Finishing MDF is an easy way to transform a room at minimal cost. Sheathing MDF walls with panels: doing it right Make MDF walls

MDF panels are a fairly popular material that many people know about, and those who don’t know 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 derived materials 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, laminated. Only after that the panel can perform a decorative function. She is often able imitate various natural materials like 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 also used for decorating floors, but very rarely (much will depend on the type of MDF, which will be discussed below). Most often, however, the panels can be seen precisely on the walls and ceilings.

Important! MDF panels that do not have a specific treatment do not like high humidity, so they can only be used indoors, provided that they are dry and warm enough. Otherwise, the material will become unusable very quickly. But laminated panels can be used for finishing 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 make walls smooth and pleasing to the eye in any room. The main thing is to choose them correctly.

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

Panel types

Not all MDF is 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
Whole-pressed	This is a standard panel, which is produced just in the process of conventional pressing and is a canvas 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. Relative to analogues, 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 plates may differ even in one batch. Usually such plates are used for decoration of premises for various purposes.
moisture resistant	This panel has improved resistance to moisture, it is denser than the previous version, stronger and more resistant to mechanical stress. Such panels can be used for finishing bathrooms.
Laminated	This is a fairly expensive, but resistant to a number of influences panel. She is not afraid of water, as her surface is laminated and will not let moisture in. The panels are not terrible and abrasion, as well as exposure to a number of substances. Sometimes such panels, due to their stability, can even be used for outdoor work (the main thing is that they are not constantly exposed to water, so such panels should be mounted outdoors only under awnings).
Other special	In theory, a moisture-resistant panel also belongs to this category, but it is used quite often and therefore has been described separately. And so they also emit heat-resistant, flexible panels and a material having an increased density. Flexible ones can be used to finish 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 divided into several types.

1. Veneered, which resembles in appearance an ordinary natural tree. Sometimes such a panel can hardly be distinguished 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 option for MDF.
2. Painted panel can have any color, which can be achieved by applying coloring compounds to the material. Moreover, MDF can turn out both matte and glossy. There is no imitation of wood texture.
3. Laminated panel- cheap and affordable, this is the reason for its popularity. Outside, it is usually covered with a melamine film. Such panels look beautiful, and they are not afraid of water. They are also fairly easy to wash.

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

• rack 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 rack and tile 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 finish walls and align them. But these panels have a number of other advantages.

Characteristics of MDF

1. Panels can protect walls from external influences.
2. The price of the material is relatively low, despite the fact that it is quite environmentally friendly and safe for humans.
3. Working with MDF is easy and convenient - they are light and easy to process, do not generate dust, and a minimum of construction waste is formed. And for cutting panels, you can use both a hacksaw and a jigsaw. To install the panels, you do not need to have any special skills, just read the instructions on the Web. Yes, and it is not necessary to align the walls first if the material is fixed on the bars.
4. If necessary, MDF is easy to dismantle.
5. Cleaning the panels is easy - dirt can be easily removed from them using a damp cloth.
6. The material has a beautiful appearance, is able to imitate various surfaces, and also has heat and sound insulation properties. This judgment is especially relevant if the panels were attached to a wooden frame base.

But it should be understood that there is not a single material that would 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 negligence, they are easy to damage. Because, in fact, they rarely trim the floors. MDF, in addition to the refractory option, burns well, and this is also its minus. It is important to remember that when mounted on a wooden frame, the panels will take up some space and may narrow the room somewhat. So in cramped rooms it is not always worth mounting them.

Find out what to use for, and also check out the installation options and process in a special article on our portal.

Where to start work? Tools and materials

Working with MDF is easy and simple, but the master will still 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 are laid behind the panels, then it is advisable to purchase a corrugation for them.

Advice! Determining the required amount of coating 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 - in the process of work, some of them may be damaged, and there should be no gaps between individual planks. So some panels may need to be replaced.

The finished look of the wall, finished with MDF, will give the finishing corners. It is worth purchasing them in advance and installing them after the installation of the coating is completed.

How can panels be fixed?

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

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

The panels themselves are fastened to the crate 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 on it the one that was fixed with their help.

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

The process of mounting panels on the frame

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

Important! The frame rails 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 self-tapping 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 rails to them.

Step 3 It is necessary to fix all the elements of the crate, observing a step of 40-50 cm. Above and below, near 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 rails are fixed evenly. You can do this 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 desired thickness under the right places for support. These pieces of bars must be fixed with self-tapping screws.

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

Step 7 Now you can start installing 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. If necessary, the panels can be cut to the desired length.

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

Step 9 To fasten the remaining panels, you need to use special fasteners - kleimers. Kleimers must be installed as follows - slide into the groove of the previously installed panel and fix it on the crate with a construction stapler or small nails.

Step 11 Then you need to fix the panel with a clamp 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 markup to the panel - how much it needs to be shortened or made narrower. And then just saw off the excess with a jigsaw or hacksaw.

Step 14 After all the panels have been installed, you can install the fittings to give the wall a finished look. Glue must be applied to the folding corner on the wrong side, then folded and glued into the joint between the walls, pressing firmly. Excess glue should be removed immediately with a cloth. Panel installation completed.

screwdriver prices

screwdriver

Video - Wall decoration with MDF panels

The nuances of the work

Mounting adhesive prices

Mounting adhesive

Working with MDF panels is not difficult, 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 heads of the self-tapping screws, it is better to additionally fix the panel itself with them - this will avoid distortions of the material in the future.

From the first panel, it is best to cut off the comb before installation. She doesn’t need it, but his absence will allow her to move the panel as close as possible to the corner. It is easy to cut the material, but sometimes it can crumble, and the laminated coating can crumple. 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 this aspect is important to take into account even before the installation of the frame, since the thickness of the bars will directly depend on how wide the free space between the panels and the wall is needed.

Find out which popular options can be used in a special article on our portal.

In general, there are no difficulties in working on wall cladding with MDF panels. The main thing is to strictly follow the instructions. Even a beginner can handle the job, so this is a great chance to save money on renovating the room if you do the MDF installation 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 finish the walls with MDF panels with your own hands.

Which installation do you prefer?

In general, it is recommended to fasten wall cladding to a system of galvanized or wooden profiles. 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 GKL. In a modern variation of such installation, profiles and rails can be replaced or supplemented with plastic mounting strips, which provide for quick and technological installation 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. If there is a sufficiently rigid substrate (OSB 6 mm, GKL), the panels will not be pressed through, besides, their warping during humidity changes is guaranteed to be excluded - a typical disease of cheap products. At the same time, the wall receives additional insulation and remains ventilated.

Sheathing without a frame is carried out by gluing the panels onto the walls after they have been pre-aligned. This can be gypsum, cement plaster or a rough base from the method described above. The method is recommended for mounting panels with a width of more than 160 mm, fastening over the entire plane gives a plus to the durability of the coating, but excludes fragmentary repairs and disassembly of the skin.

Frame system device

The principle of constructing a frame for paneling is the same as for gypsum boards, but the profile installation scheme is completely different. Depending on the method of fastening the panels, 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. The removed skin allows you to give the room the correct geometry, but for this you must follow the correct assembly sequence.

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

Between the guides, insert pieces of the CD 60 mm rack profile. With a horizontal layout, you will most likely encounter a lack of molding length. In these cases, the crossbars can be spliced ​​by inserting two sections of the guide profile inside and additionally strengthening 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 extreme ones are installed 10 cm from the floor and ceiling. To support the frame in a checkerboard pattern, direct suspensions are mounted with a step in one row of 60-80 cm, depending on the thickness of the panels, and hence the total weight of the skin.

The 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 profiles of the frame of long walls. For this reason, the first "pawns" should be installed no further than 10 cm from the corners for their thorough strengthening.

If you intend to use PVC mounting strips or rough wall preparation, the frame is made exactly as for plasterboard sheathing. The distance between the CD racks can vary from 60 to 80 cm, direct suspensions are installed after 80 cm. Such a frame can be reused during the next repair with the replacement of the finishing material with clean GKL, while fastening heavy sheet materials to horizontal bars is not allowed.

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

Frameless installation - pasting the walls with panels

There is an alternative installation method, which involves the use of liquid nails glue. Panels can be glued both to the frame and directly to the walls, if the unevenness on them does not exceed 2 mm / m. Often, this method is chosen for facing unennobled brick or block masonry, it is only important to choose the right adhesive composition.

It is recommended to use quality products. The adhesive must retain plasticity after drying, give preference to compositions based on rubber or polyurethane. For occasionally heated cottages, frost-resistant glue should be chosen, other features are determined by the surface material for gluing.

Don't forget to properly prepare the walls. Masonry and plaster should be thoroughly impregnated with primer mixtures to increase adhesion.

Corners and junctions - we use a full range of fittings

The main charm of working with MDF panels is that the fittings for cashing corner mates are mounted superficially, that is, upon completion of the installation of the skin. The use of plastic fittings with grooves for PVC panels is highly discouraged. Trimming of panels should be carried out accurately enough, the gaps in the inner corners should not exceed 1.5-2 mm / rm. m, which is quite enough to compensate for thermal expansion.

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

Another piece of furniture is a docking bar. It is used for splicing sections of sheathing with insufficient length of moldings or for combining panels of different colors in one plane. At the place of installation of the connecting element, a lay-in rail should be provided.

Installation of skirting boards

Special mention is made of skirting boards for MDF panels. For the most part, they are used to cover the corners between the wall and the ceiling, or to decorate the upper end of the wall panels. The plinth is installed in the same way as other fillets, landing is carried out on transparent silicate glue.

The issue of fixing the floor plinth remained unresolved. There will be no particular problems if the lower frame guide is lowered to 10-15 mm from the floor. In the presence of a draft base or pasting with wall panels, fastening can also be carried out using regular means. A common practice is to chemically attach the skirting board to liquid nails: the front surface of the panels has excellent adhesion.

October 5, 2016
Specialization: master in the construction of plasterboard structures, finishing work and laying flooring. Installation of door and window blocks, facade finishing, installation of electrics, plumbing and heating - I can give detailed advice on all types of work.

Today we will consider such 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 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 talk about the option that I have personally tested. The method is suitable for any bases and allows you to quickly level even the most problematic surfaces.

We will talk about mounting panels on a wooden frame, this is the most budget solution, which, among other things, is one of the easiest to implement.

What you need to work

You can’t 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 that all the most important components are available in advance:

materials	Application
MDF panels	You can buy MDF wall panels for interior decoration at any more or less serious hardware store. Their colors can vary significantly depending on the manufacturer and collection, but most often the elements imitate the texture of wood, but there are also 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, I personally use the 20x40 option, it is convenient and takes up little space. But if a balcony or loggia is being 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 heat-insulating material
fasteners	The easiest way is to use special fasteners, which are called kleimers and are staples that fix the finish. Here it is important to choose an option according to the thickness of the protrusions 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 can not do without a special universal corner. It is a bar on which there is a line in the middle, along which the element can be bent both outward and inward, or you can use it straight as a docking bar. This 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 is suitable, all the information is usually indicated on the packaging, so choosing the right option is not difficult

If the kleimers could not be found, then you can use finishing nails with a length of 20-25 mm and a thickness of not more than 1.6 mm, with their help you can also quickly and reliably fasten MDF.

MDF wall panels for interior decoration are installed using the following tool kit:

• If you have brick walls or, then you will have to fix the frame elements with quick installation dowels. In order to drill holes for them, you need a puncher with a drill of the desired diameter and length;
• For wooden bases, drilling of holes is not necessary, self-tapping screws can be directly screwed into them, and for work we need a screwdriver with nozzles of the desired size and configuration. If the wood is very hard, then you can pre-drill holes of small diameter with the same screwdriver;
• Kleimers are most often fastened with cloves, so do not forget to take a small hammer - a weight of 300-400 grams is enough;
• MDF wall panels are quite easy to cut, but to ensure the perfect quality of the ends and speed up the workflow, it is best to have a jigsaw on hand. Also add a fine-toothed blade to it to ensure the best result. If there is no power tool, a fine-toothed wood saw or even a regular metal saw will do.

I want to focus on one more nuance - although MDF panels are intended for wall decoration, they can also safely sew up the ceiling. 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 look at how the preparation of work is carried out. You know the list of all materials, but you need to consider how to calculate the right amount, here you can highlight a few basic recommendations:

• To begin with, using a tape measure, you need to measure the length and width of each trimmed section. By multiplying these indicators, you can determine the area, each figure is written on a piece of paper, you should not rely on memory, you can easily mix something up, and in the end you either don’t have enough panels, or some amount remains and returning the material will be very problematic;

If there are 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 will be needed during work. Here it must be borne in mind that a lot of MDF waste can be obtained in the openings, decide in advance whether they 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 number in linear meters, which is subsequently simply divided by the length of one product, this is how the required quantity is determined;
• The material for the crate should be considered as follows: I recommend making the step of the elements 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 linear meters, there is no need to count cubic meters - you will be helped to do this in the store where you will purchase lumber.

When the calculations are over, you can begin to prepare the base, 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.
• Carefully inspect the surface - 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 mounting foam. The second option is suitable for any cracks and is good in that it not only fills in irregularities, but also prevents cold from penetrating 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 you can use options with antiseptic additives, they are also very well suited for wooden surfaces.

Frame construction

Finishing the walls with MDF panels begins with the construction of the crate, on which our finish 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 crate is determined. If the panels will stand vertically, then the frame should be horizontal and vice versa. That is, the crate is always placed perpendicular to the position of the panels;
• When you know how the MDF will be attached, you can start drawing lines along which the frame will be attached, the distance between them should be 40-50 cm, in any case, a bar is attached along the floor and ceiling in order to firmly fix the panels. In the corners, the bars are attached so that between them an angle is obtained, along which you will be guided in the process of work;

• Now you should cut the bar into pieces of the length you need. It is important to prepare the required number of racks, and jumpers between them, if any, can be made from waste. They do not have to be solid, in extreme cases, you can make them from two pieces;
• As for drilling holes, first you need to mark up - put dots on the bar at a distance of 50 cm from each other, but the element must be attached at the top and bottom 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 for wood, and the walls with a drill for 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 bar so that it is positioned as needed, for a guideline, it is easiest to set up two extreme racks and pull a cord between them in 2-3 places;

• Last of all, screws are hammered or screwed 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, 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 insulation is most often laid between the elements of the crate - mineral wool, polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam. Here it is important to place the heat-insulating material as tightly as possible, if there are gaps after laying, then it is easiest to fill them with mounting foam.

Fixing MDF panels

When everything is done as expected, the installation of the finish coating 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 size with changes in humidity and temperature, and it simply needs an expansion joint;
• The element is inserted into the corner, after which a clamper is placed in the groove on the side, which is fastened with studs or small self-tapping screws. There should be one clamp for each frame element, otherwise the finishing panels will not hold securely. If you are using studs, 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 it is necessary to check the tightness of the joint along the entire length of the connection. If everything is fine, then you can fix it with clamps. Work is done in the same way until you reach the end of the wall;
• The last two panels need to be docked 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 into place so that the panels become even. The very edge can be screwed 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 fixing the corner, for this the elements are measured and cut into pieces of the required size, after which they are bent as needed. Then it is necessary to apply assembly glue on the reverse side of the element with zigzag movements and, having placed the corner in the right place, press it tightly, so you can quickly decorate the joints.

At the junction of the walls with the floor and ceiling, you can fix the plinth, it can be different: even wooden, 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 slopes MDF

I promised to tell you about how to make 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 best 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 a plaster mortar, if the slopes are very uneven, then it is best to pre-fix the beacons, on which the work can be done very quickly. Lighthouses are exposed to the same solution that will be used for puttying. 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, which takes at least a few days, the front doors can be used without any restrictions. Next, you need 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;

• 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 need, the work is done with an electric jigsaw or a hacksaw. Do not forget to try on the elements so that later it does not turn out that the finish protrudes beyond the plane of the wall;
• An adhesive composition is applied to the back of the panels, both liquid nails and special glue can be used for work, which is available in cylinders as mounting foam and allows you to fix the panels even with significant slope irregularities. The glue is distributed by a snake to ensure maximum fastening reliability 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 ruin the appearance and require redoing the whole work. While not 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 lining a doorway without a door, then the work will be different, you need to cut the MDF so that the elements are 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.

As an option, you can also consider a design 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 bar or a metal profile.

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

Material advantages

The range includes plates of different dimensions, shades and textures. MDF panels look attractive, have good sound and heat insulation, thanks to them you can tidy up the surface over a large area.

This is an environmentally friendly material, which is allowed to decorate the premises inside, however, the panels are very unstable before mechanical impact. The structure of the plates is similar to felt, but not from wool, but from wood.

You will not spend a lot of time on the installation of plates, finishing with MDF panels can be done even if you have no experience. The basis of installation is surface preparation, accurate calculations and marking. They can sheathe walls and ceilings of any size, they do not have numerous components.

Sheathing MDF walls with panels is similar to mounting a lining made of wood and is carried out in two ways: the material can be mounted on a frame or fixed on a plane with liquid nails. Such glue can be used not only for the installation of wood products, it is also used to close up the seams, because in its composition it has a filler of wood sawdust. The color of the decorative coating of the product must match the color of the adhesive 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 plates are suitable for decorating any environment. In addition, the material is easily combined , it can also be installed vertically, and in a horizontal position.

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

In most cases, the walls are finished with MDF panels by mounting on galvanized or wooden profiles. With this installation, it is not necessary to level the walls, inside the frame you can lay a heater or sound insulation. Which frame to choose - wooden or metal, is determined by the specifics and conditions of the room.

Installation without a frame - sticking products on the surface after its preliminary alignment. Plates with a width of more than 160 mm are mounted, such fastening is durable, but when choosing this method, fragmentary repair or disassembly is not possible.

Installation technology

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

There are two ways to mount the product on the surface:

• crate made of wood;
• profiled galvanized frame.

The crate made of wood is made simply That is, she will need fewer 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 also penetrates through the brick, and there is an excellent environment for its development between the wall and the slabs. For a metal frame, UD profiles (guides) and C.D. are needed. They have a U-shape, 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 fastened only with self-tapping screws.

How to attach the skin to the surface

A symmetrical tongue-and-groove lock is used to connect the sheathing sheets. To fix the panels when they are installed on a wooden frame, small carnations are used. Nails are hammered under a slope.

Installation instructions for MDF panels:

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

We decorate the walls with MDF panels

We decorate the walls with MDF panels

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

MDF material is wood waste (chips) mixed with a special adhesive solution and pressed.

A similar structure of the material makes it similar to chipboard boards. but at the same time it is very different. So, for example, the high temperature of processing wood waste in the production of particle board makes it possible to avoid adding various resins and other negative chemical compounds to the mixture for gluing.

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

Let's take a closer look

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 material 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 domestic warmth and comfort of this material.

Installation of MDF panels

Three years ago we bought our first apartment. It was almost completely finished, only the walls in the room and in the kitchen were simply putty. We decided to wallpaper them, and in the kitchen, in the working part and near the dining table, to decorate the walls with panels.

In the store, we liked MDF sheet panels made to look like ceramic tiles. The choice of colors was great. The seller said that MDF panels can be fastened directly to liquid nails glueif the walls are smooth wallpaper for leroy walls. 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 don’t remember exactly now.

The disadvantages of MDF panels is that they are not fire resistant and not very moisture resistant (we personally saw the latter) installation of pfc 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 a sheet of MDF panel vertically and glued it entirely. We first drew the top line along the level, along which the panel was supposed to go. Just got the right height. Near the dining table, the panel was glued horizontally - this can be seen in the photo.

But cutting the panel has become a problem for us. In general, an electric jigsaw is used for this. We didn't have it. My husband tried to cut the panel with a regular saw, cut with a knife. In the end, he got angry and just broke off a piece. Our MDF panels were under tile made 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 the panel joints and edges, we used white PVC corners and PVC profiles. They were also glued on.

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. The MDF panels held up well. In any case, in two years they did not fall off, although in that apartment there was very high humidity. Externally, the panels looked like tiles. We knew that it was not a tile. But acquaintances came to visit us, whose attention we did not focus on repairs. Later in the conversation it turned out: they were sure that our kitchen was tiled. The photo shows a general view of the kitchen, pasted over with MDF sheet panels.

I didn’t like the following in sheet panels: the pattern on them was erased when washing; installation of wall panels on glue. Wipe a little harder with a sponge - and the paint is already peeling off. They also get wet from contact with water and quite strongly. That is, they definitely cannot be used to finish 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.