Painting mdf. Painting mdf panels with your own hands Painting mdf panels with enamel

Can MDF panels or facades be painted? Such a process is possible. But it requires compliance with certain conditions, consisting of the choice of materials, preparatory work, main stages and finishing touches. Painting MDF panels is a task that everyone can do. The only thing that is important to consider is that not all paints are suitable for this purpose, and those that are suitable are not cheap.

MDF painting is carried out most often for two reasons:

• the need to protect the material from negative environmental factors;
• decorative purpose - I want to change the color of the MDF board or improve its appearance.

Regardless of the reason for painting, it has a number of advantages:

• The painted element becomes resistant to high temperatures. This means that when using the MDF panel in the kitchen, it will be possible to put hot dishes on it.
• The presence of special additives in the paint allows you to get the facades of the original design: mother-of-pearl, pearls, metallic.
• As a rule, paints intended for MDF do not contain harmful chemicals. This is a big plus, especially if the coloring of the material is planned to be done at home.
• And, finally, painting products can significantly extend their service life.

Of course, staining MDF is not without drawbacks, of which the following can be distinguished:

• high price, in comparison with the film coating;
• the possibility of color fading under direct sunlight.

What materials to use?

Since MDF is a material that consists of wood fibers, it can also be painted with conventional wood paints. However, to get a really high-quality result and uniform coloring, you will need special formulations, including:

• primer based on polyurethane;
• paint (also polyurethane);
• varnish for MDF (if necessary).

Polyurethane enamel does not contain volatile components, it can be used for both indoor and outdoor use.

Coloring technology

The process of painting MDF with colored polyurethane enamels includes several stages:

• grinding;
• primer;
• directly painting;
• drying.

grinding

For good adhesion of the paintwork, it is necessary to sand the workpieces, be it facades or wall panels. For this it is used:

• dry sandpaper;
• scotch brite - a soft abrasive of fine grain;
• ground grinders.

If the product is small, then sandpaper on a foam basis of gradation P220-P280 is used.
For flat surfaces, 700 series sanding mats with fine grit are used. The same materials will help remove excess soil, fill the risks before painting.

The surface on which the paint will be applied is cleaned. After cleaning, the surface must be degreased with anti-silicone.

putty

MDF for painting is carefully prepared, here you can’t get off with just grinding. If there are visible flaws (cracks, dents), then the surface in these areas must be puttied, thereby leveling the surface.

Acrylic putty for wood is best suited for puttying, it should be applied and smoothed with a special rubber spatula.

Primer

For flat products, it is better to use the universal white polyurethane primer LBR30. The content of a large amount of resin in it gives a minimal tendency to shrink. Suitable for matte and glossy finishes. For the latter, where every defect is visible on the surface, the requirements for preparation are an order of magnitude higher. The best result is obtained by using polyester primers.

Before painting the panels, they must be carefully prepared. Initially make a working mixture. For this you need to take:

• primer LBR 30 - 100 parts by weight;
• hardener LNB 77 - 40 parts by weight;
• thinner LZC 1051 - 10 parts by weight.

All these components must be mixed together and the first layer of primer applied to the surface to be painted using a gun with a top tank. Nozzle diameter 1.8 mm, air pressure 2-3 atmospheres. The material consumption should be 120 g per 1 m2. The optimum thickness of the resulting film is 120 microns. To complete the shrinkage process, the soil should be dried for 12 hours.

Before painting the product, it will need to be treated with an abrasive again. For gloss, an emery tool with a finer grit is additionally used. After that, the surface will be prepared, and you can apply paint for MDF panels.

On the video: priming and sanding MDF.

Painting

You can paint wall panels with a brush, roller or spray gun. The temperature in the room should be about +20°С, air humidity - within 50-80%. Can be painted with matte or glossy enamel. But first you need to prepare the working compositions. For matte enamel take:

• 100 weight parts of enamel;
• 50 parts by weight of hardener;
• 30 parts by weight of diluent.

For glossy enamel, 70 parts of hardener are taken. The rest of the ingredients are the same. For gloss, always use a slow thinner that will give good flow.

MDF panels should be painted in a relatively spacious room if these are internal structures (for example, facades or wall elements). The house from the outside should be finished in the warm season. Enamel consumption should be approximately 150g/m2. Medium Density Fibreboard or MDF dries completely in 24 hours.

To obtain gloss, polishing should be done after 3 days. By this time, all polymerization processes will be completed. With the help of special additives on the surface of the product, you can create the effects of mother-of-pearl, metallic, get corrugated waves.

Wet

You can paint MDF panels with alkyd or polyurethane enamel, as well as powder mixtures. Wet technology involves the use of an atomizer with the appropriate pressure. If the paint is applied in two layers, intermediate sanding is necessary. The thickness of the layers is no more than 120 microns.

Painting surfaces must be free from small debris, dust, insects. In case of their contact, they should be eliminated in a timely manner using a tool such as tweezers. After drying, smudges formed on the painted surface are removed with a clerical knife or fine-grained sandpaper.

Powder

Is it possible to paint MDF in a different way? Yes, there are special powder mixtures that are applied to the work surface with a sprayer. After that, the product is subjected to high temperatures until the paint is completely melted. This method provides for obtaining an almost perfectly smooth surface.

Powder coating technology involves the spraying of dry microscopic particles onto the surface.

Drying

You can paint MDF panels in any way. Drying completes any technological process of finishing. It is carried out subject to certain conditions:

• ambient air temperature not more than 50°C;
• relative humidity less than 80%.

The duration of the final stage depends on environmental conditions. It can be from 5 hours to a day. Painted MDF board will dry faster at lower temperatures and humidity.

Regardless of what wall panels can be painted with, following the steps and conditions of the technological process will allow you to get a rich color, even surface, save time and costs. It is better to automate all the work, using special paint and varnish equipment for this.

Furniture facades, doors and other MDF products can be painted. But when working, inexperienced craftsmen face various difficulties, including the difficulty in obtaining a smooth surface without streaks, strong absorption of the material, and others. We will reveal the features of the choice of paints for MDF boards.

Can MDF be painted?

Facades, furniture boards, panels, door linings and other MDF products are in great demand due to their characteristics. This is the only material among analogues that can be processed in all possible ways: milling, figured sawing, laminating, laminating, coloring. Let's take a closer look at the latter.

Here is such a beautiful kitchen facade can be obtained using painted MDF

Painting MDF is a complex process and it begins with the choice of the main material - paintwork. If you want to get a perfectly flat surface with a semi-matte or glossy sheen, then a simple PF-115 oil paint, even from an expensive foreign manufacturer, is not enough. An inexperienced master will face several problems at once:

1. High absorbency of boards, especially at sharp corners and milled bevels. Facades of furniture, doors or panels can almost completely absorb up to 5 layers of alkyd enamel. Without proper preparation, grinding and polishing, the surface will turn out to be uneven, rough, untidy in appearance and to the touch.
2. During transportation, the unprotected surface of MDF is covered with a huge number of scratches, both large and small. The paint floods them and reveals them first. It will take long grinding and constant monitoring.
3. When working, the milling tool literally pulls out individual fragments, due to which small pits, dents and other defects appear. Therefore, in addition to fine grinding, it may also be necessary to putty with finely dispersed liquid compositions.
4. Panels, doors and furniture elements made of MDF are almost always installed vertically, so streaks, uneven layers, etc. may occur.
5. When working with a brush or roller, a large amount of so-called wood pile rises, respectively, to obtain a smooth surface after each applied layer of paintwork materials, grinding is necessary.

Small roughness on the surface of MDF is the same "wood pile"

It turns out that it is impossible to paint MDF? Our answer is that it is possible, but it is necessary to use a whole range of products, or, in the language of professionals, to use a special program of paints and varnishes, which include:

• Priming compositions of several types: barrier primers or insulators with a pore-filling effect, elastic and easily sanded multicomponent compounds, basic pigmented compositions with a dry residue index of at least 50%.
• Paint with high hiding power, thixotropy, and after polymerization - wear resistance and durability.
• To create a smooth surface with a glossy/semi-gloss finish: lacquer or polishing kits (paste + fluffy polishing pad).

The easiest way to paint laminated boards. This is the surface of finished facades of furniture and doors, wall and ceiling panels. The film acts as a primer and leveling layer. The following types of coatings are suitable:

• Alkyd, alkyd-urethane or oil-based enamels (Novbytkhim, Dyo, Tikkurilla)

Tikkurila alkyd enamels

These are household formulations based on synthetic oils or polymer resins. They belong to the category of universal, that is, they can be used for indoor and outdoor use, they have good adhesion to most materials: metal, wood, glass, chipboard, MDF, OSB, etc.

After curing, a dense and durable film is formed, the advantages of which are high hiding power, resistance to mechanical and chemical influences, abrasives, and water.

Of the minuses, we note a sharp chemical smell that negatively affects human health, as well as a huge amount of low-quality products on store shelves and markets.

• Enamels based on polyurethane resins (Elacor, Ive, Teknos)

One- and two-component complex compositions with an increased degree of wear resistance and incredible durability - more than 20 years. These are premium class products with a corresponding price (from 400 rubles/kg). Most often these paints are used by professional painters.

Acrylic enamels produced by Belinka

Compositions based on water-borne acrylate or latex copolymers are considered the safest and are recommended for use in residential and children's areas. It is easiest to paint facades, doors and panels with compositions produced in the form of aerosols. The resulting coating is weakly resistant to abrasives and mechanical damage, while perfectly protecting the surface from water and temperature extremes.

• Special enamels for furniture or nitro-paints of the NC series (Lacra, Sadolin, Alpina)

This category includes a series of highly specialized compounds designed for woodworking, chipboard and MDF. They are characterized by high hiding power, excellent adhesion, short drying time and long service life. It is recommended only for indoor use, as the film has a low frost resistance coefficient.

MDF panels used for the production of furniture facades, door and wall cladding are more difficult to paint due to the high absorbency of the material and the need for sanding. In addition, when working with a brush, roller or spray gun, the pile rises strongly, due to which the surface is uneven, rough.

And if for priming you can choose highly specialized pore-filling elastic compounds that dry quickly and are easy to sand, then the following varieties are suitable as paints:

• Household acrylic formulations produced in the form of aerosols

They give a fairly smooth glossy surface, but at least 4 layers are required. On milled bevels of doors and sharp corners of furniture, the paint will wear off quickly, so it is recommended to apply a wear-resistant alkyd or PU varnish over the coating.

• Professional two-component polyurethane enamels (Milesi, Ilva, Renner)

They consist of a base composition and a hardener. They can be tinted manually or by machine in more than 2000 shades. It is used mainly in production, less often - at home.

Since the components are toxic to humans, it is recommended to paint furniture and facades outdoors using personal protective equipment (glasses, mask, gloves).

• Specialized enamels for MDF (Palina Coating, Galamix)

These are complex compositions based on polyurethane or urethane-acrylic. Applied to the surface of furniture or doors with a sprayer or brush, the resulting coating has excellent resistance to mechanical, chemical and abrasive influences, practically does not fade over time.

• Automotive enamels (Duxone, Jet, Colomics)

Although this paint is designed for metal surfaces, it is also suitable for painting MDF.

These compositions are highly specialized and are designed to work on metal. Paints have undeniable advantages: excellent adhesion to any materials, thixotropy, abrasive, water and chemical resistance, fast polymerization. In addition, the resulting coating withstands temperatures from -40 °C to +100 °C. Auto enamels can be used to paint facades and other elements of furniture, doors. Finished wall panels can be painted without prior preparation.

• Polymer powder paint for wood and MDF (Reka, Pulver)

The composition was originally produced for the industrial painting of metal and wood products, but in the last few years, small volume packages for domestic use have appeared on the market. In addition to the polymer compound, you will also need special equipment for its application.

Powder paint first melts at temperatures above 120 ° C, and then sticks to the base. For MDF facades, a series of low-temperature or ultraviolet curing compositions is available. Heating is carried out for several minutes, then the coating is applied to a horizontally located material and polymerized.

Powder paint allows you to get a wear-resistant surface with various decorative effects: patina, shagreen, textured metallic, leather, silk and much more. The technology has not received wide distribution in everyday life due to the complexity of the application and the high cost of materials.

The purpose of painting is to get a beautiful surface that will not be afraid of water, scratches or stains. If you need to paint wall panels, an acrylic spray is best. Furniture facades of a kitchen set and doors must be resistant to temperature extremes and various chemically aggressive substances (household chemicals, products), so polyurethane, automotive wear-resistant compounds or powder polymer paint are better suited for them. But the furniture for the living room, nursery or bedroom can be covered with furniture enamels that do not wear out over time and are easily updated if necessary.

MDF painting technology: materials and nuances

Painting MDF boards is a very time-consuming procedure that will require compliance with the technology and many rules. It should be noted right away that such work stretches for a long time, it may take more than one week. In any case, everything can be done independently, while getting the necessary decorative surface.

Many people ask themselves: is it possible to paint MDF at home, and why is it necessary? The answer to the first part of the question is yes. Indeed, you can paint the panels with your own hands. But it’s worth mentioning right away: if there is no spray booth at hand, then the result is not always ideal. And the staining procedure is necessary for the following reasons:

1. Painted elements become more resistant to high temperatures and humidity. Therefore, they are allowed to be used in the kitchen and in the bathroom, where they can fulfill various roles.
2. By decorating, it is possible to diversify the dull interior, refresh the look of the room. Hue is selected based on design ideas.
3. Painting MDF panels is also needed in order to extend their service life.

Painting MDF allows not only to diversify a boring interior, but also to extend the life of the product.

Of course, this option also has some drawbacks. For example, this procedure is sometimes much more expensive than the use of decorative films. In addition, the surface becomes prone to fading.

In principle, all paints for MDF are selected taking into account the composition of the material. And this, first of all, is a small wood fraction, which means that paint and varnish solutions for wood are suitable for work. But to obtain a really high-quality coating, it is advisable to use special mixtures.

When choosing materials for painting MDF, you should pay attention not only to color, but also to the purpose of the paint.

This material should be preferred for the following reasons:

• The coating is wear-resistant, withstanding exposure to household chemicals.
• The solution does not have an unpleasant odor, which allows you to work in cramped home conditions.
• It is allowed to apply the mixture with a sprayer, roller and brush.
• Painting MDF with enamel is done independently, this procedure does not require professional skills.

Naturally, choosing this material, pay attention to the manufacturer. It should be a well-known brand that is sold in specialized stores. When purchasing goods from an unknown manufacturer, there is a high probability of getting a fake.

Advice! If it is not possible to choose a polyurethane composition, then pay attention to alkyd enamels and paints (oil and acrylic).

When choosing paint, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer

Thus, the question of how to paint MDF panels is no longer a problem. But another dilemma arises - the surface needs additional protection, how can this be done?

Indeed, in order to increase resistance to mechanical stress, to protect against chemical compounds, varnish is used. And for such work, a two-component polyurethane composition is especially well suited, which has all the desired parameters.

The procedure for painting MDF with your own hands is carried out in several stages. They can be divided as follows:

The implementation of each stage is a guarantee that the result will turn out as it was intended.

Work begins with grinding the surface. This is a rather laborious undertaking that needs to be done carefully.

The panels are sanded with sandpaper with a grain size of 120 to 240 units. The process is carried out in several stages and with different materials. It is necessary to do everything very carefully, not lingering for a long time in one area. This procedure is carried out in order to remove small irregularities, as well as to remove a small pile, which covers the entire surface.

The procedure for grinding MDF allows you to get rid of small irregularities on the surface of the plate

On a note! If there are milled areas on the front side, then it is better not to touch them. There is a good chance that the sandpaper will smooth out the corners of the pattern.

Puttying MDF for painting aims to correct the existing shortcomings of the panel. It happens that during grinding or due to improper storage, cracks or dents appear on the surface. To hide them, puttying is carried out. Of course, if there are no such problems, then this step is skipped.

The technology itself looks like this: the acrylic mixture is carefully applied to the desired area and leveled with a rubber spatula. After drying, be sure to grind.

This stage is mandatory. It is conditionally divided into two processes:

• Applying the first coat of primer
  • This is done with the help of an airbrush, so they prepare a room and a place to work. It is better to close the rest of the items with cellophane film in advance.
  • The mixture is sprayed over the entire surface of the panel in an even layer. This is done in order to lift the remaining pile and reduce the absorbency of the base materials.
  • Further, when the plate dries, it is subjected to grinding with fine sandpaper.
• Second layer coating
  • The second layer is applied in order to fix the result and remove the remaining flaws.
  • Drying should take about a day, after which the panel painted with a primer is sanded.

Can MDF be painted with a brush and roller? Yes, but this must be done very carefully. There is a high probability that stains and streaks will remain on the surface. Therefore, it is best to use a spray gun.

The technology itself resembles priming. The paint is applied in several layers, each of which is pre-dried. It is important to achieve an excellent result, so the mixture begins to be sprayed from the milled areas to the edges, and then proceed along and diagonally. It is much more convenient to paint smooth panels.

You can use brushes and a roller to paint MDF, but to get a uniform layer it is better to use an airbrush

On a note! In order to understand in more detail the drying time of the solution and its quantity, it is necessary to carefully study the manufacturer's instructions. And also select the desired operating mode for the sprayer.

If there is a desire to give the surface a more expressive look, to age it a little, then they resort to patination. It is advisable to do this when there are drawings and patterns.

Patina is applied in this way:

• the selected area is passed with a sponge dipped in the mixture;
• leave until completely dry;
• the painted area is polished;
• proceed to the final stage.

The effect of artificial aging can be created independently by resorting to surface patination.

The procedure is performed according to the instructions:

1. Lacquer is prepared for use.
2. The first layer is applied at the rate of about 150 grams per square meter.
3. After waiting for the first layer to dry well, apply a new layer.
4. Repeat the drying process.
5. Begin the final sanding. First, sandpaper with a large grain is passed over the surface, then a finer one is used. To avoid rolling lumps, the area is sprayed with water.
6. The panel is left for several days (from 4 to 7) and polished. For this, it is better to use a power tool.

There are many tips on how to properly paint MDF. The main thing is to follow a clear plan and be careful.

Wooden flooring has always enjoyed wide popularity due to its durability, high resistance to stress, attractiveness.

First of all, everyone is used to paying attention to the decoration of walls and floors in a country house. O.

In order for the interior decoration in the house to retain its ideal appearance for as long as possible.

How to paint MDF: polyurethane primer, enamel and varnish

MDF products are painted in two cases. The first is when a protective coating is required, the second is for decoration purposes. In this case, various paints and varnishes can be used. How to paint MDF will be discussed below.

Currently, this material is actively used in the creation of furniture, interior doors, as well as finishing panels. And all of them are subject to coloring, which acts as a decorative and finishing coating.

Its use provides the following benefits:

• The painted MDF element is not afraid of elevated temperatures - thanks to this, it is possible to use it in the kitchen, where hot dishes will be placed on it;
• Decorating in non-standard colors will help add brightness and originality to the interior of the room - it can be metallic, mother-of-pearl or other unusual colors;

• The absence of unhealthy chemical compounds is a definite plus for painting MDF at home - the only condition for this is the use of high-quality paints and varnishes;
• Durability - applying paint can significantly extend the life of the product.

Of course, this method of protecting surfaces also has disadvantages. They lie in the fact that the price of painting parts significantly exceeds the cost of pasting such products with a decorative film. In addition, under the influence of sunlight, the painted surface may fade.

Since MDF is a wood product, it can be coated with almost any paint or wood varnish. But to get a truly high-quality coating is possible only if specialized compositions are used.

These include:

Let's talk about them in more detail.

Thinking about how you can paint the MDF panels, you first need to take care of the priming of the products. It will prevent the absorption of paint into the material, thereby reducing its consumption.

In this case, a special water-based polyurethane primer is required. It will hide the texture of the material and create a layer that has high hardness and adhesion. In addition, the resulting coating will be smooth and easy to sand.

It is best to apply this primer with a sprayer. In its absence, it is possible to use a roller or brush. Subsequent drying takes 8-10 hours and is carried out at room temperature.

Advice! To achieve the best result, this procedure must be carried out in full accordance with the instructions that the instructions for use of this composition establish.

Compared to other paints and varnishes, it has the following advantages:

• the coating obtained with its help is wear-resistant and chemically resistant;
• odorless, because it does not contain volatile components in its composition;
• can be used to color components intended for both indoor and outdoor use.

It is produced by various manufacturers. Products of the Italian brands Sirka and Sivam are in great demand. Their popularity among polyurethane materials for MDF is akin to that of Zinga electrically conductive paint, in a number of compositions for anti-corrosion metal treatment.

Such polyurethane paint can be two- or one-component. The first type requires the addition of a hardener before use.

The second variety does not need such an additive and is available in a ready-to-use form. And one and the other type is applied by sprayer, roller or brush.

These coloring compositions are sold, as well as fire-retardant paints for Polystil metal, in special metal buckets. Their mass can be from 1 to 25 kilograms.

Along with the aforementioned Sirk and Sivam brands, other brands such as Tikkurila and Teknos are also successful. But they are all quite expensive.

Therefore, if necessary, paints and varnishes from other, less well-known manufacturers can be used instead. Or do not use polyurethane, but cheaper alkyd enamels.

You should also pay attention to acrylic and oil paints. In particular, when deciding how to paint an MDF arch, you can take a closer look at domestic acrylic compositions.

Advice! Choose moisture resistant dyes. The product covered with them can be easily washed in the future, which is very convenient.

In the photo - polyurethane varnish

This specialized lacquer is used to finish MDF items or to tint them. It forms a smooth coating that is resistant to both mechanical and chemical influences. The resulting surface can be either matte or glossy.

This varnish is odorless and is a two-component. This means that in order to prepare the working composition, a hardener must be added to it.

After that, the mixture should have time to use up within two to three hours. It can be applied by hand with a sprayer.

Painting MDF can significantly increase its service life, as well as make the product more attractive and resistant to elevated temperatures. Since MDF is a wood material, it can be processed with almost any paint or varnish for wood (see also the article “Painting MDF furniture fronts”).

But to get the best result, it is still worth using specialized formulations. This is a polyurethane primer, as well as polyurethane enamel and varnish on MDF. They allow you to create a hard and wear-resistant coating, which can have a wide variety of colors.

More information on this topic will tell you the video in this article.

Furniture facades, doors and other MDF products can be painted. But when working, inexperienced craftsmen face various difficulties, including the difficulty in obtaining a smooth surface without streaks, strong absorption of the material, and others. We will reveal the features of the choice of paints for MDF boards.

Can MDF be painted?

Facades, furniture boards, panels, door linings and other MDF products are in great demand due to their characteristics. This is the only material among analogues that can be processed in all possible ways: milling, figured sawing, laminating, laminating, coloring. Let's take a closer look at the latter.

Painting MDF is a complex process and it begins with the choice of the main material - paintwork. If you want to get a perfectly flat surface with a semi-matte or glossy sheen, then a simple PF-115 oil paint, even from an expensive foreign manufacturer, is not enough. An inexperienced master will face several problems at once:

It turns out that it is impossible to paint MDF? Our answer is that it is possible, but it is necessary to use a whole range of products, or, in the language of professionals, to use a special program of paints and varnishes, which include:

• Priming compositions of several types: barrier primers or insulators with a pore-filling effect, elastic and easily sanded multicomponent compounds, basic pigmented compositions with a dry residue index of at least 50%.
• Paint with high hiding power, thixotropy, and after polymerization - wear resistance and durability.
• To create a smooth surface with a glossy/semi-gloss finish: lacquer or polishing kits (paste + fluffy polishing pad).

What paints are suitable for MDF

The easiest way to paint laminated boards. This is the surface of finished facades of furniture and doors, wall and ceiling panels. The film acts as a primer and leveling layer. The following types of coatings are suitable:

• Alkyd, alkyd-urethane or oil-based enamels (Novbytkhim, Dyo, Tikkurilla)

These are household formulations based on synthetic oils or polymer resins. They belong to the category of universal, that is, they can be used for indoor and outdoor use, they have good adhesion to most materials: metal, wood, glass, chipboard, MDF, OSB, etc.

After curing, a dense and durable film is formed, the advantages of which are high hiding power, resistance to mechanical and chemical influences, abrasives, and water.

Of the minuses, we note a sharp chemical smell that negatively affects human health, as well as a huge amount of low-quality products on store shelves and markets.

• Enamels based on polyurethane resins (Elacor, Ive, Teknos)

One- and two-component complex compositions with an increased degree of wear resistance and incredible durability - more than 20 years. These are premium class products with a corresponding price (from 400 rubles/kg). Most often these paints are used by professional painters.

• Acrylic enamels (KrasKo, Tex, Belinka)

Compositions based on water-borne acrylate or latex copolymers are considered the safest and are recommended for use in residential and children's areas. It is easiest to paint facades, doors and panels with compositions produced in the form of aerosols. The resulting coating is weakly resistant to abrasives and mechanical damage, while perfectly protecting the surface from water and temperature extremes.

• Special enamels for furniture or nitro-paints of the NC series (Lacra, Sadolin, Alpina)

This category includes a series of highly specialized compounds designed for woodworking, chipboard and MDF. They are characterized by high hiding power, excellent adhesion, short drying time and long service life. It is recommended only for indoor use, as the film has a low frost resistance coefficient.

MDF panels used for the production of furniture facades, door and wall cladding are more difficult to paint due to the high absorbency of the material and the need for sanding. In addition, when working with a brush, roller or spray gun, the pile rises strongly, due to which the surface is uneven, rough.

And if for priming you can choose highly specialized pore-filling elastic compounds that dry quickly and are easy to sand, then the following varieties are suitable as paints:

• Household acrylic formulations produced in the form of aerosols

They give a fairly smooth glossy surface, but at least 4 layers are required. On milled bevels of doors and sharp corners of furniture, the paint will wear off quickly, so it is recommended to apply a wear-resistant alkyd or PU varnish over the coating.

• Professional two-component polyurethane enamels (Milesi, Ilva, Renner)

They consist of a base composition and a hardener. They can be tinted manually or by machine in more than 2000 shades. It is used mainly in production, less often - at home.

Since the components are toxic to humans, it is recommended to paint furniture and facades outdoors using personal protective equipment (glasses, mask, gloves).

• Specialized enamels for MDF (Palina Coating, Galamix)

These are complex compositions based on polyurethane or urethane-acrylic. Applied to the surface of furniture or doors with a sprayer or brush, the resulting coating has excellent resistance to mechanical, chemical and abrasive influences, practically does not fade over time.

• Automotive enamels (Duxone, Jet, Colomics)

These compositions are highly specialized and are designed to work on metal. Paints have undeniable advantages: excellent adhesion to any materials, thixotropy, abrasive, water and chemical resistance, fast polymerization. In addition, the resulting coating withstands temperatures from -40 °C to +100 °C. Auto enamels can be used to paint facades and other elements of furniture, doors. Finished wall panels can be painted without prior preparation.

• Polymer powder paint for wood and MDF (Reka, Pulver)

The composition was originally produced for the industrial painting of metal and wood products, but in the last few years, small volume packages for domestic use have appeared on the market. In addition to the polymer compound, you will also need special equipment for its application.

Powder paint first melts at temperatures above 120 ° C, and then sticks to the base. For MDF facades, a series of low-temperature or ultraviolet curing compositions is available. Heating is carried out for several minutes, then the coating is applied to a horizontally located material and polymerized.

Powder paint allows you to get a wear-resistant surface with various decorative effects: patina, shagreen, textured metallic, leather, silk and much more. The technology has not received wide distribution in everyday life due to the complexity of the application and the high cost of materials.

The purpose of painting is to get a beautiful surface that will not be afraid of water, scratches or stains. If you need to paint wall panels, an acrylic spray is best. Furniture facades of a kitchen set and doors must be resistant to temperature extremes and various chemically aggressive substances (household chemicals, products), so polyurethane, automotive wear-resistant compounds or powder polymer paint are better suited for them. But the furniture for the living room, nursery or bedroom can be covered with furniture enamels that do not wear out over time and are easily updated if necessary.

The abbreviation MDF in the last two decades has firmly entered our everyday life, as this type of fiberboard is used in the furniture industry, and for the manufacture of doors, and as a wall material. This is a great alternative to natural wood, the price of which remains high.

Useful information about this material will be presented to your attention: how it is produced, where it is used, how MDF panels can be painted, and much more. A great addition to our story will be the video in this article on the topic: "Painted MDF facades."

Features of MDF

Most of those who plan to build a country house, make repairs or make built-in furniture on their own are interested in the question: “What is the difference between MDF and chipboard?”. In appearance, they are very similar, but the production technologies are different and, accordingly, the performance is also different.

For comparison, you are offered a small instruction:

Since MDF has a denser structure and is able to withstand higher levels of humidity, it practically does not deform over time. That is why factories use only MDF in the production of cabinet and upholstered furniture. The technology for painting MDF and chipboard facades is similar, and we will talk about it in a separate chapter.

Note! In this case, we are talking about furniture and built-in interior facades. Neither material is used to finish the exterior walls! The facades of houses are sheathed with OSB boards, which are completely impervious to moisture. They obtain such properties due to the presence of polymer resins in the composition.

Medium-density fibreboards, namely the so-called MDF, are in demand not only in the furniture industry, but also in the production of interior finishing materials. In addition to wall and ceiling panels, these are also molded products: slats, platbands, MDF plinth for painting.

And how great laminate floors look! But what can I say: look at the picture above, and it immediately becomes clear that without this material today, nowhere.

Sizes and face covering

Manufacturers of sheet MDF offer material of various sizes and thicknesses. There are no uniform standards in the world, and each enterprise determines independently which standard sizes to produce. Ultimately, it all depends on the purpose of the sheets and consumer demand.

• If you decide to make a wardrobe, then for the back wall you can take all-pressed sheets with a thickness of only 3 mm, for the sidewalls and furniture facade, 10 mm is already required. To build an interior partition, you need a material with a thickness of 12-16 mm, and, for example, to build a rack - 24 mm.
• Here is such a wide range. The dimensions of the sheets also differ, but not so much. On average, the width and length of the sheets is: 1220 * 2440 mm; 1830*2440mm; 2070*2800 mm. As you can see, the dimensions allow, if necessary, to block the walls along the entire height.

• As for finishing their surface, the buyer always has a choice: do-it-yourself MDF painting or using sheets with a ready-made factory coating - and, by the way, it can be not only painted. Decorative cladding of sheet MDF is also carried out by pasting it with PVC film, laminating and veneering.
• When using such sheets, for example, for the manufacture of built-in furniture, painting MDF facades is not required at all. If you look closely at the photo above, you can see that even the edges have already been processed, and when using such a sheathing material, it remains only to decorate the cuts.

The decor of the MDF surface can consist not only in imitation of various types of wood. Wall material stylized as stone, plaster or brickwork makes it possible to create interesting compositions in the interior, one of which we see in the example above. Sheets intended for finishing wet rooms are protected by a melamine coating.

Some features of wall cladding

Before talking about whether it is possible to paint MDF panels and how to do it: with enamel or water-dispersion compositions, we will briefly talk about the nuances of installation. After all, errors can greatly affect the geometry of the skin or structural element and, accordingly, nullify all your work.

• To prevent this from happening, it is very important that the MDF be adapted to the microclimate of the room in which it will be used before installation. It cannot be used immediately after delivery from the store and unloading. In a normal dry room, it should lie down for a day. If you have to sheathe a basement or an unheated attic, it takes at least 48 hours to adapt.

Mounting options

At this time, you can start preparing the surface of the walls, the degree of which depends on the chosen installation option. Wall decoration with sheet MDF can be done in two ways: frame and glue.

In the first case, the material is mounted on the crate. At the same time, special preparation is not required, and if the walls are uneven, the frame elements are installed on direct suspensions.

• In order to be able to mount the panels on glue, the walls must be well leveled, sanded, cleaned of dust and primed. If sheet material is used in the installation, it is glued to the base base. Small format panels can also be glued to plasterboard sheathing and even to the surface of wooden battens.

• The sawing of sheet and modular material is carried out with a manual or electric cutting tool. In order not to damage the factory decorative coating of the sheets, the following nuances must be taken into account when cutting: when using a hacksaw, saw from the front side, and when using a circular saw - from the inside.

Note! During installation, it is very important to leave a technological gap of 2 cm between the casing and the ceiling. This is especially true for bathrooms and kitchens, where the temperature and humidity of the air changes several times a day. In the absence of a gap, the expanded material will rest against the ceiling and, accordingly, deform. For the same reason, in these rooms, it is better to install on the crate, since it also provides a ventilated space.

• Long and classic wall panels, as a rule, do not require any surface modification, including grouting. After sheathing the walls with sheet MDF, the joints are sealed by filling with a special compound, and then closed with plastic moldings.
• Sheets with a factory decorative coating can also be mounted with a gap, which looks very interesting. The necessary distance between the ends of the panels is provided by special cruciform plastic inserts. If the sheathing is made with ordinary sheet material that does not have a decorative coating, then its surface must also be prepared.

Since MDF has a high density and a fairly smooth surface, it is not necessary to putty it. It is simply lightly sanded with fine sandpaper and, having cleaned of dust, is treated with a pore-filling primer. But what kind of paint for MDF facades is best suited and how to apply it correctly, we will tell in the next chapter.

What and how to paint MDF

First of all, sheet MDF is a constructive material. Along with drywall, it is used for interior wall cladding of frame-panel houses. But compared to GKL, MDF is more durable and has high thermal insulation properties, so there is every reason to use it.

• Is it possible to paint MDF panels so that they are indistinguishable from a plastered surface? Of course you can! Take a look at the example below and you will see a beautifully painted half-timbered frame house interior.

In this case, the load-bearing structures of the house are involved in the design, but even if this is not possible, moldings from the same material as the sheathing can be used for decorative wall paneling. The main thing is to come up with an interesting design, and then you can already think about how to paint MDF.

MDF products for painting

Both for natural wood and for all its derivatives - whether it be chipboard, OSB or MDF, similar types of paints are used. Just before painting MDF doors or the same panels, make sure that the paint is designed for wood or is a universal paintwork. In this case, the label will say: "For all types of surfaces."

• The main thing here is not even the type of paint, but the correct primer. It is important that it be made from the same substance as the paint. That is, if polyurethane paint is used for MDF, then the primer must also be polyurethane.

• Paint for MDF doors, as well as molding material, which are called "for painting", is selected in accordance with the type of primer already applied at the factory. Most often, this is a white acrylic primer paint, which replaces not only the adhesive impregnation, but also the first layer of paint. So, for finishing painting, you also need to purchase acrylic paint.
• But its color can be any, and not necessarily white. In general, doors primed for painting are a budget option. They are chosen mainly because of the lowest cost. In such a situation, a question arises before a person: “How to paint MDF doors so that the coating looks no worse than in the factory version?”.
• If you want to get a high-quality surface, you need to forget about brushes and rollers, and use an airbrush. Painting MDF panels, facades of home-made furniture and door blocks will turn out in this case the most uniform and accurate.

• This is especially true for doors - it is generally better to paint them first, and then install them. Firstly, door hinges, fittings and, especially, glazing will not get dirty with paint. And secondly, when the door is installed, it is much more difficult to paint over its ends, layout, panels.

It is good if white paint is applied on white ground. And if it is a different color, in some places bald spots will still be visible.

With a brush, it is generally difficult to paint even a smooth surface with high quality - what can we say about such a design as a door. On request: "MDF: painting technology" you can watch one or two videos where this process is explained and shown in an accessible way.

The nuances of painting work

It is much easier, of course, to paint an MDF product that is already prepared at the factory for painting. And if you have to ennoble sheet sheathing that does not have a decorative coating? We have already mentioned that such a surface is polished before painting.

Why is this done if the surface of the MDF is already smooth:

• The fact is that during the production process the material is covered with a protective wax layer. This is what needs to be removed, otherwise the front surface will not have any adhesion to either the primer or the paint. Grinding of sheathing material is best done not with sandpaper, but with a machine - but it all depends on the amount of work.

• It is very important that this be done with high quality, over the entire plane of the sheet. Otherwise, when painting, it will turn out that in some places the paint does not stick to the base. If you decide to apply a relief to the panels using a manual router, special attention should be paid to these places when grinding and priming.
• In general, before painting MDF facades, they first apply primer to the relief or overhead elements, then prime the edges, and only after that they begin to cover the entire plane of the product. When working with the spray gun, the nozzle should move in parallel rows, with a fifty percent overlap on each other.
• First, longitudinal rows are applied, then transverse ones. Coatings are applied in the same manner. If you need to paint the facade of built-in furniture, then this is done on both sides. First, the back side is painted, and after it dries, the front side.

• Next, you need to let the product dry completely, then it will have to be sanded again to remove the pile that has risen during the primer. In this case, the most important thing is to correctly calculate the effort and not completely remove the soil layer, having reached the MDF. At the next stage, a covering paint-primer is applied.

For painting furniture facades, polyurethane-based paints are used. They create the most durable surface, and the furniture is subjected to constant mechanical stress. Well, for wall cladding it is best to use water-based paints - especially since they do not have such a toxic smell as polyurethane enamels.

MDF - fibreboard - is a relatively young material. Its production began in the USA in 1966. In a short period of time, this material has almost completely replaced wood in furniture production.

Furniture fronts have become a common sight in our kitchens, our offices and many other places.

MDF is a medium density material, which is made by pressing (under high pressure and at high temperature) fine chips. Lignin, a naturally occurring substance found in wood, acts as a binder.

Of course, in terms of its strength characteristics, this material is significantly inferior to wood, however, as a material for surface finishing, it is a worthy replacement for it (wood). The main advantages of MDF include the following:

• Good resistance to moisture;
• Heat resistant;
• High surface strength;
• Very technologically advanced and easy to use;
• Low cost;
• Resistant to various microorganisms and fungi.

The use of MDF for decoration gave a new impetus to the flight of design ideas and made it possible to significantly expand the possibilities of decorating furniture.

But DDF facades, like facades made of other materials, lose their luster over time. During operation, they may require replacement, or the furniture facades have ceased to harmonize with the respectable appearance of a freshly renovated kitchen. Whatever the reason, there are two possible solutions. Facades need to be either changed or repainted.

Painting MDF facades is a relatively simple matter and does not require any special knowledge from the performer. With the desire and the necessary materials and tools, this task is quite capable of being handled by an ordinary person who is not experienced in modern building technologies.

In this article, we will talk about how to paint the facade of MDF with your own hands.

Wood fiber boards lend themselves perfectly to painting. This fact once again confirms the high quality of this material and its high manufacturability. To understand the reasons for such a loyal attitude of the material to the products of the paint and varnish industry, you should pay attention to the main advantages of MDF:

• Due to the homogeneity, naturalness and solidity of the surface, the material does not require additional surface preparation for painting, unlike most existing materials. If there is a layer of old paint on the surface of the fiberboard, then all surface preparation will consist in removing this layer, which will not be difficult and will not take a lot of time;
• The surface of MDF is very resistant to mechanical deformations. Due to this, the surface can not only be painted, but even make minor changes to the surface texture.

We paint MDF on our own

The algorithm for painting a furniture facade from MDF with your own hands includes the following steps:

• Surface preparation;
• Primer;
• Choice of type and color of paint;
• Applying paint.

In the process of performing these operations, you will need the following materials and tools:

• Roller and paint brush;
• Scotch masking;
• Building hair dryer;
• Rubber gloves;
• Primer for wood;
• Fine-grained sandpaper.

Surface preparation

First of all, in the process of surface preparation, it is necessary to remove all fittings from it.

As mentioned above, the MDF surface, provided that it does not have mechanical damage, does not require preparation for painting. using a hair dryer. Do not try to perform this operation manually - it will take a long time and may cause significant damage to the surface of the material. If there are noticeable mechanical damages on the MDF surface, they can be removed with wood putty. At the end of the preparation process, the surface must be carefully treated with fine-grained sandpaper.

Surface primer

As a primer for an MDF surface, a wood primer is best. The method of applying the primer is entirely up to you. Can be used .

It will take a day for the primer to dry completely.

Choice of paint type and color

When choosing the type of paint for an MDF facade, it is recommended to give preference to auto enamel. Representatives of this relatively new family of paints and varnishes are characterized by high heat and moisture resistance, and are able to create a durable coating.

Modern manufacturers of car enamels offer consumers a wide selection of products in rich colors. There is no doubt that in this kaleidoscope of colors and shades you will be able to choose the best color option for yourself, which will allow furniture facades to harmoniously fit into the interior of your room.

Paint application

Paint selected. The primer is dry. You can proceed to what you started all this for, to apply paint. Seal the areas not intended to be painted, if any, with masking tape and proceed to paint the surface. The method and method of applying the paint is up to you. Paint must be applied in one direction.

As a result, you will get a durable, lacquered or matte coating, depending on the texture of the paint, that will give the furniture facades a new look and will reliably protect them for a long time.

The video shows the painting of MDF facades:

If you are skeptical about your abilities and do not want to take risks, then you should seek help from specialists. But in this case, the price of painting MDF facades will be significantly higher and will range from 1200 to 2000 rubles per square meter of surface.