The decoration of any room should be carefully thought out. Design must be not only beautiful, but also functional. For example, MDF panels can subsequently be washed; they will not quickly become dirty and age. In addition, this material has additional advantages.
The finish may be ideal for which MDF wall panels are used. Do-it-yourself installation is quite simple. No special knowledge is required here. So the layman will cope with the work.
What is MDF?
This is a fiberboard, for the manufacture of which very fine chips are used. Production requires high pressure and temperature. In order for the chips to stick together in one mixture, carbamide resins, which are considered the connecting link, are added to it.
MDF wall panels (do-it-yourself installation can be done even by an amateur) are used for covering vertical surfaces in residential and office premises. Other types of material can be used for the manufacture of furniture, arranging partitions, laying flooring. Very often, acoustic systems are made from plates. The thickness of the material reaches 4 mm. There are some conditions for storing these products: humidity - not more than 70%, temperature - not higher than 25 degrees.
Material benefits
MDF paneling has some advantages:
1. High level of resistance to moisture. Some types of materials can even be used to decorate a bathroom.
2. Good durability. The plates are well pressed.
3. Low cost. You can buy them at any hardware store at an affordable price.
4. Resistance to temperature changes, biological effects. Mice will not be able to gnaw such a skin.
5. Ease of handling and use. You can cut the material with an ordinary jigsaw or circular saw.
6 . Good soundproof qualities.
7. The products retain heat well, and also they can be painted, laminated, varnished.
8. The ability to create original designs.
9. Facilitated panel cleaning.
MDF wall panels, which do-it-yourself installation only after assembling the necessary tools, are made of natural material, so they are environmentally friendly.
Product disadvantages
Among the disadvantages of this material are the following:
- Amenable to burning.
- Enough mass. This feature does not allow the use of shields for all walls.
- The presence of synthetic resins in the product. Although they do not evaporate and do not pose a health hazard.
These disadvantages are not significant with proper use of the material.
What types of plate mounts exist?
Before attaching the MDF panels, you need to understand the connection methods. They are as follows:
- Thorn groove. This is the simplest type of locking element fixation. Stacking is done butt-to-butt. A feature of this installation is the need for a base made of metal profiles or a wooden crate.
- Groove groove. Special training is also required here. The wall will need to be strengthened with p-shaped profiles.
- Glue. This method is used quite often. However, the panel should be lightweight, and the wall should be perfectly flat. For work, a special adhesive composition is required. Naturally, dust and dirt await you during the installation process. But if you have a small room at your disposal and the availability of free centimeters is important, then it is better to choose this method.
- Profile. It allows you to align the base and attach large-format products.
What tools are needed to work?
If you purchased MDF wall panels, do-it-yourself installation should be done only after all the necessary material and fixtures are ready. You will need:
- Building level.
- Reiki for the construction of the lathing.
- Bench square for the correct determination of the angle.
- Plumb line.
- Drill, as well as a special nozzle for twisting screws.
- Hammer and pliers.
- Electric jigsaw for cutting panels.
- Special fasteners.
- Screw, self-tapping screw in the required quantity.
These tools should be enough for mounting panels. Other tools may be required to prepare the surface.
Varieties and features of panels
In order for the finish to last a long and high quality, it is necessary to choose the right facing material. There are such types of panels:
- Ordinary . They have high strength, but do not have much protection against moisture. Therefore, such products can be used for wall cladding in dry rooms: hallways, living rooms, bedrooms.
- For rooms with high humidity. Such MDF panels for the kitchen are suitable. It is in this room that moisture often accumulates and there are temperature extremes.
- Heavily loaded. They can be mounted in bathrooms, as they have the highest level of protection against the harmful effects of moisture.
Naturally, one should not lose sight of the decorative properties of MDF boards. Thanks to the different designs and colors, you can work wonders. For example, to make the room visually larger, use light or white panels. To get an original and unique interior, it is worth paying attention to the material with an individual design pattern.
Naturally, during the selection you should pay attention to technical specifications and quality. Buy material only in licensed stores. It is better to choose those manufacturers who have a good reputation and customer reviews.
Features of surface preparation
Before attaching the MDF panels, it is necessary to prepare the base. In principle, this is not difficult to do. To get started, remove the previous finish or its fragile parts. If the basis for fixing the plates is a wooden crate, then you will not need to align the wall. It should be pre-marked.
The glue method requires a perfectly flat surface. If the defects or level differences are small, then you can apply the usual plaster mortar. Naturally, the walls will then need to be primed in order to maximize the adhesion with glue.
Most often, a wooden crate is still used. It is not difficult to do it. Reiki are installed vertically and horizontally. The distance between them should not exceed 30-40 cm. A screw, self-tapping screw or nail is usually used to fasten the rails. Please note that all wooden elements should be treated with a special antiseptic.
If metal profiles are used for the crate, then the space that remains between them can be filled with mineral wool or other insulation. In addition to maintaining heat, you can provide additional sound insulation.
Mounting Features
The interior decoration with MDF panels has a certain sequence:
- Fastening the first panel. It is screwed at the inner corner with the help of screws. If necessary, trim the slab in length. Since each panel has a comb, it will have to grind a little. For additional fixation, metal fasteners are used.
- The following strips need to be screwed up close to the previous ones. On the side of the side groove, the product is fixed with additional fasteners.
- Installing the last panel. If necessary, it is cut in width. This element is attached to the crate with screws.
- Next, you need to repeat the above steps for each wall. After completion of work on the top edge it is necessary to establish a narrow plinth. It is fastened with nails or self-tapping screws.
As you can see, you can handle this work yourself.
Useful Tips
MDF panels are in great demand. However, improperly mounted material can degrade the interior of the room. Therefore, try to comply with the recommendations of specialists.
For example, when laying slabs, always use a plumb line and a building level. This will help you attach the products evenly.
You can sew with such material the entire wall or part of it. For example, you can only fasten panels at half the height of the base. This will make it possible to use additional finishing materials, as well as diversify the interior.
If there are small irregularities on the wall, then small pieces of plastic can be placed under the wooden slats. They will strengthen the crate. That's all. Let your home be beautiful and unusual. Good luck