase corrugation for them.

Advice! Determining the required amount of coverage is simple - for this you need to take measurements from the walls and perform simple arithmetic operations. By the way, it is better to purchase panels with a small margin - during the work, some of them may be damaged, and there should be no gaps between individual strips. So some panels may need to be replaced.

Finishing corners will give a complete look to the wall trimmed with MDF. It is worth purchasing them in advance and installing them after finishing the installation of the coating.

How can panels be fixed?

There are two ways to fix the material to the walls - using glue or a frame. The choice of the method is usually made depending on the condition of the walls and the wishes of the master. So, glue option implies the installation of panels on an adhesive such as "liquid nails", but this method is suitable only if the surface of the walls themselves is not curved. This is the simplest method, but limited in its application. In other cases, only the wireframe method becomes relevant.

Frame method of fixing MDF- this is the creation on the surface of the wall, a structure resembling a crate made of bars or metal profiles. A similar frame is created when installing drywall on walls, only the crossbars will be located horizontally. The step between the horizontal supports is 50 cm, and between the vertical bars that support the horizontal ones - about 3 m.

Fastening of the panels themselves to the crate is carried out using clamps. They are installed from the end of the panel so that they will not interfere with fixing the next panel on the crate, but they will perfectly hold the one that was fixed with their help.

Wall panels are a quick and inexpensive renovation, and at the same time, a neat and stylish appearance of the room

The process of mounting panels on a frame

Step 1. The first step is to inspect the walls and identify the most prominent place on them. It is on him that you will have to focus on creating the frame. On the wall surface, using a pencil, you can make notes for the lathing (the distance between the horizontal parts of the lathing is 40-50 cm). You need to take a block of 20x40 mm and cut it into pieces of the desired length (this is usually the width of the wall).

Important! The frame slats are always attached strictly perpendicular to the panels, so if they have a different orientation, then the frame lines will be drawn in accordance with their orientation (for example, not horizontally, but vertically).

Step 2. Next, the bars must be attached with screws on the wall strictly horizontally. It is important to understand that if the wall is concrete, then you first need to mark the holes for the dowels, drill them, install the dowels, and then attach the slats to them.

Step 3. It is necessary to fix all the elements of the lathing, observing a step of 40-50 cm. Above and below, at the floor and ceiling, you need to maintain a small distance - about 3-5 cm to the base.

Step 4. Before further work, it is important to make sure that the slats are fixed evenly. This can be done using a level.

Prices for building levels

Building levels

Step 5. If the wall is not even, then you can align the slats by placing pieces of bars of the required thickness under the necessary places for support. These pieces of bars must be secured with self-tapping screws.

Step 6. It is important to fix the details of the crate both along the edges of the walls and in the area of ​​doorways.

Step 7. Now you can start assembling the first panel. It starts from the corner of the room - you need to attach the first panel to the corner of the wall and check with a level that it is level. The panels can be cut to the required length if required.

Step 8. Next, the panel must be attached to the battens of the crate using self-tapping screws. They are screwed in only along the edge of the panel. Moreover, only the first panel or the last panel is additionally fixed to the screws (in places that will be covered with plinths, corners, etc.).

Step 9. For fastening the rest of the panels, you need to use special fasteners - clamps. The clamps must be installed like this - slide into the groove of the previously installed panel and fasten it to the crate with a construction stapler or small nails.

Step 11. Then you need to fix the panel with a kleimer on the crate.

Step 12. All panels are fixed in the same way.

Step 13. If the panels need to be cut, then this is done like this. First you need to apply a markup to the panel - how much it needs to be shortened or made narrower. And then just cut off the excess with a jigsaw or a hacksaw.

Step 14. After all the panels have been installed, you can install the fittings to give the wall a finished look. On the folding corner on the wrong side, you need to apply glue, then fold it and glue it into the joint between the walls, pressing it tightly. Excess glue should be removed immediately with a cloth. The installation of the panels is over.

Screwdriver prices

Screwdriver

Video - Wall decoration with MDF panels

Nuances of work

Installation glue prices

Assembly adhesive

It is not difficult to work with MDF panels, but there are certain nuances that should be taken into account when installing this material. So, the panels immediately need to be joined very tightly - any gaps between them are quite difficult to close, and they will be striking. Where it is possible to hide the caps of the screws, it is better to additionally fix the panel itself with them - this will avoid distortions of the material in the future.

It is best to cut the ridge from the first panel before installation. She doesn't need him, but his absence will allow her to move the panel as close to the corner as possible. Cutting is easy, but sometimes it can crumble and the laminate can wrinkle. So you need to work with a hacksaw or a jigsaw blade with very fine teeth, then this can be avoided.

Important! Always cut the material from the front side!

Some communications can also be laid behind the panels. But it is important to take this aspect into account even before installing the frame, since the thickness of the bars will directly depend on how wide the free space is needed between the panels and the wall.

Find out what popular options you can use in a special article on our portal.

In general, there are no difficulties in wall cladding with MDF panels. The main thing is to follow the instructions clearly. A beginner can do the job too, so this is a great chance to save money on renovating the premises if you start installing MDF yourself.

MDF panels for wall decoration are not only easy to install, but also very practical to use. MDF panels for dry wall cladding are still as popular as they were two decades ago. We have prepared for you instructions on how to properly decorate walls with MDF panels with your own hands.

What kind of editing do you prefer

In general, it is recommended to fix the wall cladding to a galvanized or timber profile system. This avoids preliminary leveling of the wall surface and makes it possible to lay up to 50-70 mm of internal insulation or sound insulation. The choice between a wooden and a metal frame is determined by the specifics and conditions in the room, as well as for finishing the gypsum board. In the modern variation of such mounting, profiles and rails can be replaced or supplemented with plastic mounting strips, which provide for quick and easy mounting with snap-on brackets.

A special case of the frame system is the device of a solid base as a rough preparation of the walls. The method is relevant in the case of using thin (5-6 mm) panels in rooms with a high operational load. In the presence of a sufficiently rigid substrate (OSB 6 mm, gypsum board), the panels will not be pressed through, and besides, their warpage is guaranteed to be excluded due to changes in humidity - a typical disease of cheap products. At the same time, the wall receives additional insulation and remains blown through.

Sheathing without a frame is carried out by gluing the panels to the walls after their preliminary leveling. This can be gypsum plaster, cement plaster, or a rough base from the method described above. The method is recommended for the installation of panels with a width of over 160 mm, fastening along the entire plane gives a plus to the durability of the coating, but excludes fragmentary repair and disassembly of the sheathing.

Frame system device

The principle of constructing a frame for finishing with panels is the same as for gypsum boards, but the installation scheme for profiles is completely different. Depending on the way the panels are attached, the configuration may vary.

In the most typical version, the panels are attached directly to the profile, respectively, the direction of the rack elements will be horizontal, this is the main difference from the GKL system. Exposed cladding allows you to give the room the correct geometry, but for this you must follow the correct assembly sequence.

Start with long walls: fix the vertical sections of the 28 mm UD guide rail in the corners. The two planes of the frame must be strictly parallel, so that the wall sheathed first is taken as the base one. In the future, the distance for mounting profiles on the opposite wall will be postponed from it.

Insert pieces of 60 mm CD post profile between the guides. With a horizontal layout, you are likely to encounter a lack of length of moldings. In these cases, the crossbeams can be spliced ​​by inserting two sections of the guide profile inside and additionally reinforcing with LM screws. Since the linearity of the frame is not critical, it is also not forbidden to fold the profiles with an overlap of 30 cm and fasten their adjacent shelves with self-tapping screws.

The installation step of the CD profile is 35-40 cm, the outer ones are installed 10 cm from the floor and ceiling. To support the frame in a staggered manner, straight suspensions are mounted with a step in one row of 60-80 cm, depending on the thickness of the panels, and therefore the total weight of the cladding.

Installation of the frame on short walls is carried out in exactly the same way, except that the guides are not attached to the pillar, but to the frame profiles of the long walls. For this reason, the first "pawns" should be placed no further than 10 cm from the corners to solidify them.

If you intend to use PVC mounting strips or conduct a rough preparation of the walls, the frame is made exactly as for the plasterboard sheathing. The distance between the CD racks can vary from 60 to 80 cm, direct hangers are installed after 80 cm. Such a frame can be reused at the next repair with the replacement of the finishing material with a clean gypsum board, while it is not allowed to attach heavy sheet materials to horizontal beams.

The installation of panels to the frame itself is extremely simple; for this, special plate brackets are used. They are inserted into the groove of the hidden fastening and are fixed to the frame with a self-tapping screw with a hat for a sweat. With the use of PVC mounting strips, the situation is even simpler: just snap the clips into the mounting groove and press the panel next. Rigid fastening of panels with self-tapping screws is carried out only for the first and last strip.

Frameless installation - pasting walls with panels

There is also an alternative method of installation, which involves the use of glue "liquid nails". The panels can be glued both to the frame and directly on the walls, if the irregularities on them do not exceed 2 mm / m. Often, this is the method chosen for facing non-refined brick or block masonry, it is only important to choose the right glue composition.

It is recommended to use quality products. The glue should remain plastic after drying, give preference to compounds based on rubber or polyurethane. For occasionally heated summer cottages, frost-resistant glue should be chosen, other features are determined by the material of the surface for pasting.

Do not forget about the correct preparation of the walls. Masonry and plaster should be thoroughly impregnated with primers to increase adhesion.

Corners and mates - we use a full range of fittings

The main charm of working with MDF panels is that the accessories for cashing corner joints are mounted superficially, that is, upon completion of the cladding installation. It is highly discouraged to use plastic fittings with grooves for PVC panels. The trimming of the panels should be carried out quite accurately, the gaps in the inner corners should not exceed 1.5-2 mm / linear. m, which is quite enough to compensate for temperature expansions.

The main element of the fittings is a universal corner profile. It consists of two thin MDF strips, fastened with laminated film, and can be used to decorate both internal and external corners. For correct and beautiful mixing of the overlays at the corners, their edges are trimmed in the miter box at 45 ° with a general bevel outward. When finishing corners on slopes, the angle will not be correct, so on-site trimming is recommended. Installation is carried out on glue for wood products based on polyvinyl concentrate.

Another piece of hardware is a docking bar. It is used for splicing cladding sections with insufficient molding length or for combining panels of different colors in one plane. In the place of installation of the connecting element, a mortgage rail should be provided.

Installation of skirting boards

Skirting boards for MDF panels stand out separately. For the most part, they are used to cover corners between the wall and ceiling, or to decorate the top end of wall panels. The plinth is installed in the same way as other fillets, the planting is carried out on transparent silicate glue.

The issue of fixing the floor plinth remained unresolved. Special problems will not arise if the lower frame guide is lowered to 10-15 mm from the floor. In the presence of a rough base or pasting with wall panels, fastening can also be carried out using standard means. It is common practice to chemically fix skirting boards to liquid nails: the front surface of the panels has excellent adhesion.

October 5, 2016
Specialization: Master in the construction of plasterboard structures, finishing works and laying floor coverings. Installation of door and window blocks, decoration of facades, installation of electrical, plumbing and heating - I can give detailed advice on all types of work.

Today we will consider such a material for interior decoration as MDF panels. This type of product is great for budget repairs, and an additional plus of such a solution is that installation work can be done without any problems with your own hands. I will describe the whole process in as much detail as possible, and you just need to use all the recommendations from this review.

How the work is carried out

I will say right away - there are many ways to fix decorative MDF panels for interior wall decoration, but I will tell you about the option that I have personally tested. The method is suitable for all substrates and allows you to quickly level even the most problematic surfaces.

It will be about the installation of panels on a wooden frame, this is the most budgetary solution, which, among other things, is one of the easiest to implement.

What you need to work

You cannot start editing without having everything you need at hand, you will have to constantly be distracted and look for a tool or go shopping in search of the right material. Therefore, make sure in advance that all the most important components are available:

Materials (edit)	Application
MDF panels	You can buy MDF wall panels for interior decoration in any more or less serious hardware store. Their colors can differ significantly depending on the manufacturer and collection, but most often the elements imitate the texture of wood, but there are options for stone or brick. The width of the products is most often 250 mm, the length is 2.7 meters, as for the cost, it averages about 200 rubles per square meter
Wooden block	We will make a frame from it, the section of the elements can be different, personally I use the 20x40 option, it is convenient and takes up a little space. But if a balcony or loggia is finished, then it may be necessary to lay the insulation in the frame, in which case the size of the bar should be no less than the thickness of the thermal insulation material
Fasteners	The easiest way is to use special fasteners, which are called cleats and are staples that fix the finish. Here it is important to choose the option according to the thickness of the projections on the MDF, most often it is 2 or 3 mm, it is important that the structure is fixed securely
Universal corner	If you have internal or external corners, as well as joints, then you cannot do without a special universal corner. It is a bar with a line in the middle, along which the element can be bent both outward and inward, or it can be used straight as a docking bar. It is very convenient, because you do not need to buy different components.
Liquid Nails	This composition is necessary for fixing the corners, it can also be used when finishing the door slope, I will talk about this in a separate section. Any composition that is suitable for MDF will do, the packaging usually contains all the information, so choosing the right option is not difficult

If it was not possible to find clamps, then you can use finishing nails 20-25 mm long and no more than 1.6 mm thick, with their help you can also quickly and reliably fasten MDF.

MDF wall panels for interior decoration are installed using the following set of tools:

• If you have walls made of brick or, then you will have to fix the frame elements using quick-assembly dowels. In order to drill holes for them, you need a perforator with a drill of the required diameter and length;
• For wooden bases, it is not necessary to drill holes, self-tapping screws can be directly screwed into them, and for work we need a screwdriver with nozzles of the required size and configuration. If the wood is very hard, then you can pre-drill holes of a small diameter with the same screwdriver;
• Claymers are most often fastened with nails, so do not forget to take a small hammer - a weight of 300-400 grams is quite enough;
• MDF wall panels are easy to cut, but in order to ensure perfect end quality and speed up the workflow, it is best to have a jigsaw on hand. Along with it, add a blade with a small tooth size to ensure the best result. If you don't have a power tool, a fine-toothed hacksaw or even a regular metal hacksaw will do.

I want to draw your attention to one more nuance - although MDF panels are intended for wall decoration, you can safely sew up the ceiling with them. The workflow will be no different, except that due to the position of the plane, the installation will not be very convenient.

Preparatory activities

Now let's figure out how the preparation of work is done. You know the list of all materials, but you need to consider how to calculate the required amount, here you can highlight several basic recommendations:

• First, using a tape measure, you need to measure the length and width of each section to be trimmed. Multiplying these indicators, you can determine the area, each figure is written on a sheet of paper, you should not rely on memory, you can easily confuse something, and as a result, you either will not have enough panels, or some amount will remain and the material will be returned very problematic;

If you have window or door openings, do not forget to subtract their area from the final result.

• If a window or doorway will be finished, then they also need to be measured to determine how many panels are needed during work. Here you need to take into account that a lot of MDF waste can be obtained in the poem, decide in advance whether it can be adapted somewhere;
• As for the calculation of the MDF corner, it is sold in linear meters, the length of one element is usually 260 cm, width 5 cm. You need to measure the length of all corners and joints in order to determine the total quantity in running meters, which is subsequently simply divided by the length of one product, so the required quantity is determined;
• The material for the crate should be considered as follows: I recommend making the element spacing 40-50 cm, MDF panels are not very rigid, so they need a good frame. The number of rows of the frame is counted, after which their total length is summed up. As a result, we get the required volume in running meters, there is no need to count cubic meters - they will help you to do this in the store where you will purchase lumber.

When the calculations are over, you can start preparing the foundation, the work is simple, but you should not skip them:

• First, you need to clean the base from dirt and dust, if there are remnants of the old coating on it: wallpaper, panels or something else, then it is better to remove them as far as possible.
• Inspect the surface carefully - if there are significant irregularities or cracks on it, then it is better to repair them. To do this, you can use ordinary cement mortar or polyurethane foam. The second option is suitable for any crevices and is good in that it not only fills in irregularities, but also prevents the penetration of cold through these places;

• If the surface is too loose, then it is better to strengthen it with a reinforcing soil, this will make the walls stronger. If the bathroom or toilet is finished, then options with antiseptic additives can be used, they are also very well suited for wooden surfaces.

Frame construction

Wall decoration with MDF panels begins with the construction of the lathing on which our decoration will be attached. The process consists of the following steps:

• The options for finishing with MDF panels are simple: they are placed vertically or horizontally, based on this, the configuration of the lathing is determined. If the panels will stand vertically, then the frame should be placed horizontally and vice versa. That is, the lathing is always placed perpendicular to the position of the panels;
• When you know how the MDF will be attached, you can start drawing the lines along which the frame will be attached, the distance between them should be 40-50 cm, a bar is attached along the floor and ceiling in any case in order to firmly fix the panels. In the corners, the bars are attached so that an angle is obtained between them, along which you will be guided in the process of work;

• Now you should cut the bar into pieces of the desired length. It is important to prepare the required number of racks, and the jumpers between them, if any, can be made from waste. They do not have to be whole, as a last resort, you can make them from two pieces;
• As for drilling holes, first you need to make a markup - on the bar, put points at a distance of 50 cm from each other, but above and below the element must be attached at a distance of 5 cm from the edge. Next, a bar with dots is placed near the line and from it the points are transferred strictly horizontally to the wall. After that, the tree is drilled with a drill in wood, and the walls with a drill in concrete, the drilling depth should be 10-20 mm more than the length of the dowel;

• The bar is attached to the wall, dowels are driven into the surface through it, after which you need to start leveling each element. Most often, you need to put chips or pieces of wood under the block so that it is located as needed, for a reference point, it is easiest to set the two extreme racks and pull the cord between them in 2-3 places;

• Last of all, screws are hammered or twisted into the dowels, it is also important to check the position of the frame, if suddenly some element has moved from the level, then the screw can be unscrewed and corrected. The smoother the base is, the better the end result will be and the easier it will be for you to work.

If the balcony is finished with MDF panels, then between the elements of the lathing, insulation is most often laid - mineral wool, polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam. Here it is important to place the heat-insulating material as tightly as possible, if after laying there are gaps, then it is easiest to fill them with polyurethane foam.

Fastening MDF panels

When everything is done as it should be, the installation of the topcoat itself is easy and quick, here you need to follow a few simple recommendations:

• Work starts from any of the corners, you need to take measurements, and then cut the panel to the desired length... Cutting is done with a jigsaw or a hacksaw, it is important to do everything carefully. The size of the panel should be 5 mm less than the height from floor to ceiling, since the material can change its dimensions with changes in humidity and temperature, and an expansion joint is simply necessary for it;
• The element is inserted into the corner, after which a clamp is placed in the groove on the side, which is attached with nails or small self-tapping screws. There must be one clipper for each frame element, otherwise the finishing panels will not hold reliably. If you are using carnations, then simply drive one into each block through the groove in the panels;

• The next panel is inserted into the groove of the previous one until it stops, after which you need to check the tightness of the joint along the entire length of the joint. If everything is fine, then you can fix it with clamps. The work is done in the same way until you reach the end of the wall;
• The last two panels need to be joined together with a "house", that is, the middle should protrude... In this position, they are inserted into the free space, after which you need to gently press the joint and snap it shut so that the panels become even. The very edge can be screwed on with self-tapping screws, all the same, the joint will be closed with a corner or a plinth;
• When the walls are finished, you can start attaching the corner, for this, the elements are measured and cut into pieces of the required size, after which they are bent as necessary. Then it is necessary to apply assembly glue on the reverse side of the element in zigzag movements and, having positioned the corner in the right place, press it tightly, this is how quickly you can decorate the joints.

At the junction of the walls with the floor and ceiling, you can fix the plinth, it can be different: even wood, even plastic. It all depends on the interior and your preferences, these elements are also attached to liquid nails, it's simple and the surface remains intact.

Finishing MDF slopes

I promised to tell you about how to make out slopes using MDF panels. The workflow in this case is quite simple:

• First you need to decide on the location of the panels: along or across the slope. It all depends on the width of the opening and your preferences, think and decide which option will look better in your interior. Sometimes you can arrange elements of different colors, this solution is suitable for the transverse arrangement of panels;

• First of all, you need to level the surface with plaster, if the slopes are very uneven, then it is best to pre-fix the beacons, on which work can be done very quickly. The lighthouses are exposed to the same mortar that will be used for the putty. The composition is simply applied with a spatula or trowel, and the excess is removed with a rail or level;

• When the surface is dry, and this takes at least a few days, the entrance doors can be used without any restrictions. Next, it is necessary to treat the surface with a primer, this will strengthen it and protect it from moisture, it is better to choose a composition with antiseptic additives, since both the slope of the front door and the slope of the window are often exposed to temperature and humidity changes, which is dangerous for mold formation;

• If there is frozen foam around the perimeter of the window or door, then its excess must be cut off with a construction knife. It is important that nothing interferes with further work;
• First of all, you need to cut the panels into pieces of the size you require, the work is carried out with a jigsaw or a hacksaw. Do not forget to try on the elements so that later it turns out that the finish protrudes beyond the plane of the wall;
• An adhesive composition is applied to the reverse side of the panels; for work, you can use both liquid nails and special glue, which is produced in cylinders as mounting foam and allows you to fix the panels even with significant unevenness of the slope. The glue is distributed with a snake to ensure maximum reliability of the fastening and not to cover the entire surface with the composition;

• When pressing the panels, be sure to check their position with a level, it is important that the slope is level, any distortions can spoil the appearance and require reworking of the entire work. Until frozen, the elements can be moved, remember this;
• When the glue hardens, you can start decorating the corners; for this, universal corners are glued, which are cut at an angle of 45 degrees for perfect joining. As for the joints with the door leaf, if the gaps are wide, then it is also easier to close them with a bar, and if they are narrow, then it is easier to use colored silicone sealant.

If you are facing a doorway without a door, then the work will be different, you need to cut the MDF so that the elements are in the width of the structure. They are fastened in the same way as in the case above, and as for the decorative elements, the corners are glued on both sides, if everything is done carefully, the result will be no worse than in the photo.

Alternatively, you can also consider a structure with a frame on the door, it is suitable if it is difficult to align the slopes and it is easier to attach a wooden block or metal profile.

When choosing how to sheathe walls, buyers very often give preference to MDF boards. This material has become widespread due to the fact that it is cheap, environmentally friendly, and easy to install. Plates are made from shredded woodworking waste. They are pressed under pressure and high temperature, and the pressed composition is bound with paraffin and lignin.

Advantages of the material

The assortment includes slabs of different sizes, shades and textures. MDF panels look attractive, have good noise and heat insulation, thanks to them, you can tidy up the surface over a large area.

It is an environmentally friendly material, which is allowed to decorate the premises inside, however, the panels are very unstable against mechanical stress. The structure of the slabs is similar to felt, but not from wool, but from wood.

You will not spend a lot of time on the installation of the plates, finishing with MDF panels can be done, even if you have no work experience. Installation is based on surface preparation, accurate calculations and markings. They can sheathe walls and ceilings of any area, they do not have numerous component parts.

Wall cladding with MDF panels is similar to the installation of lining made of wood and is carried out in two ways: the material can be attached to the frame or fixed on a plane using liquid nails. Such glue can be used not only when installing wood products, it is also used to seal the seams, because in its composition it has a filler made of wood sawdust. The color of the decorative coating of the product must match the color of the glue so that the seams do not stand out during the filling of defects.

MDF is made with a wide range of shades and micro-relief patterns that imitate different types of wood or stone. Therefore, the slabs are suitable for decorating any setting. In addition, the material is easy to combine , it can also be installed vertically, and in a horizontal position.

If the ceiling is high and the room seems uncomfortable because of this, you can mount the panels horizontally and use different shades. To visually raise the wall, the slabs are mounted in a vertical position. The material is made in different sizes, and before deciding on the color and shape, think about what effect you want to achieve.

In most cases, the walls are decorated with MDF panels by fixing them to galvanized or wooden profiles. With such an installation, it is not necessary to level the walls; insulation or sound insulation can be laid inside the frame. Which frame to choose - wooden or metal, is determined by the specifics and conditions of the room.

Installation without a frame - gluing products to the surface after preliminary leveling. Slabs with a width of more than 160 mm are mounted, such a fastening is durable, but when choosing this method, repair with fragments or disassembly is impossible.

Installation technology

In the process, you will have to use a plumb line, tape measure, building level and a screwdriver. You will need a metal plumbing square, along which it is convenient to cut pieces for slopes. Use an electric jigsaw or hand-held circular saw to cut the sheet.

There are two ways to surface mount the product:

• lathing made of wood;
• profile galvanized frame.

Wooden lathing is made easy That is, it will need less hardware for fastening, but wooden slats are more expensive than a metal frame. In addition, the wooden crate requires additional impregnation so that fungus and mold do not start. In rooms saturated with moisture, it is undesirable to use a wooden crate, since the fungus penetrates through the brick, and between the wall and the slabs there is an excellent environment for its development. For a metal frame, profiles UD (guides) and C. D. They are U-shaped, and their difference is in the cut configuration.

The wooden frame is mounted on a plane with self-tapping screws or dowel-nails. Metal is attached only with self-tapping screws.

How to attach the cladding to the surface

A symmetrical tongue-and-groove lock is used to connect the cladding sheets. Small nails are used to fix the panels when they are installed on a wooden frame. Nails are hammered downhill.

Installation instructions for MDF panels:

Sometimes the cladding is installed on a plane using clamps, which are made in the form of a bracket and hold the cladding on the crate. To secure the cleats, you will need self-tapping screws. This method is very reliable and has high durability, but it takes more time and financial investments.

We decorate the walls with MDF panels

We decorate the walls with MDF panels

This information is intended for those who want to quickly and cheaply decorate MDF walls on their own, or those who just want to expand their horizons. By studying this article, you will understand that DIY finishing is not very difficult. After all, the installation is alternately scheduled and shown in the form of photographs.

MDF material is wood waste (shavings) mixed with a special glue solution and under pressure.

A similar structure of the material makes it similar with chipboard boards. but at the same time it is significantly different. So, for example, the high temperature of processing wood waste in the production of chipboard allows avoiding the addition of various resins and other negative chemical compounds to the mixture for gluing.

Despite this, they have excellent technical characteristics, as a result of which they are in wide demand today.

Let's consider in more detail

Interestingly, this material is used for finishing work on all surfaces, from ceiling to floor, installation of ceiling panels. On the other hand, this type of materials is much more common in various administrative buildings and public places. Perhaps people do not use it for their home due to the lack of home warmth and comfort of this material.

Installation of MDF panels

We bought our first apartment three years ago. It was almost completely finished, only the walls in the room and in the kitchen were simply putty. We decided to paste over them with wallpaper, and in the kitchen, in the work area and around the dining table, to decorate the walls with panels.

In the store, we liked the MDF sheet panels made to look like ceramic tiles. The choice of colors was great. The seller said that MDF panels can be attached directly to glue liquid nails if the walls are even wallpaper for the walls of the leroy. We were pretty even.

MDF panels are made from pressed wood chips, which are impregnated with special compounds, and covered with a paper-based film on top. MDF panels seemed to us more environmentally friendly than PVC. Still, they are made from natural material, and modern technologies make it possible to avoid the use of harmful resins and phenols in the production. The size of the panels was about 1.5 m by 1.8 m. I can't remember exactly now.

The disadvantages of MDF panels is that they are not fire-resistant and not very moisture-resistant (in the latter we were personally convinced) installation of pfx panels. I recently read that MDF sheet panels need to be fixed to the crate. But then we followed the advice of the seller and glued the panels on liquid nails.

Our MDF panels did not go all the way to the ceiling, but to the level of kitchen cabinets. Therefore, we simply placed the MDF panel sheet vertically and glued it in its entirety. Previously, we drew the upper line along the level, along which the panel was supposed to go. The height is just right. Near the dining table, the panel was glued horizontally - this can be seen in the photo.

But cutting the panel became a problem for us. In general, an electric jigsaw is used for this. We didn't have it. The husband tried to saw the panel with an ordinary saw, cut with a knife. In the end, he got angry and just broke off a piece. Our MDF panels were made under the tiles toilet renovation with plastic panels video. And just at the seam, the panel broke. Only a crack went sideways, which was to be expected. But this crack turned out to be behind our locker. So we covered it with paint and forgot about it. To mask panel joints and edges, we used white PVC corners and PVC profiles. They were also glued with glue.

As a result, we were satisfied with the appearance of the kitchen. It took only a few hours to install the panels, most of the time we struggled with sawing the panels. MDF panels held up well. In any case, in two years they did not fall off, although in that apartment there was a very high air humidity. How to sheathe the walls with MDF video panels. Externally, the panels looked like tiles. We knew that this was not a tile. But acquaintances came to visit us, whose attention we did not focus on repairs. Then in the conversation it became clear: they were sure that our kitchen was tiled with tiles. The photo shows a general view of the kitchen, covered with MDF sheet panels.

I did not like the following about the sheet panels: the drawing on them was erased during washing, the installation of wall panels on glue. Rub it a little harder with a sponge - and the paint will peel off. They also get wet from contact with water and quite strongly. That is, they definitely cannot be used to decorate the bath. However, the price of the panels was about 600 rubles per sheet, it took us three sheets. Agree, for such a price it is difficult to find the perfect material.