Apron for kitchen from MDF
What it is
The MDF panel is a medium density fiber board. Wood chips, pieces of wood, etc. processed into a fine mass, dried and mixed with glue, which consists of wood resin, paraffin and additional binders. Then the mass is pressed under high pressure at high temperature. Unlike chipboard, formaldehyde is not used in the manufacture of MDF; these panels are considered safer.
The apron is the surface of the kitchen wall between the stove and wall cabinets. Keeping the apron clean is a big problem. Hot air from the stove, steam, spray - all this affects the surface of the walls. It is very important to choose a moisture-resistant and easy-to-clean material for facing the kitchen.
Features and benefits
MDF panels have the following properties:
- The high density of the panels allows you to withstand strong blows. Furniture fittings will be securely attached to such a surface and will not become loose.
- Resistant to moisture.In the production of MDF is used smaller chips and paraffin, which allows you to make the surface moisture resistant.
- The properties and qualities of MDF are close to those of wood, but due to cheaper materials, such a panel is twice cheaper.
- Low abrasion. The production process involves long-term surface grinding.
- MDF does not swell or exfoliate. These qualities allow you to use it in kitchen design and even the bathroom.
- The environmental friendliness of the material allows it to be used in the nursery and in the kitchen.
- Panels can be laminated with a special film. This option will withstand even frequent cleaning and processing of detergents.
- Easy installation. Laminated plate can be installed by hand, the material does not require careful alignment of the walls.
- Various design solutions. Panels with a photo printing will decorate a kitchen interior. You can make an imitation of a wooden surface or stone.
Kinds
Modern types of MDF panels can vary in thickness, size and exterior finish. The thickness varies from 3 to 60 mm, and the finishing options do not know the boundaries of diversity.
MDF for wall cladding are divided by size into:
- Rack - these are long wall panels from 25,000 to 3,000 mm high and 8–12 mm thick, width from 150 to 325 mm.
- Square - panels in the form of a square, imitating tile. Installation of such tiles is very comfortable, with their help you can get unusual color and mosaic combinations. Sizes range from 30x30 to 100x100.
- Large leafy - these are wall panels of large sizes for solid cladding, ranging in size from 2440 to 1220 mm.
Types of exterior finish
Veneering - MDF panels are pasted over with a special thin layer of natural wood. Very demanded material for furniture production, but also as a kitchen apron will look very impressive. It is applied to both MDF and particleboard panels.
Thus, the surface of a more durable material, MDF, takes the form of a more noble tree. This finish is strong enough and durable.
Three types of veneering are widely practiced: peeled, planed and sawn. The first is characterized by the use of various wood species. This veneer is cut in thin layers from a rotating block.
Planed Veneer can be from 0.2 to 5 mm thick. It is cut by thin strips from the boards of valuable wood species: walnut, oak, acacia, beech, Karelian birch.Sliced veneer for quality indicators is higher peeled.
The third option is sawn, made from coniferous wood: fir, spruce, Karelian birch. Thickness can reach 10 mm. Sawn veneer has a good and beautiful surface texture.
Next finish option - coloring. When painting the surface of MDF is pre-primed and puttied, only after that it is coated with water-based paint or enamel with high elasticity.
The third option is lamination, used for MDF and HDF plates. This option involves the use of formaldehyde resin, with its help a PVC film is stuck onto the surface of the plate. Modern catalogs offer a wide sector of decorative films: stone, matte or glossy, with a pattern or pattern.
Here the fantasy is limitless, a kitchen apron can be decorated with a giant photo of fruit or a pleasant landscape. It will look great surface with imitation marble.
An exclusive option - carved art panel. The MDF panel of sufficient thickness easily gives in to modifications of forms. Carved patterns and other design solutions will look great.But you should not install such a stove near a gas stove, cooking spray will be hard to scrub from the carved base.
Colors and design
The color and design of the kitchen apron will depend on the amount of space and the preferences of the owner. You should not choose for the kitchen of a small size too dark colors of the finish, glossy surfaces will fit well, they have reflective properties that visually expands the space.
Widely used aprons from MDF with photo printing. When buying, you should pay attention to the method of drawing the picture:
For an apron it is not recommended to choose a drawing applied on a film and glued to MDF, this method is the most budgetary, but not durable.
The second option is higher in price and quality - the image applied to acrylic plastic. This layer is additionally coated with a protective varnish.
The most durable and durable is considered to be printing with the method of "hot cladding." The selected picture is applied on plastic, and several layers of lacquer are applied on top (about 10), then they are sintered, and a durable glossy surface is obtained.
In online stores you can buy aprons with ready-made patterns, you can also make an exclusive panel to order. Images of beautiful pastries, French buns, juicy fruits look good, such a design will undoubtedly cause appetite. In addition to gastronomic abundance, you can choose the option with the image of the sea, sakura flowers or drawing with orchids. The classic version - samples with a pattern of brick or marble.
How to choose
In order for a beautiful apron to please the eye in the kitchen for a long time, you should carefully check a few items when purchasing:
Be sure to check the certificate of conformity of goods. There is indicated the formaldehyde emission class, you need to choose the class E1. Material with a value of E2 is more toxic and may not be suitable for kitchen lining. To avoid low-quality purchases, you should choose MDF panels of well-known manufacturers, such companies value their own status and do not save on the quality of the material.
The apron with a plastic coating will last longer. Coating with melamine or PVC film may not protect the surface from the effects of steam or burning.
Choose aprons with a shield thickness of more than 4 mm, this option is more durable and resistant to moisture.
Panel with too bright photo printing can overload the interior.This option is suitable only if the rest of the kitchen space is made in restrained colors. On too dark a surface, divorces and damages will be more noticeable, and a light apron will visually expand the space.
How to fix your hands
A big advantage of MDF panels is that you can install them yourself using ordinary tools. Below is a step-by-step instruction on how to install an apron from MDF.
- Layout and calculation of the material. Before ordering the panel, it is necessary to accurately calculate the dimensions of the apron, usually the height from the wall cabinets to the working surface. You must immediately make holes for outlets. Cutting panels can be ordered directly at the store or made at home by yourself.
- Surface preparation. Before installing the apron to the wall, it is necessary to prepare its surface: remove all chips and cracks, putty the surface and treat it with an antiseptic, so that no fungus can form under the panel. If the wall is very curved and there are a lot of small defects on it, you can install the apron on the sheathing of a coniferous beam. The gap between the apron and the wall contributes to proper ventilation, and the panel will be less deformed with time.
- Fixing the apron. The panel can be fixed in several ways: using liquid nails or screws. In the case of liquid nails, the surface will look monolithic. Nail heads can ruin the look of the surface. The second option is strictly contraindicated when installing panels with imitation of stone and brick.
When choosing liquid nails and screws it is worth considering the thickness of the panel, thick models can have a lot of weight, and should be mounted on high-quality glue, and screws should be a few millimeters (more than 1 cm) longer than the basic surface thickness.
Another option with the use of screws - fastening "ears". On the apron from the seamy side you need to fix the “ears” and just hang it on the screws in the wall. This option involves a perfectly flat wall.
There is another way to secure the apron with an aluminum profile. The metal structure is fastened to the wall along the entire length and width of the apron, and the MDF panel is mounted into it. No need to glue and twist the screws into the panel, the design is held independently by aluminum mounts.
How to decorate
The main decoration of the kitchen apron can be its texture and color scheme. Monolithic surface with imitation of marble or expensive wood is beautiful in itself.You can make an exclusive order for photo printing. Beneficially look different ornaments, large flowers and fruits.
The kitchen in the style of "high-tech" decorate the apron with a simple geometric pattern. You can choose a monochrome option or place colored stripes on a black background. Such a bright accent should be supplemented with only small details, in the form of pillows for chairs or cloth napkins. The rest of the interior is better to perform in light sober colors.
A simple monotonous surface will decorate the items of kitchen utensils. On a white and black background look great ladies, ladles, and colander of metal under bronze. Modern interior stores sell designer versions of various kitchen utensils.
Kitchen in the style of "loft" perfectly complement the apron of MDF with imitation bricks. On it you can place small wooden shelves and magnetic tapes with unusual kitchen knives. A regular cooking item can be decorated with a noble wood handle or have an unusual shape blade.
On the hooks attached to the panel, you can hang mittens or tacks, made with your own hands. They can be a bright accent in addition to curtains or cloth napkins.
Manufacturers Overview
Kitchen hypermarket "Panorama" Offers buyers a wide range of quality furniture, home appliances and accessories. The whole kitchen can be made to order or choose a ready-made version. The company cooperates with factories in Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Russia and Belarus.
Here you can find furniture of different price categories, from standard low-cost options, to exclusive luxury furniture. All sets of kitchen furniture are qualitatively selected by design and complemented by appliances in the appropriate style. You can choose an apron from MDF panel with photo printing, painting and lamination, high-quality samples will please the most sophisticated customers.
Trademark "ASStudio" produces high gloss MDF panels. The manufacturer assures that all products are made from high quality materials. Meet all safety requirements. Modern production technologies help to create the effect of real glass and high-quality gloss on the panel. The company manufactures door designs, tabletops, wall panels, etc.
Company "Beeplast" specializes in the manufacture of finishing materials.High quality goods combined with low price. The manufacturer offers a range of MDF panels, mainly laminated wall panels made of wood.
MDF panels company "Kaindl" Austrian manufactures have high quality materials, are easy to clean, extremely durable and resistant. The plates are made using modern technologies and are marked with an international quality certificate, and their formaldehyde content is less than in natural wood.
Reviews
The most favorable reviews received the company "Panorama". Customers note a large range of products, high-quality materials, durability of the manufactured product.
Especially noted is the high-quality work of designers in the design of stores. All headsets are located in separate sections, which contributes to the correct perception.
Interesting solutions in interior design
Every housewife wants her kitchen to be the most unusual, comfortable and beautiful. Some design solutions look very nice, but already “become boring”.
An interesting detail of the kitchen can be an apron made of MDF, painted with paint for school blackboards.On this panel it is very convenient to write down recipes for delicious dishes, leave reminders to the family, if there are children in the house, it will be very interesting for them to draw on such a surface. But, the place in close proximity to the hob, it is better to revet with other material, it will save the surface from high temperatures and moisture.
This option will look good in the kitchen in the style of "loft", complemented by the design of painted wooden boxes, a large table made of solid wood or a bar counter with lighting in the form of hanging lamps-spotlights.
Apron-board can be decorated with several metal hooks for fabric mittens, tacks, kitchen utensils.
Functionally help to use the space of the apron built-in shelves. Above the work surface in the apron can be set shallow shelves for jars of spices, kitchen knives. A small shelf with a crossbar can be decorated with small bottles of oil, vinegar or wine.
This idea will look good in the style of "Provence." The panel can be veneered with light wood, as well as built-in shelves. They will house glass jars with seasonings and spices, bottles of oil.Small bunches of lavender and other aromatic herbs can be hung above the worktop.
Kitchen set can be painted in pastel colors: light lilac, pale blue, peach. The small list with pastoral landscapes or pictures of wild flowers will look great. Such an interior will create a warm and cozy atmosphere.