Modern variety of wall finishing typesamazes with its diversity. Both the appearance and the material of manufacture are different. In addition, different types of finishing require different installation processes. MDF panels are popular today for these purposes - they are environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing and inexpensive. do it yourself - it's not a difficult task, you just need to know the technology.
MDF panel installation diagram.
Interior wall decoration: nuances
To cope with the task of finishing the roomMDF panels, you don't need to be a professional builder - just basic skills are enough. MDF is similar in structure to felt, but instead of wool there are wood fibers. They do not have high mechanical qualities, but they are completely environmentally friendly. The best option for interior wall decoration. MDF should be treated like wood. You can glue it with any glue suitable for wood. Liquid nails are used quite successfully in installation. However, there is one nuance: MDF panels have a decorative coating and if you use liquid nails, you need to choose a suitable tone in the store so that there is no contrast. Return to contents</a>
Required Tools
What tools will you need when working with MDF panels:
Tools for panel installation.
- plumb bob;
- roulette;
- circular saw or electric jigsaw;
- drill (with a nozzle for self-tapping screws);
- building level;
- a metal square;
- screwdriver (although you can do without it);
- basic set of tools.
You probably have a minimum set at hometools - stock up on them. When choosing a saw or jigsaw, rely on your budget and convenience. A saw has the advantage of its size and universal application, but it is more expensive than a jigsaw. Return to contents</a>
Installation process: recommendations
It is important to prepare the surface for the futurefinishing: if the walls of the room are damp or there are peeling and swollen areas of plaster, then it will have to be removed. The same should be done if the plaster is applied in a layer that is too thick (more than 12 mm) or the coating is uneven. Basically, you can get rid of the plaster in any case, it will be easier to attach the panels, and defects that the plaster hides may also be revealed. You also need to get rid of the baseboards.
Lathing scheme. Finishing walls with MDF panels can be done in 2 ways:
- on the crate of wooden racks;
- on the frame of the profile.
Option 1 is easier to install -you will need fewer hardware. However, purchasing other materials will cost more than a metal frame. If you choose a wooden lathing, the slats will need to be treated with a solution against mold and other troubles. If the room is damp, it is better to refuse a wooden lathing. In addition, pests in the form of rodents or insects may start up, which is not very pleasant. To install a metal frame, you will need guide profiles, connectors and fastening systems. At the stage of finishing the walls with panels, it will not be superfluous to take care of thermal insulation. As soon as the lathing is ready - you can fill its cells with insulation, in addition, this is enhanced protection from rodent habitats and condensation. Return to the table of contents</a>
Creating a battens: features
If you have decided on the wooden optionslats, it is worth knowing that it is attached to the wall using self-tapping screws or dowels, which are similar in appearance to self-tapping screws - they have an atypical thread. It must be driven into the plastic base using a hammer. The dowel head has a recess for a screwdriver, so that if necessary, it can be easily unscrewed. Wooden lathing begins with the installation of slats from top to bottom.
Scheme of work on installation of panels.First, it is necessary to install pairs of slats in each corner of the room. The pair should form an angle, then place the posts along the edges of all openings - window and door along the entire height. To check the verticality of the posts, you need to use a plumb line. The next step is to install horizontal joists, the step between them is equal to the step of the vertical posts. The presence of joists on the openings above and under the window sill is mandatory, even if this does not coincide with the step. The slopes of all openings are similarly designed using slats - along the edges without crossbars. All existing protrusions on the slats are removed using a plane. The lathing from the profile is fastened using only self-tapping screws. The diameter of the fastener depends on the strength of the wall: the stronger it is, the smaller the diameter will be needed. Each building element has a plastic nest in a pair - you need to drill a hole in the wall for the nest and hammer it in with a hammer. The minimum depth at which the fastener body should sit is 30 mm, usually about 70 mm. Choose a suitable drill - if it is too long, use a limiter. A metal lathing is mounted in a similar way: start from the corners, then move on to the openings, and then mount the crossbars. The step used is the same as would be used for wooden lathing. Short self-tapping screws serve as fasteners for all existing elements of the lathing made of metal profile. It is not recommended to use dowel nails for these purposes: they will either greatly warp the profile or will not provide proper fastening. It will be more convenient if you always have a circular saw or grinder at hand when creating a metal lathing, so that you can quickly and easily cut off unnecessary pieces. Return to contents</a>
Sheathing of walls: highlights
Scheme of finishing of MDF panels on walls.Finishing the walls with panels should be done after all the preparatory work has been completed and the debris has been removed. The panels are connected to each other using a tongue and groove lock (similar to a comb) and a groove that fits it. The MDF panels are attached to the slats with small nails, which need to be driven diagonally into the corner of the groove. Using a hammer, drive the nail all the way in. It is more convenient to use a striker, which looks like a center punch, but has a small recess at the end that fits the head of the nail. The panels are attached to the metal lathing in a slightly different way - using clamps that are inserted into the groove all the way and secured with self-tapping screws. This type of fastening is more labor-intensive, but it is also more reliable. Return to Contents</a>
Direct installation of panels
Установка панелей на стены — процесс the simplest. You should start from the corner of the room, then you need to cut as many panels to size as you need to the nearest rack. The cut corners need to be processed with sandpaper - 1 pass will be enough. From the first MDF panel, you need to cut off the ridge and fix the panel in the corner with the fastener that fits your lathing. Next, you need to insert the panel with the ridge into the groove of the previous panel and fix it, you need to act in a similar way until there are a couple of last panels left. The panel, which will be the last, needs to be cut to size with an addition of 2-5 mm, its ridge must be cut in half and rounded. The last 2 panels need to be inserted into their place like a house and pressed until they snap into place completely. The last panel needs to be pushed onto the previous one until it stops and fixed. Installing the last 2 panels is the most important thing in the whole process, so it is better to practice in advance on the scraps of panels. Next, you need to finish the slopes in a similar way to finishing the walls. The main thing is to correctly trim to exact dimensions.</ ul>
