DIY installation of MDF panels on walls. How to attach MDF panels to a wall on a wooden frame Installing MDF panels on a wall with your own hands

As a material for interior decoration MDF panels are now widely used for walls. They have become very popular due to their environmental friendliness, attractive appearance and a number of positive characteristics. Using MDF panels is a simple, relatively inexpensive and quick way to decorate a room. Most often the material is used to repair storerooms, hallways or loggias.

What are MDF panels

This finishing material is made from medium-density fiberboard as a result of hot pressing of wood fibers. As a result of pressure and high temperature Lignin, from which wood is composed, becomes elastic, its fibers adhere to each other. Toxic components, such as phenol or resins, are not used in the production of the material, so MDF panels are absolutely safe and environmentally friendly.

The external coating of facing slabs is of three types:

Laminated film that replicates the surface of marble, wood or other natural materials.
Thin veneer from valuable species tree.
Relief varnish coating.

When purchasing MDF panels, you should pay attention to their thickness, moisture resistance and strength.

Pros and cons

Of course, like any building and finishing material, MDF panels have their strengths and weaknesses.

Obvious advantages include:

Simplicity and ease of installation. They can be mounted on a frame, which is easy to make, horizontally or vertically, without the need to first apply a layer of plaster.
Good sound insulation.
Attractive appearance, wide choice of colors.
Easy to care for, to keep the walls in neat condition, just wipe them periodically with a damp cloth.
Affordable price.

Among the disadvantages are:

The walls under the panels remain hollow after fastening; if something needs to be hung, it is important to use special dowels.
Instability to external mechanical influences and dampness.
The material is highly flammable and burns.
MDF panels do not form a smooth, continuous surface; depressions are always noticeable at the joints.
The material is more suitable for interior decoration of corridors, storage rooms, loggias.

Preparatory work

Since MDF panels can be attached to uneven surfaces, no special preparation of the walls is required, however, due to their instability to moisture, it is better to carry out work in a dry room in sunny weather.

From preparatory work The following stages can be distinguished:

Coating the wall surface with a primer, a special solution for protecting wood or an antiseptic.
Lathing arrangement for fastening panels (if the adhesive installation method is not used). The frame can be attached directly to the walls, but this will not be the most successful option, since it will follow all the irregularities of the wall. It is better to make an independent frame, the elements of which will be located on top of the insulation. The frame comes in two types: metal and wood.
- Metal frame It is made from a guide profile, with the help of which plasterboard is installed, measuring approximately 50x50 mm. The profiles are attached vertically to the floor using dowels at a distance of approximately 60 cm; before installation, it is important to check the correct location of the elements using a building level. The bottom bar should be placed at a distance of 3-5 cm from the floor, and the top bar at a distance of 2-3 cm from the ceiling. Vertical elements are attached between the vertical elements. All that remains is to securely fasten all the elements using corners, which are easy to make from the profile itself. You can use a cutter, a tool that helps connect elements together.
- Wooden frame made from elements of the same size, approximately 50x50. The installation technology is the same as in the previous version, the difference is that the wooden blocks are fastened together using self-tapping screws or furniture corners.
Insulation of walls. The cells of the frame can be filled with a layer of insulation; how to do this correctly will be described below.

Required Tools

In addition to the standard set of tools that can be found in every home, for installation of MDF panels you need to prepare:

A tape measure and a pencil, they will be needed to mark the places where the sheathing elements are attached and to indicate the required length of materials.
A plumb line that can be made from ordinary fishing line and a nut.
A building level or metal corner, with the help of which the correct arrangement of elements is checked.
Hammer, nails, construction stapler.
Dowels and screws.
Screwdriver and drill.
Cutter.
Use a hand saw or jigsaw to cut the MDF panels to the desired length.

How to attach MDF panels to the wall

The material is attached to the wall using frame or adhesive methods. Both of these options are equivalent. If you need to hide the unevenness of the walls, it is better to choose frame method, if you need to finish a flat surface, adhesive is quite suitable.

Preparatory work for the construction of metal or wooden sheathing already done, you can start installing the MDF panels themselves. It doesn’t matter what corner of the room you start work from.

The first MDF panel is installed in the corner so that its tenon is located 2-3 mm from the adjacent wall.
The second one is installed on the adjacent wall in the same way, so that its tenon is also directed into the corner.
Holding the panels with your hands, you need to install a universal corner between them.
We secure them using special clamps - clamps. They are fixed to the edge of the panel and then nailed to a metal or wooden frame. The clamps are made in such a way that they do not interfere with inserting the next element into the groove.
The upper and lower parts are screwed on with self-tapping screws at the top and bottom. After completion of the work, their heads will not be visible, since they will be covered with ceiling and floor plinths.
The next panel is inserted with a tenon into the groove previously installed in the manner described above. Direct joints should be covered with special slats.
When all work on installing the panels is completed, the baseboards and platband are fixed using ordinary construction glue.

Wall insulation

Experts advise insulating walls, since under the influence of moisture the structure of the material can change, which will not have a very good effect on the appearance of the walls. The sheathing cells are filled with insulation before the direct installation of the MDF panels.

Most often, two materials are used for this purpose:

It retains heat well and prevents noise penetration. The foam sheets are attached directly to the brackets for the sheathing profiles, and the gaps between the sheets are closed with regular polyurethane foam. It is very convenient to work with this insulation, it is easy to cut, the material is suitable any density.

Mineral wool. This is a soft insulation that is placed in the spaces between the frame elements, slightly tucked under them. If you decide to use this insulation, you should definitely take care of treating the walls with an antifungal agent.

Installing panels with glue

It is important to take into account the fact that MDF panels can only be glued to flat walls. This method is simpler compared to the frame method, as it significantly saves time.

Not every glue is suitable for this type of work; it must:

Be plastic;
Smooth out minor unevenness on the wall;
Have a thick texture;
Apply in a thin layer.

Work technology:

Before you start gluing MDF panels, the walls need to be cleaned of dirt and primer or any antibacterial compound applied. Be sure to wait until the solution dries.
You need to start the installation from the corner of the room so that minor errors are less noticeable.
Apply glue to the inner surface of the panel pointwise, that is, in a “checkerboard pattern”, wait a little to allow the glue to absorb.
Place the canvas against the wall, press lightly and smooth it from the center to the edges.
Glue the remaining panels in the same way. They can be secured end-to-end or overlapping, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations.

To save time, glue can be applied to several canvases at once; while it dries, begin attaching the first one. When working with glue, you need to be very careful, since the result of the work depends on it.

The process of installing MDF panels is very simple if you follow the recommendations of specialists and pay attention to some nuances:

When installing the first MDF panel, be sure to use a plumb line and a building level.
The material does not bend, so closer to the corners of the walls, you just need to trim the panels, and then cover this place with special corners.
Attach the lower element of the sheathing closer to the floor in order to securely fix the baseboards later.

Today the simplest and in a fast way To make the walls of your home beautiful and smooth, decorate them with MDF panels. This solution is, of course, not suitable for all rooms, but for corridors, staircases, storage rooms and hallways this material will be almost ideal. We will talk about it in this article, in which, together with the website, we will look at how to install MDF panels using frame and frameless methods with your own hands.

There are two ways to fix MDF panels on the walls - the so-called adhesive and frame. Both of these methods are good and are used depending on the circumstances. If finishing walls with MDF panels involves hiding any communications, then the frame method of attaching MDF is used. If we are talking about finishing smooth walls, then the adhesive method is used.

Wall decoration with MDF panels photo

Installation of MDF panels: frame installation method

The very name of this method speaks for itself - to implement it you will need to build a frame, which in some way resembles the structure that is used for. The difference lies only in the position of the load-bearing ones - if they are installed vertically to fasten plasterboard sheets, then MDF provides for a horizontal arrangement of profiles. In this regard, the peculiarities of constructing such a frame arise.

In principle, at the first stage everything happens in a similar way - the plane of the future frame is hammered out, then guide profiles are attached along the perimeter of the wall, on the floor, ceiling and adjacent walls. This is where the differences begin. In a given plane, vertical load-bearing profiles cd are installed not after 600 mm, but after 3000 mm, which is the standard length of the load-bearing profile.

Installation of MDF panels: frame method

This is done in order to subsequently install horizontal load-bearing profiles cd between them, the pitch of which is 500 mm. They are connected to vertical profiles using crab CD connectors, and fixed to the wall with the same U-shaped brackets.

Installation of the frame is the main work in the process of installing MDF panels. The fastening itself is an easier process that almost anyone can handle. MDF panels are attached to the frame using clamps (special clamps). Before fastening it to the frame, the clamp itself is inserted into a groove located at the end of the panel, thus ensuring their reliable fixation to the frame. The clamps are designed so that they do not interfere with inserting the next panel into the groove.

DIY installation of MDF panels photo

Installing panels with glue yourself: installation features

Installing MDF panels on walls using glue is much simpler - the entire installation process is greatly simplified by the absence of a metal or wooden frame, the construction of which takes quite a lot of time.

Installation wall panels mdf photo

Before we begin directly attaching the panels, let’s first look at the glue that is used for these purposes. Or any glue will not work here - you need a composition that has certain qualities.

Firstly, the glue must be plastic even after hardening - the fact is that MDF panels made from pressed cardboard are highly susceptible to deformation depending on the temperature and humidity in the room. Therefore, an adhesive is needed that can dampen these same temperature expansions.
Secondly, the adhesive used for MDF panels should facilitate their fastening even in places where the walls are slightly curved. That is, the texture of the glue should make it possible to spread it both thin and thick - in a word, it should be thick enough. These requirements perfectly fit the so-called “”, which are successfully used by almost all craftsmen to solve the problem of how to install MDF panels.

Liquid nails for mounting MDF panels photo

The installation of panels using glue itself looks quite simple - its technology is almost completely described on the tube of “Liquid Nails” glue. It is not recommended to violate it. To begin with, the walls covered with panels must be cleaned of dust and dirt - in principle, if you are going to seriously engage in independent repairs, then the priming process, which is performed to clean the walls from dust and dirt, and at the same time to improve the adhesion of materials, should be included in your habit. They always prime everything, everywhere.

Priming walls before installing MDF panels photo

After the primer has dried, the actual gluing of the panels begins. While it dries, you can do other preparations - for example, cut several dozen panels to size.

The glue is applied directly to the panel itself in a dotted manner and in a checkerboard pattern - the glue drops should be large. Once the adhesive has been applied, the panel is pressed against the wall, tapped tightly and torn off. This is required by gluing technology - you need to tear off the panel so that the glue is weathered and the panel does not peel off from the wall under its own weight. To speed up the process and make installing MDF panels with your own hands faster, you can immediately, one after another, smear up to a dozen panels, attach them to the wall and tear them off. While the glue is weathering, you are allowed to take a smoke break - after five minutes, the panels can be hung on the wall again and thoroughly slammed down.

How to glue MDF panels to the wall photo

It is easy to glue the panels; it is much more difficult to trim them evenly and accurately. In this regard special attention it is necessary to pay attention to slopes and similar obstacles that come across the installation path of MDF panels. It should be understood that the appearance of the room completely depends on the even trimming of the panels.

Installation of MDF panels on walls

Well, in conclusion, we will dwell on the main installation nuances that are typical for both methods of fastening MDF panels.

First, there are the angles. It should be understood that it will not be possible to bend MDF panels, so they are simply cut as close to the corner as possible, after which the cut edges are safely overlapped with a special corner, which can be used for both external and internal corners.
Secondly, this is the frame - the lowest horizontal profile should lie on the floor. In this way you will ensure reliable fastening of the skirting boards.
Thirdly, in order to avoid misalignment in the future, the first panel must be installed in accordance with the vertical level and firmly fixed with self-tapping screws in places where they will subsequently overlap (at the bottom with a plinth, at the top with a ceiling, in the corner with a decorative overlay). It is advisable to check the position of the panels with a level in the future - you don’t need to check everything in a row, but you need to apply it to every fifth panel.

That's basically all. This is how MDF panels are installed. This process is not complicated or simple, like, in general, any finishing work, in which your attitude to the little things plays an important role, which together affect the overall picture of the repair. Simply put, there are no trifles in this matter.

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 yourself.

Which installation do you prefer?

IN general case It is recommended to fasten the wall cladding to a system of galvanized or wooden profiles. This allows you to avoid 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 metal frame is determined by the specifics and conditions of the room, as for finishing gypsum boards. In a modern variation of this installation, profiles and slats can be replaced or supplemented with plastic mounting strips, which provide for quick and easy installation with snap-on brackets.

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

Sheathing without a frame is carried out by gluing panels to 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 installing panels with a width of over 160 mm; fastening along the entire plane gives an advantage to the durability of the coating, but eliminates fragmentary repairs and disassembly of the sheathing.

Frame system structure

The principle of constructing a frame for finishing with panels is the same as for gypsum plasterboard, but the profile installation scheme is completely different. Depending on the method of mounting the panels, the configuration may vary.

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

Start with long walls: attach vertical sections of 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 one. In the future, the distance for installing profiles on the opposite wall will be set aside from it.

Insert sections of 60 mm CD rack profile between the guides. When laying horizontally, you will most likely encounter a lack of length of the molding. In these cases, the crossbars can be spliced by inserting inside two sections of the guide profile and additionally strengthening them 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 CD profile installation step is 35-40 cm, the outer ones are installed 10 cm from the floor and ceiling. To support the frame, straight hangers are installed in a checkerboard pattern in increments of 60-80 cm in one row, depending on the thickness of the panels, and therefore the total mass of the sheathing.

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

If you intend to use PVC mounting strips or rough preparation walls, the frame is made exactly as for gypsum board sheathing. The distance between CD racks can vary from 60 to 80 cm, direct hangers are installed every 80 cm. Such a frame can be reused during the next renovation by replacing the finishing material with pure gypsum board, while attaching heavy sheet materials to horizontal crossbars is not allowed.

The installation of the panels to the frame itself is extremely simple; special plate brackets are used for this. They are inserted into the groove of the hidden fastening and fixed to the frame with a self-tapping screw with a countersunk head. 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 performed only for the first and outer strips.

Frameless installation - covering walls with panels

There are also alternative way installation, which involves the use of “liquid nails” glue. The panels can be glued either to the frame or directly to the walls, if the unevenness on them does not exceed 2 mm/m. Often this is the method chosen for cladding unfinished brick or block masonry; it is only important to choose the correct adhesive composition.

It is recommended to use quality products. The glue must remain flexible after drying; give preference to compounds based on rubber or polyurethane. For occasionally heated dachas, you should choose frost-resistant glue; other features are determined by the surface material for gluing.

Don't forget about proper preparation walls Masonry and plaster must be thoroughly impregnated with primer mixtures to increase adhesion.

Corners and connections - we use a full range of fittings

The main advantage of working with MDF panels is that the fittings for cashing out the corner joints are mounted superficially, that is, after the installation of the sheathing is completed. It is highly not recommended to use plastic fittings with grooves for PVC panels. Trimming the panels must be done fairly accurately, the gaps within internal corners should not exceed 1.5-2 mm/linear. m, which is quite enough to compensate for temperature expansion.

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

Another element of the fittings is the joining strip. It is used for splicing sections of sheathing when the length of the molding is insufficient or for combining panels of different colors in one plane. A mounting strip should be provided at the installation site of the connecting element.

Installation of skirting boards

Skirting boards for MDF panels deserve special mention. For the most part, they are used to cover the corners between the wall and the ceiling, or to decorate the upper end of wall panels. The plinth is installed in the same way as other fillets; the installation is carried out using transparent silicate glue.

The issue of fixing the floor plinth remained unresolved. There will be no special problems if the lower guide of the frame is lowered to 10-15 mm from the floor. If there is a rough base or the walls are covered with panels, fastening can also be carried out using standard means. The practice of chemically attaching skirting boards using liquid nails is common: the front surface of the panels has excellent adhesion.

The choice in favor of MDF panels is worth making in cases where you need to quickly, efficiently and at the same time inexpensively finish the walls in a room. This material is especially good if you plan to lay an additional thermal insulation layer.
MDF is based on wood waste which are mixed with glue solution and then pressed. This structure of the material can be compared with chipboard boards, but unlike them, MDF panels do not contain harmful chemical compounds and various resins. The result is a high-quality environmentally friendly product that can be safely used for interior decoration of residential premises.
There are two possible ways to attach MDF panels to the wall - frame and glue. Each of these options is good in its own way, and their choice depends on specific circumstances. For example, when there is a need to disguise existing communications, it is best to do this using MDF frame fastening. If the finishing work will be carried out on smooth walls, then you can safely use the option with glue installation.

Tool kit for panel fastening

Finishing work will proceed faster and better if you have tools such as:

Tape measure (will allow you to outline the places for future fixation of the sheathing elements and determine the required length of the panel);
Construction level (everything is clear here - it is used to check the evenness of both the frame itself and the mounted MDF panels);
Electric drill or screwdriver;
Metal corner (allows you to make sure the corners are even);
A jigsaw (in the absence of one, a hand saw will do);
Nails, screws, glue.

Frame method and its features

This option for installing panels has much in common with covering walls with plasterboard: first of all, the sheathing (metal or wood) is installed, after which the panels are fixed. Both nails or self-tapping screws and clamps are suitable for this - special elements that snap the panel onto the frame, which minimizes its movement. By the way, this is a necessary condition when working with such a finishing material, because, like natural wood, the dimensions of MDF can change.

Frame method of fastening MDF panels: pros and cons

Creating lathing during the installation of wall panels has the following advantages:

The walls do not require preliminary preparation (if desired, you don’t even have to remove the old finish);
A properly installed frame will allow you to achieve maximum evenness of the walls;
In case of unplanned repairs, the panels can be easily removed from the sheathing.

The disadvantages of this method of installing panels include:

Creating a system of profiles, its subsequent fixation and leveling can cause certain difficulties even for those who until this moment have not been particularly involved in repair or finishing works ah, so most often you have to turn to professionals for help;
Installation of the frame and its subsequent covering “eats” several centimeters of free space in the room, which reduces its area;
Installation of the frame seems costly in terms of money and time, and therefore one cannot count on quick completion of the work.

Installation of wooden sheathing

Installation of wooden sheathing begins with fastening the vertical post. First, the rack is installed in the corner of the room, after which they move on to the window and doorways(mount the racks in the direction from the floor to the ceiling). Using a plumb line, check the verticality of the racks.
Then the stand is applied to the wall, on which the corresponding marks are applied - future holes for fastening. The distance between the holes (a drill is used to create them) varies from 50 to 70 cm. After this, “sockets” are placed in the prepared holes for fixation, and their position is again marked with a marker or pencil. It is necessary to drill a hole two to three times the diameter of the future fastener, which is then inserted back. By the way, experienced craftsmen prefer to do things a little differently: they initially drill holes in the racks, while the markings are made directly through the racks.
All subsequent logs are mounted in the same way. It is noteworthy that logs are installed on top of the openings and under the window sill, despite the “step”. The slats are also mounted outside and inside the window opening.
A plane is used to remove ledges on the slats and at their joints.

Features of wooden lathing

Creating a wooden sheathing seems more simple solution for the reason that there is no need to install a large number of hardware. But wood remains an expensive material; in order to protect such a frame from the possible appearance of fungus, you will have to take care of pre-treatment of the sheathing with protective agents.
From the idea of installing a wooden frame in brick house or in a room where there is high humidity, it is better to refuse immediately - due to moisture penetrating through the pores of the brick in the layer between the wall and the panels, excellent conditions will be created for the proliferation of pests.

Installation of metal sheathing

The principle of installing a metal sheathing is very similar to installing a wooden frame. First of all, the corner posts are fixed, after which they proceed to the transverse posts and posts in the openings. The pitch of the metal sheathing is exactly the same as that of the wooden one - 50-70 cm. To assemble the racks, narrow UD and wide CD profiles are used. To check horizontality and pitch, use a building level or tape measure. First, the metal slats are fixed to the racks, and then to the wall. The connecting element between the sheathing parts and the wall are self-tapping screws, but it is better to avoid dowel nails so that the profile does not “float”.

Features of metal lathing

When creating a metal frame, you cannot do without a profile, special fasteners (aka “ears”) and connecting elements. Experts advise purchasing them for those who have to complete a large amount of work in a relatively short period of time. If one or two rooms need paneling, then you can refrain from purchasing them.
To attach the metal frame to the wall, only self-tapping screws are used (for concrete base Self-tapping screws with diameters of 4-6 mm are suitable, and if the wall is of enviable strength, then a smaller fastener diameter will be required). By the way, self-tapping screws or dowels are attached simultaneously with the plastic “socket”, therefore, the hole in the wall must correspond to its diameter, and the protrusions are not taken into account.

Technology for installing MDF panels on lathing

Wall finishing with MDF panels is carried out as follows:

Using a tape measure, the required length of the panel is measured, and all unnecessary parts are cut off with a jigsaw;
The panel is installed at the installation site in such a way that one of its sides rests against the sheathing adjacent to the wall;
Using nails or self-tapping screws, the panel is fixed to each lath of the sheathing, while the distance from the edge of the panel should be 1 cm. In the future, all the caps will be masked with decorative corners;
To fasten the panel from the groove side, clamps are used. To firmly fix the panel, the protrusion of each clamp must fit into its groove. To secure the clamps to the sheathing slats, it is enough to use nails;
Then the required length of the panel is cut again, which is inserted into the groove of the adjacent panel (the result is recorded with clamps). Thus, all subsequent panels are installed;
As a rule, the last corner panel cannot be accommodated entirely. Therefore, the required width is measured, the appropriate markings are applied to the surface of the panel, and the excess part with the groove is cut off using a jigsaw;
The resulting cut is placed in the groove of the penultimate panel. The part of the panel that rests on the sheathing is fixed with nails directly to the frame slats. The finishing of the remaining corners of the room is carried out in the same way.

Adhesive method of fastening MDF panels

Relatively in a simple way When installing MDF panels on walls, it seems that they are mounted on glue, because in this case there is no need for pre-installation frame. In order for the result to be of the highest quality, it is necessary to select the appropriate adhesive base:

The glue must have inherent plasticity;
The glue must cope with slight unevenness of the walls so that there are no difficulties in fixing the panels on surfaces with slight curvatures;
The texture of the glue should be thick, but at the same time allow a thin, uniform layer to be applied.

When choosing the adhesive method of installing MDF panels, we must not forget about some of its disadvantages, such as:

The finishing material is firmly fixed to the wall, so any repairs in the future will be problematic;
The risk of panels rotting increases due to the lack of ventilation between them and the wall;
If there are unevenness on the walls exceeding 5 mm, care must be taken to level them, which will increase the time of repair work.

In any case, even if there are no visible differences on the treated surface, the walls need preliminary priming and subsequent putty.

Technology for fastening MDF panels with glue

Installation of the panels is carried out on the prepared wall (all existing debris and dust are removed) in several stages:

Markings are applied to the wall, starting from the corner of the room, which will allow you to determine the joining locations of the panels themselves. To mark the vertical and horizontal boundaries of the finishing material, you can use a marking cord or a simple rope;
Glue is applied to inner side panels either dotted or in a checkerboard pattern, after which you need to wait a while for it to set (as a rule, the time is specified in the instructions on the package);
After this, the panel is pressed against the wall and smoothed with smooth movements in the direction from its center to the edges;
Using a level, check the evenness of the attached panel, after which all manipulations are repeated with the next panel. Depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations, the adjacent panel will be fixed overlapping or butt-to-butt.

What to remember before attaching MDF panels to the wall

Regardless of whether the panels will be attached to the frame, or will be responsible for their fixation, we must not forget about such nuances as:

The MDF panel simply cannot be bent, so the part that will be adjacent to the corner of the room is carefully trimmed, after which the edge is masked with a special corner;
When it comes to the frame method of covering walls with panels, it is necessary to ensure that the horizontal profile is on the floor, which will ensure reliable fastening of the plinth;
To prevent future distortion, installation of the first panel is carried out using a vertical level and self-tapping screws. The latter will not at all spoil the appearance of the finish, since their caps will cover the baseboards and decorative trims in the corners.

At this point, the process of finishing walls with MDF panels can be considered complete. In some ways it may seem simple, in others it can be challenging. The main thing is to choose initially quality materials, follow the technology for performing the work, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and do not turn a blind eye to the little things that directly affect the overall outcome of the repair.

The option of surface cladding using MDF panels is currently gaining popularity. The reason is that with their help you can quickly carry out facing work on large area. An additional plus is that when working with them, the wall will not require additional finishing in the future. It is also worth noting that decorating walls with panels yourself is doubly economical.

An important advantage of the panels is that their installation is simple and understandable to everyone, and anyone can install them.

MDF - what is it?

MDF - fine faction From this faction are being manufactured wall panels for interior decoration. The manufacturing stages are as follows: wood shavings, fine in composition granules, are sent under a dry press. An important point is processing using high temperature and high pressure.

In order to bind the particles together and make the panel monolithic, special resins (usually urea) are added to it, which are modified with melamine.

An undoubted advantage in choosing MDF panels is that they belong to the class of highly environmentally friendly materials. According to the principle of installation and installation, use in home interior finishing using MDF panels is reminiscent of the process of working with lining. However, such panels are cheaper in price.

Installation is usually carried out in two ways - by mounting on a lathing, which acts as a frame, or by mounting on a wall using various adhesives or “liquid” nails.

Such compositions are used when installing wooden materials, as well as when sealing various holes and cracks, because their structure contains filler in the form of sawdust.

The main thing is to choose an adhesive composition that matches the color, since otherwise the “grease” areas will stand out inharmoniously against the general background.

It should also be noted that MDF plates are made in a huge range of colors and tones and can have patterns of different relief structures. You can find imitation stone. All this suggests that such panels can be suitable for almost any interior. Their undeniable advantage is that during installation the panels can be combined in both vertical and horizontal positions.

It is worth noting that often, when the room seems not high enough, the vertical arrangement of the panels on the wall will help to visually “grow” the finished wall. For tall but narrow rooms, all recommendations are exactly the opposite.

It is important to take into account when choosing that such panels are produced in different formats (length and width), so first of all we need to decide what result we want to see in the end.

Required Tools

For convenience and ease of finishing work, it is recommended to prepare and collect the tools necessary for the work in advance. They will speed up the installation of panels and make it quite easy. So, we need:

A jigsaw or a special saw that will allow you to cut vertically.
Ordinary bubble level.
Measuring tools – rulers, angles, pencils and markers.
Drill or ordinary screwdriver.
Stapler (preferably a construction one).
Hammer.
Pliers.

Main rules for installing panels

Installation of MDF panels on any surface is carried out in two ways - using adhesives and installing a frame.

Both installation options can easily be used for finishing private houses and simple residential apartments with MDF panels. When working with adhesive compositions, it is important to take into account one important nuance - the surface of the wall for cladding must be perfectly flat and smooth. In this case, it is recommended to first carry out the work using plasterboard or using plasters or putties.

When installing panels using adhesive compounds, only adhesive compounds or “liquid” nails and some fittings will serve as additional materials.

For cases where it is necessary to hide communications under MDF panels or insulation, it is better to use the option of installing lamellas on a frame base. In addition, such a frame will make an ideal plane out of any, even the most uneven surface, which will become an important foundation for the reliable installation of MDF panels.

The frame itself can be assembled from bars (wooden) or profiles (metal). It should be noted that attaching panels to a wooden frame is much easier than to a metal one. In the case of wood, regular nails or staples from a construction stapler will do. A metal frame will require self-tapping screws, which necessitates the use of an additional tool - a screwdriver.

When a frame is used, a gap is formed between the wall and the cladding; wires, pipes can be removed into it, or insulation materials can be laid. However, it should be understood that such gaps, dark and sometimes damp, are attractive to fungal colonies such as mold. So it is very important before the installation process to dry the wall if it is wet, and additionally treat it with special protective compounds in order to avoid the formation of fungi.

So, to build the frame we will need:

Preparing the surface

You can start preparing the surface only when it has been previously dried (of course, if such a measure is required and the wall in the room is damp). We have already emphasized earlier why this is important. The main thing is to never carry out facing work on top of a damp wall.

The process of preparing the walls itself consists of the following simple steps:

Cleaning the wall. When the surface is covered with wallpaper, it is important to remove it, because in a confined space old wallpaper will become a very attractive environment for the appearance and proliferation of fungi and mold, and sometimes insect pests. If the wallpaper is glued well enough, you will first have to wet it or steam it using the same clothes iron; then removing it will not be difficult if you use an ordinary spatula. In rare cases, it may be necessary to use special staff, which will help get rid of the wallpaper layer. In case the wall is plastered or well painted water-based paints, cleaning work can be skipped.

Surface treatment. In cases where your wall has already been attacked by mold or other types of fungi, or perhaps insects, it is recommended to thoroughly treat it. It is advisable to use compositions such as “anti-mold” or “whiteness”. Before the processing process, you can scrape the surface with a spatula. After applying antiseptics and healing compounds to the wall, it is recommended to go over the wall again with a spatula, and then repeat the treatment process. Ideal option will be like this when the affected surface is cleaned to the ground: all traces of fungi or insect activity are completely removed.

It is important to understand that it is better to carry out such work when using personal protective equipment, such as respirators or masks. Indeed, in case of unintentional inhalation of plaster particles or suspensions affected by fungus, unpleasant health consequences can occur.

Treatment of cracks. If, after removing the wallpaper layer or poorly applied plaster, cracks are found on the surfaces, it is recommended to carry out work to eliminate them. This procedure is especially important if it is planned to place under MDF panels thermal insulation materials or soundproofing. It is important to understand that unsealed cracks can become “bridges” for the entry of cold into the room, creating factors favorable for the formation of mold, such as dampness and darkness. In order for the layer of plaster or putty to adhere well, it is recommended to widen the crack a little and, if possible, deepen it. Next, you should get rid of traces of old plaster and treat the crack using a deep penetration primer. After the primer has dried, the cracks are sealed with putty or plaster. It is important to fill the crack to its full depth.

Application of primer. When the first three steps are completed, you should start priming the entire surface. It is important to choose soil compositions so that they contain antiseptics. This choice will help prevent the formation of mold and fungi and protect against insects settling under the panels. In case of cladding wooden walls it is necessary to select a soil that also includes special fire retardants. They are designed to increase resistance to fire influences. It is important to remember that the primer is applied in two or three layers, each previous one must dry thoroughly before applying the next.
Installation of insulation. We go through this stage if the MDF is installed on the lathing. Penofol is ideal for this purpose; it is usually glued to a primed surface.

Frame installation process

It is important to install the frame correctly and correctly. First you need to decide how the frame elements will be installed - vertically or horizontally. For horizontal orientation, the guides are installed vertically, and vice versa for vertical orientation.

The frame is attached to a layer of insulation. You should choose a step between the guides of 5-6 centimeters. It is important to observe and control the evenness of the installation.

In order to determine the vertical (ideal), a plumb line is used. An ordinary level is suitable for determining horizontal lines. After marking it, it is not difficult to install our guides for future sheathing. It is important to consider that it is better to install the first guide in the corner of the room or along the floor area.

Installing MDF panels on a frame

When the frame is ready, and the communications are installed and hidden properly, we begin the most important process - installation of the panels.

This work begins with the preparation of the panels themselves. Using measuring tools, markings are made, along which a cut is made using a jigsaw or an ordinary hacksaw.

It is important to remember that:

The first MDF panel must be mounted at a level for ideal horizontal or vertical, otherwise the cladding and installation of other subsequent elements will be crooked and uneven.
The starting panels are installed with tenons in the corners and secured with self-tapping screws. When using a metal frame, the clamps are secured with small self-tapping screws with a small head.
The tenon of each new panel fits closely to the groove of the already installed one. Next, it is important to adjust the position of the panel using a level.
Thus, the paneling is carried out to the end of the surface. It is recommended to fix the final panel using self-tapping screws. We will hide them in the future with the help of decorative corners.

Installation with adhesive solution

It is worth immediately noting that this option for installing panels is much simpler and lighter than the first, frame fastening method.

Particular attention should be paid to adhesive compositions. They must meet certain requirements. Among them:

The plasticity of the glue must be maintained even after its initial drying, otherwise deformation of the MDF panels is likely. It is important to choose a composition that is not afraid of moisture and temperature changes.
The consistency of the composition should be thick in order to be able to apply it in a thin layer or a thicker layer.

“Liquid” nails, which can easily be found in any hardware store, ideally meet these requirements.

So let's begin. Apply glue to the inner surface of the panel in a thin layer or in waves. After this, the panel is pressed tightly against the wall, torn off, left to stand for 5 minutes, and then pressed again to the required location. It will take half a minute to hold it in this position for secure fixation.

The finishing panel, if necessary, is measured and cut to fit right size. The last panel is fixed with a self-tapping screw.

At the end of the work, we install the fittings. We attach pre-prepared corners and baseboards at the joints of planes and at doorways.

Pros and cons

Decorating walls with MDF panels yourself is good, but you should take into account the nuances.

Pros: ease of installation, variety of colors and textures, the ability to install communications when choosing a frame installation method, no additional finishing in the future, ease of maintenance, accessibility.

Cons: the presence of protrusions and gaps, when choosing a frame, the formation of gaps between the wall and the lamella, which reduces the area of the room, and also provides an opportunity for the development of fungus and mold - if the wall is not carefully treated, insufficient mechanical strength, minimal moisture resistance.

Bottom line

Now that you are so familiar with the features of MDF panels and the intricacies of their installation, all that remains is to make your choice of the most suitable lamellas for the design. Wall decoration with MDF panels - good choice for your home. Good luck! And let your home be beautiful and cozy.