The ceiling of MDF panels is considered the most common finish for today. And there are a number of elementary reasons for this. This is the price, ease of care, excellent appearance, creating a barrier to sounds.
It is for its advantages that such decoration began to appear in apartments and houses. Although some people are wondering - is it possible to perform such work without involving a master? Finishing MDF is a simple process, so everyone without skills will get the desired result. It remains only to prepare everything necessary and begin.
Which panels to choose?
The ceiling of MDF panels has its positive and negative qualities. And you can do the decoration in any area. It is not only ceilings and walls. There are certain types:
- Veneered. They represent valuable species of wood.
- Laminated. After creating the material, a special film is applied to its surface; it looks outwardly neatly and attractively. It sometimes serves as an imitation of valuable species of wood.
- Without cover. This allows you to change color over time, simply by applying a new coating on the panel.
After the material is created, it is stained. Natural color schemes are also used:
- Vega.
- Nut.
- Alder.
- Oak.
- Walnut with patina and others.
These surfaces no longer respond to certain chemical compounds. Thanks to this assortment, each designer can implement any of his projects. Today, manufacturers try not to use harmful compounds. As a result, the surface is washed and serves for many years.
Main works
In the process of installing MDF panels on the ceiling with your own hands, it is worth considering several points. Conventionally, everything happens in several steps:
- for work, bars of wood are used, it is quite enough size 40 to 25 millimeters;
- further wiring is distributed;
- then, with the help of fasteners, finishing is carried out.
First, a frame is created, and panels are fastened to it. You can choose any of the options:
- from wooden blocks;
- the use of metal profiles.
All this is in the hardware store. The construction work for installation is not complicated. If a tree is selected, then it is easiest to work with it, although do not forget that the service life is short. In addition, you will have to process it with special tools to exclude the early appearance of mold and fungus.
Metal profiles
Metal profiles are more reliable, but they will need to be cut. It is not so simple if there is no special equipment. But they will last longer, and are mounted easily. Before you begin, it is worth choosing which frame is suitable.
During operation, there should be no difficulties:
- the building level is taken and the evenness of the surface is determined;
- with the help of a thread make notches, outline levels;
- after which, using the dowel, a direct suspension is fixed;
- the guide profile is fixed.
That is how the process of fixing the ceiling from MDF panels begins, creating a frame from the profile. In wooden houses, wood is most often used. Installation is easier using self-tapping screws or a construction stapler. When the walls are made of brick or concrete, it is not so easy to fix the fasteners in them.
What are the pros and cons of such a finish?
In order for the finish to be of high quality, at the planning stage, you need to find out its strengths and weaknesses. So, the positive points:
- environmentally friendly material for humans;
- long term of operation;
- in installation work do not use chemicals;
- visually you can create an imitation of a tree;
- high characteristics of noise and heat insulation;
- basic care;
- interesting appearance;
- can be used in any premises (not only houses and apartments);
- a large assortment, so it’s easy to find the right one;
- quick replacement, to which masters are not involved.
In the article you can find a photo of the ceiling from MDF panels. Sometimes it is visibility that becomes a decisive factor in choosing. This material creates coziness and comfort in any living room and even office. When buying, it becomes clear that the price is lower than any natural tree, but the quality is not worse. For cleaning, you do not need to purchase special compounds - a napkin is taken and the surface is wiped. There are always negative aspects in each material, it is better to know about them in advance:
- with direct ingress of water and vapor, swelling occurs, this occurs due to the fact that the material is made from pressed chips;
- cleaning chemicals are not used because the surface is damaged;
- It is worthwhile to conduct wiring carefully, since the panels in question are easily ignited.
Minuses are insignificant, but there are enough pluses to take a leading position in the decoration. Everyone decides what to choose, but they will have to work carefully, because if you violate the instructions, you can simply spoil the material.
Before buying, it is worth calculating how much material will go to the ceiling. This is required in order not to get too much. But you need to know the size of the MDF panels themselves, and then make a calculation depending on the area of the ceiling. But you should not get “back to back”. You need to make a small margin of about 10-15 percent. If there is not much work experience, then this should be enough. Fasteners are also easy to calculate - but they will not be superfluous, even if they remain.
What do you need to prepare?
To fasten MDF panels to the ceiling quickly, you need to prepare the whole set of tools and materials. What do you need:
- hammer drill (if work is carried out with concrete or brick walls);
- jigsaw (in case the house is wooden);
- building tape and level;
- a pencil to make marks on the wall or ceiling;
- screwdrivers, but a screwdriver is better, the work will be long, so it’s worth charging it and having an additional battery on hand;
- if the work is carried out with a galvanized profile for the lathing, then scissors for metal are prepared (in the presence of wood - a hacksaw).
From the list it is clear that such a tool is almost always in every home. If something is not there, you can buy it or borrow from someone for temporary use. There is also a rental - it will not cost much, but it is better to work with what is noted.
What next?
The following are materials without which it will not be possible to erect the required design.
- Since the ceiling is finished with MDF panels, they need to be prepared in the right amount. Do not forget about calculations before starting a purchase.
- Skirting boards to hide all the bumps and edges. There are special skirting boards for ceiling.
- Depending on the chosen lathing - a galvanized profile (directing and ceiling) or wooden whetstones.
- Fasteners and elements for connection - self-tapping screws, kleimers, dowels.
- Suspensions. You can’t do without them. They help to last such a finish longer and not sag.
Once everything is assembled, you can proceed to the main work. The frame becomes the basis. It is mounted first. After that, making the ceiling of MDF panels with your own hands is easier.
Wireframe execution
For example, a variant of metal profiles will be described. This is the most common and durable look. Follow the step-by-step instructions:
- Markup is in progress. You need to retreat from the ceiling up to five centimeters, after which a mark is made on the walls. A perimeter will be created to fix the start profile. Using the level, the correctness of the horizontal line is fixed. To not be so difficult, a chop cord is used.
- Using appropriate fasteners (wall, concrete or wood), the starting profile is fixed, the distance to half a meter.
- After mounted ceiling profile. The step is not less than 40 centimeters and not more than 60. But it is better to choose a lower indicator, because if desired, any other finishing material is dismantled and fastened.
- Further, there are ceiling suspensions, after which the profile itself will be joined to a length of up to 60 centimeters. If the length of the suspension exceeds, then it is bent or cut.
- The galvanized profile clings to the main suspension on both sides. The best option will be self-tapping screws with a very pointed tip.
- A subsequent transverse profile is now installed. Everything is done strictly horizontally.
It is easier to work with wood, but its service life is much less than metal. In addition, there are rooms with high humidity (for example, a bathroom). It is unacceptable to use a tree there - it rots. When the conditions are quite suitable, then making the frame using this option is easier.
Facing any room has its own order. The article provides a photo of the ceiling made of MDF panels - it is easier to understand how the final result will look. The operational properties of this material are excellent, therefore, finishing can be performed not only in residential premises. When the routine and standard solutions bothers, such a finish makes its own adjustments and updates the appearance of the room.
To sheathe the ceiling with MDF panels means not to spend too much money and at the same time make quality repairs for years. In addition, there is no need to hire craftsmen and pay extra, because almost everyone will cope with the process on their own, having prepared the necessary.
Installation steps
Once the frame is assembled, you can begin. It should be smooth, taking into account the indicators of the construction level. Because MDF panels for walls and ceilings will be easier to fix on a perfectly flat surface. Each subsequent step becomes simpler than the previous. Fixing the panels around the perimeter of the ceiling is already the final stage. It is important to consider the following points:
- Each house has its own ceiling size, so sometimes you need to die out and trim the panels. The most convenient equipment for this is an electric jigsaw. But you need to get a cutting blade that will not catch the edges of the material itself.
- Measuring and cutting, the finish is inserted into the guide profile. After that, fixing is carried out by any convenient fasteners at a distance of not less than 20 centimeters.
- After that, the second is fixed close to the first and fixed. In such a system, a lock is used in the panels - a spike groove. This is an elementary procedure and everyone will cope with it.
- The second panel is fastened to the profile, but already to the ceiling. Drilling a hole is not so safe - a crack may form. Therefore, Kleimer is most often used. A special plate is placed on the material itself and it is already easier to screw in a screw.
- Always on the ceiling you need to make cutouts for lighting fixtures. They are measured, cut and fixed right there. Today, this is not so difficult, because there are special nozzles that can make a neat circle.
- Do not cut MDF panels in advance, because such a rush can lead to unevenness. One was cut, attached, measure the next. And so, in turn, around the entire perimeter.
- Having passed over the entire area, the last panel will have to be cut not only in length but also in width. It is rare that the size of the MDF panels for the ceiling is ideal. With the help of measuring instruments, you need to carefully consider everything and only after trimming. Each panel, after being trimmed, is tried on, and only after that it is screwed.
- As soon as all the material is in place, it is worth measuring and cutting the skirting boards, they will already be the final stage. In addition, they cover part of the trimmed edge and many fasteners. In the corners of fixation you need to attach special plugs.
Only after this, the main actions are considered completed. Nothing extra is required. The procedure itself is simple, for this reason everyone can handle it.
Is it possible to do without a frame? Expert Advice
The installation of MDF panels on the ceiling can occur without creating a frame base. But this condition is only suitable for perfectly flat surfaces. We learned how to fix MDF panels to the ceiling. But it is worth remembering that dismantling will be carried out by a complete separation of the entire structure. Before you begin to carry out such work, you need to create a high-quality surface - walk on it with a primer mixture.
The choice of glue is of great importance, because it is the basis. The best option for today is "liquid nails." Better when they are in the gun. Composition is easier to apply and reliability is higher. But not everyone is comfortable holding the panel with their hands on the ceiling for several minutes, in order to facilitate this process, there are elementary rules. Measure and cut the material, apply glue to it, wait 5-7 minutes and then glue it. The panel quickly sets and holds for a long time. It turns out that it is not always necessary to create a frame, although it is the most convenient during operation and, if necessary, dismantling.
Conclusion
So, we found out how to install MDF panels on the ceiling. As you can see, you can use various mounting methods. Each of the processes has its own difficulties, but the result will be perfect. Without calling the master, a person saves on repairs. But it is important to remember that all this work will take time and a certain set of tools.