MDF kitchen apron: selection and installation

A fabric apron protects the hostess's clothes from pollution, and a kitchen apron protects the surface of the walls of the kitchen from steam, splashes of water and grease. The apron cloth performs not only a practical protective function, but also is an important element of decor. In addition to the usual tiles, a variety of materials can be used to make a kitchen apron: glass, artificial stone, plastic, metal. Recently, more and more interest among buyers has been caused by the option of a kitchen apron made of MDF panels, which attracts with its low cost, wide design capabilities and ease of installation.

MDF panels as a kitchen apron: advantages and disadvantages

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard, MDF) is a medium-density fiberboard made from fine wood sawdust by dry pressing under pressure at high temperature. A binder for creating MDF are non-toxic urea resins.

The MDF apron has an impressive list of advantages, which includes:

• price more affordable compared to other coatings;
• no need for complex pre-treatment of walls before installation;
• simplicity and speed of installation and dismantling of panels that do not require special tools;
• ease of processing for arranging outlets, hiding cables and ventilation;
• high mechanical strength MDF, which allows you to hold furniture fittings, fasteners;
• the ability to quickly replace;
• excellent moisture resistance of the material;
• the apron's invulnerability to damage by microorganisms, mold;
• environmental friendliness - wood chips are impregnated with a resin consisting of natural components;
• unlimited possibilities for interesting design solutions.

During the operation of the apron, some disadvantages of MDF panels may appear:

• high flammability
• the inability to eliminate significant mechanical damage,
• predisposition to deformation with improper fastening to the wall.

Care of kitchen surfaces from MDF does not require special detergents and appliances. When cleaning, it is undesirable to use detergents with abrasives, chlorine preparations, solvents. It is enough to regularly wash off the dirt from the panels with a soft damp sponge with the addition of dishwashing liquid, after wiping the panel dry.

Installation of a kitchen apron from MDF: rules and tips

To install the panels correctly, it is necessary to take into account some important nuances:

• The dimensions of the MDF cloth are calculated taking into account the interior of the room, the arrangement of furniture, the distance from the cabinets to the countertops, the length of the working area of ​​the kitchen, the location of the hood.

Tip: when calculating the material, add 4–5 cm to the height of the panels. For a more reliable fixation of the MDF apron and create an imperceptible joint between it and the kitchen furniture, the lower edge of the panels should go 2–2.5 per tabletop, the upper edge - for hanging cabinets.

• The presence of sockets is provided, the openings under them are cut out in MDF panels in advance. Holes are recommended to be made 2-3 mm larger than the required diameter so that it is possible to freely adjust the panel installation.
• The maximum amount of time necessary to devote to preliminary work - the choice of material, marking the surface of the wall, preparing the panel. The installation of MDF itself will take only a few hours.
• In order to install MDF panels in a quality manner, if necessary, some preparatory measures are carried out - they close up wall surface defects, and are treated with an antiseptic.
• For the correct fixing of MDF boards on the wall, a mounting plate is used as a support, which must be fastened with self-tapping screws in a horizontal position. After the installation is completed, the bar must be removed.

Three options for fixing the canvas

MDF panels can be mounted on the wall in several different ways:

• with glue;
• by means of self-tapping screws;
• to special profiles.

Glue method

Suitable when there is no need to hide any communications behind the panels. The advantages of this method:

• a perfectly flat surface is not required;
• don't have to drill walls.

Work is carried out using glue "liquid nails".

1. The surface of the wall must first be cleaned of dust and primed.
2. The glue is applied to the wrong surface of the sheet around the perimeter and in the form of curved lines along the entire surface.
3. The panel is supported on the mounting plate and pressed firmly against the wall with the adhesive side.

Self-tapping

This method of attaching a kitchen apron is optimal in the case of communications.

1. First, a frame of horizontal battens is attached to the wall by means of dowels.
2. The blade is screwed to the rails with screws.
3. Hats of self-tapping screws are hidden with special caps selected in color to the pattern on the front side of the apron.

Profile Application

You can install panels using a profile if you do not want to drill a sheet.

1. Aluminum profiles are fixed on the wall along the lines of the lower and upper edges of the canvas.
2. The panels push it into the profiles from the side.
3. The second option is vertically located profiles holding the panels on both sides on both sides.
4. The ends of the MDF canvases can be decorated with end rails. The end surface before installing the rails is covered with glue.

Some profiles provide additional mounts for installing LED strip for illumination. In this case, the tape performs the function of additional lighting, and is also a design element.

MDF kitchen apron design

The surface of the plates allows the use of staining, veneering, lamination.

Diverse design ideas are implemented using:

• various color scale of panels;
• embossed surface imitating the texture of stone, wood, other materials;
• photo printing on an apron.

Color selection

Choosing the color background of the apron from MDF, you can not be at a loss with the choice of shade, and arrange the working and apron surfaces in one color. If this solution seems boring - experiment with the color palette. The hue of the front of the panel can gently emphasize the design and color of the kitchen set. Or, on the contrary, MDF apron paints will become a bright color spot in the kitchen design and will set the room a certain mood. The panels and animal prints will look appropriate and interesting on the panels. If you rely on color in the interior of your kitchen, the main thing is not to play too much.

Relief nuances

When focusing on the surface topography when choosing a canvas for MDF apron, be sure to consider the difficulties that arise in the future when washing. It might be worth reading online user reviews. Attempts to wash fat from the recesses of embossed surfaces definitely take a lot of effort and are not always successful.

Photo printing

Making a kitchen with MDF sheet with photo printing allows you to make the interior unique. Photo printing can not only set the mood of the room, but also be a reminder of a memorable event. Imagine and place more than one photograph on the panel surface, but make a collage of photos. You can use both color photographs and black and white.

Photo printing on MDF with 3D images looks impressive when objects in photographs acquire a three-dimensional effect. And panoramic paintings of landscapes or views of city streets can visually change the geometry of space.

Often, a large assortment of design options for MDF panels complicates the selection process. Do not rush to decide. Of course, it is important that the spots and marks from the deep fat on the kitchen apron do not catch the eye. However, one must take into account the fact that all family members spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and a bright colorful ornament after some period can begin to annoy. If your eyes run away from numerous color options, photo printing, consult a designer. Let the specialist take into account the wishes, possibilities and choose the best option.