Painting facades mdf. Painting MDF facades - methods and technology

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Painting furniture facades - an opportunity to give your favorite furniture new life. MDF cladding is inexpensive, durable, easy to care for and can be created in various reliefs. And wooden panels last a long time and are very beautiful. Multifunctional cabinets and cabinets are usually chosen for the long term. But over time they appearance, colors, finishes wear out or no longer fit into the overall design of the room. Painting furniture facades saves money and updates the room in a short time.

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Types of paints for MDF

Painting kitchen facades from MDF and solid wood the most common. But always the paint must be of high quality, comply with operating standards and be applied according to the instructions.

There are many types of colors:

• Alkyd - plastic, durable, but not resistant to sunlight.
• Oily, which lie on almost any surface. But for her, the use of a primer is mandatory.
• Silicone. Creates an elastic coating that is resistant to thermal effects. Such furniture facades are used near the stove.
• Water-based - dissolve in water, environmentally friendly and dry quickly. But performance is not the best.
• Acrylic-silicone harmless and durable, but one of the most expensive.
• Polyvinyl acetate can peel off if the application technology is not followed.

Of all the paints and varnishes for shiny facades, automotive enamel is suitable, which is an opaque vitreous thin layer. It is she who, having dried, becomes a beautiful gloss that has not changed for many years.

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There are two types of car enamel:

1. Acrylic. It is applied at once and after drying the facade immediately looks evenly glossy. With acrylic, you can create color effects. For example, combining base enamel with acrylic, you get a solid and expensive surface.
2. Alkyd. It is made from glycerin and resins, costs less than acrylic and room temperature dries quickly.

Types of varnishes for MDF

Glossy finishes are more expensive than matte finishes, but they also look much prettier.

• The most budget varnish - on alcohol based drying in half an hour.
• Epoxy varnishes consist of two components and are quite durable. They don't even care about getting hit.
• Acrylic is inferior to them in strength and durability. But they are completely non-toxic, as they are diluted with water.
• Polyurethane, polyester and nitrocellulose varnishes are durable and resistant to all weather conditions (do not fade). Such surfaces are easy to polish. They look best on wood.

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Technology

1. The first step is to completely disassemble the furniture (unscrew the doors, remove the fasteners, fittings, glass). Cover the areas that do not need to be painted with masking tape, mark the holes between the parts with a marker so that they then fit into place. Remove dust, dirt and old paint.
2. It is very important to properly degrease the surface before applying the primer. If this is not done, then the facade will be defective. The best degreaser is based on organics, the so-called Anti-silicone. It removes fats, oils and silicone directly. It is also suitable for interlayer degreasing.
3. The surface of the facade should be prepared so that it becomes absolutely smooth. To do this, remove the old coating and go over the first time with sandpaper.
4. Putty and repair all chips and cracks, then sand them sandpaper(grit P 180).
5. Surfaces are primed with a special insulating mixture (it is also called a primer), which provides less paint consumption. When the primer is dry, brush again with a P 240 grit and apply the base color. Its method of application is indicated on the bank, depending on the composition.
6. Then the surface is varnished and polished.
7. The very last stage is the removal of the masking tape, the installation of furniture according to the marks, hanging the hinges and installing the handles.

Instruments

To apply paint, you will need brushes, a paint gun or a roller. It all depends on your budget, professionalism and preferences in work. But remember that the ideal surface is obtained only when using a paint gun or spray gun.

The spray gun is not only painted, but also primed. There are two types of pistols: pneumatic and electric. The former work with the help of air pumped by a compressor, while electrical appliances require an appropriate outlet. The diameter of the nozzle is within 1-1.3 mm and this is enough for uniform spraying.

When buying a roller or brush, be sure to pay attention to the markings, which indicate which composition they are suitable for. So, for example, a roller with velor pile is ideal for water-dispersed paints, and natural and combined bristles on the brushes allow stain, acrylic or varnish to go well.

From auxiliary materials you will need: gloves, lung protection (mask, respirator), sandpaper of different grain sizes, sanding felt (scotch brite), degreaser or anti-silicone, solvents, masking tape, markers.

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How to remove old paintwork

More often top layer on furniture there is a gloss (lacquer or paint). If not removed, then new material won't stick and won't stick. Therefore, the top is processed with the coarsest emery (P220-280). You can not remove all the paint, but simply walk over the entire plane so that a roughness appears for better adhesion.

Old coatings are well removed with special washes. The most universal are the numbers 646 and 647. For acrylic car enamels, the P-12 solvent is used. To clean off the base enamel, you should purchase a solvent suitable for the composition of the base. It is also needed to clean the spray gun and other surfaces from the remnants of paints and varnishes.

Acrylic compositions are only sanded. Otherwise, there is no way to remove them.

There is another option for removing - with a paint dryer (burner). It is suitable for polyester coatings. Under the influence of high temperature, the varnish cracks, and then removed with a spatula or chisel.

Grinding

A perfectly smooth surface is the key to a high-quality coating. This can only be achieved by pre-sanding.

Different grit required for different stages grinding. From P220 to 280 - this is the preparation of the base for priming. P 320 - removes uneven ground, and P500 is designed for sanding just before applying paint.

For finishing and delicate grinding today, scotch brite or non-woven felt is used (with a grain size of P800). It allows you to perform final grinding immediately before painting. Its foam base bends and perfectly handles all the bumps, and an analogue can be found on kitchen sponges.

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Painting

The painting itself is easy. If you use a spray can or spray gun, be sure to protect your airways with a respirator. The device should be located at a distance of 15-20 cm from the facade. Remember that the coloring translational movements are carried out strictly in one direction.

Paint for MDF furniture facades is applied to completely dry soil and perfectly flat surfaces. For a more concentrated and deep tone, cover the facades again. The smoothness of the new layer is broken with emery to increase the adhesion of the next one. If you have several colors, then the dried first layer is sealed with masking tape and the paint is applied again.

Lacquer application

Painting furniture facades with MDF varnish usually occurs in one layer for glisal and several layers for paint (maximum 3). In this case, the plane must be completely dry (the same glisal dries up to 7 days).

The first layer is a barely visible spray, which is needed so that there are no streaks from the thicker following layers. It is important to working room was not dusty, as otherwise any fluff would be visible in the light. It is for these reasons that painting on the street is undesirable.

Each coat of varnish is applied at intervals of up to 10 minutes. And the result of this will be a perfect glossy facade with a mirror effect.

Finishing and decor

Finishing sanding of facades is carried out using P500 emery. The thinnest layer of material is at the ends, so you should work carefully here.

After sanding, walk again with scotch-brite. In this case, special care can not be exercised, since the material is soft and does not damage the surface.

Painting the facades of the kitchen is not limited to this, they can be additionally decorated. This can be the application of conventional varnish, glazing (glisal) or polishing. Glizal is a translucent paint for kitchen facades, a bit like marble stains. It is diluted with water and applied in several layers.

Patterns on the facade can be created by everyone possible ways(using a damp sponge, hard brush or textured roller). But this should be done quickly, as the glisal immediately begins to dry out. At the very end, the panel should be coated again with a transparent varnish.

There is also a type of decor called "raindrops". 2 colors are used. Darker paint is applied first. When it hardens, drops of water are sprayed with an ordinary sprayer. Immediately, without waiting for drying, the next color is applied with a spray gun. When the paint dries, the area is sanded with scotch-brite (P 1200-1500) and opened with varnish.

The light base of the surface is the easiest to change. When using stain (for wood) or colored varnish, you will get a darker facade, but at the same time retain the structure of the material. If your base is dark, then it is more difficult to emphasize its structure.

The easiest way to get the desired tone is by mixing desired colors several times in different utensils. Check the result on test surfaces and when the paint dries you will be able to make a more accurate selection.

Today, MDF is considered popular and relatively available material, without which the production of kitchen panels and various furniture. At the same time, MDF is often painted, which makes the facade smoother and more durable. In addition, due to painting, the panels get a deeper and bright color which can be matched to your furniture.

Ordinary mdf panels you can make an interior decoration by simply painting them

Advantages and disadvantages of painting MDF panels

Painting surfaces made of MDF is carried out not only for decorative purposes, but also for protective purposes. The main advantages of painting panels with your own hands:

1. The resistance of the coating to elevated temperatures, which allows you to put even hot dishes on the kitchen surface.
2. High-quality painting of MDF with enamel allows you to make the facade more refined and original, giving it a unique design. For example, you can decorate your furniture interesting decor in the form of pearls, mother-of-pearl, metallic and so on. To do this, various fillers are added to the paint.
3. Safety for health, as only high-quality paints and varnishes are used for it.

Painted MDF panels not only look better, but are also more reliable and durable.

Disadvantages of painting MDF panels:

• higher price compared to film coating;
• when using not the highest quality paint, over time, the painted facade may fade under the influence of sunlight.

Modern technology for painting MDF panels

Correct and high-quality painting must be carried out in compliance with all rules technological process. To work, you will need paint, a wood primer or polyurethane primer, and varnish.

In order for the painted facade to look beautiful and not deteriorate over time, certain temperature conditions must be observed. It is best if all processes take place at a temperature of about twenty degrees. At the same time, the humidity of the air should be in the range from 50 to 80 percent. Humidity wall wooden panels should be 8-15%.

Before applying paints and varnishes, they must be filtered with a filter of 50-100 microns. It is advisable to carry out the filtration twice if the paint has been stored for more than two weeks.

The choice of equipment for painting

To paint MDF with your own hands, it is advisable to have a room of at least 40 square meters equipped with a special chamber for painting and a place for grinding surfaces. In addition, a place should be provided for storing wooden blanks and finished panels.

The temperature in the room where the façade will be painted or internal surfaces, must be at least twenty degrees. The paint booth is best equipped with a hood and a rotating tabletop. The room for drying finished parts should have racks. The place where you intend to carry out grinding is best equipped with reliable vacuum cleaners.

Modern painting technology provides for the application of paints and varnishes and a primer using a pneumatic spray gun with a nozzle of 1.5-2 mm and a receiver compressor of at least 80 liters. If used, then it is applied with a sprayer directly to the surface. Grinding parts is best done by vibrating grinder. Polishing is carried out with an angular grinder.

Painting stages

Preparatory stage

On the preparatory stage great attention must be paid to the processing of the plate. In order to treat the surface to gloss, it is necessary to avoid raising the pile and eliminating the embossing that has arisen during the production process.

The facade of the MDF must be milled at maximum speed, which will avoid raising the pile. Since the paint layer here is very thin, it is advisable not to leave pointed corners that can be easily knocked down. For processing corners, it is best to use an edge cutter with a radius of about 3 mm.

In order to properly sand the MDF facade, it is necessary to remove the surface protective wax layer from the entire surface. For these jobs, an eccentric type grinder is best suited. For processing complex bends It is advisable to use sandpaper. If it is planned to paint MDF wall surfaces, which include several constituent elements, then it is better to putty the joint slots with a primer to fill the pores.

Surface priming

At the first stage, the most problematic relief areas are primed. After that, the edges of the panel are primed. At the final stage, the entire facade is treated with soil. The primer gun should be used to apply the solution first longitudinally and then transversely. At the same time, each next layer is superimposed on the previous one by 50%. This is not only the primer, but also the painting itself.

Most efficient technology soil application involves two stages. The first step is to use an airbrush to apply a layer of insulating primer. It should prevent the pile from rising and absorbing the next coats of paint. After that, you need to let the primer dry and sand the surface with P320-400 sandpaper.

The second stage of the primer is that you need to apply a polyurethane primer and let it dry for at least 10 hours. Next, the surface is ground, in places of milling bends, abrasive material Scotch-brite is used.

For sanding after applying the primer, it is recommended to use sandpaper with the number p320

Painting stage

In order to qualitatively paint the MDF facade, it is necessary to use an airbrush with paint consumption parameters of 60-200 g/sq. m. All other parameters of the device are set depending on the type of paintwork used. In this regard, before you paint the facade under gloss, you need to understand the instructions for using the paint well.

Wet painting technology

After the priming stage, drying is carried out at a temperature not exceeding 35 degrees. The average drying time is five hours. Wet painting technique is carried out by applying a mixture with a thickness of 120 to 140 microns. It is advisable to use polyurethane paint coatings.

The paint is applied using a spray gun with a certain pressure. It is possible to apply in two layers, only before coating with a second layer, the surface should be sanded. In this case, the thickness of each of the layers should not be more than 120 microns. At the next stage, several layers of polyester or polyurethane primer are applied to the MDF board, simultaneously with intermediate sanding. The final layer of glossy enamel needs to be polished.

When applying complex compositions of paints and varnishes with different special effects, they must be well mixed. This is necessary so that the details of the scenery do not settle at the bottom of the jar.

In addition, it is necessary to provide for the easy passage of decorative additives through the nozzle of the spray gun.

When painting and varnishing MDF surfaces, care should be taken to keep it free from dust, insects or other debris. To remove them from the painted surface, you need to have tweezers with you. If you find smudges of primer or paint, then they should be eliminated with a clerical knife and emery cloth.

With tweezers, you can easily remove insects, pieces of dirt, and other adhering excess

Powder mixture for painting

The dry method of painting consists in applying special paint, which is called a powder mixture. The technique involves spraying dry microparticles onto the prepared surface. After that, the applied paint is heated until it begins to melt. The result is an almost perfect flat surface.

Drying

The final stage of any painting is drying the panels. This procedure must be carried out under certain conditions. In particular, the air temperature should be no more than 50 degrees, and humidity - less than 80%.

Drying time depends largely on conditions. environment. As a rule, it will take from 5 to 10 hours for complete drying. In general, the lower the humidity and temperature, the faster the MDF board dries.

Conclusion

So for quality painting MDF boards must comply with all the necessary conditions. This process consists of several steps such as sanding, priming, painting and drying.

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 cladding 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 oil paint PF-115, 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 means, or, in the language of professionals, to apply special program 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 rates 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 + nap disc for polishing).

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)

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 (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. Characterized by high hiding power, excellent adhesion, short drying time and long term services. Recommended only for internal use, as the film has a low coefficient of frost resistance.

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 on outdoors using funds personal protection(goggles, 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. widespread in everyday life, the technology has not received because of the complexity of the application and the high cost of materials.

The purpose of staining is to get beautiful surface, which will not be afraid of water, scratches or stains. If you need to paint wall panels, an acrylic spray is best. Furniture facades 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 or otherwise fibreboard It was first produced in the United States in 1966 and is a relatively "young" material. However, it has been an excellent alternative to wood for many years. furniture production. MDF facades have become commonplace in kitchens, offices and other premises. How to properly prepare an MDF surface for painting, what tools and materials you will need, and how to do everything yourself - read right now.

MDF is a unique modern material which is made by pressing wood waste under high pressure and at elevated temperatures. The material for the binding of the components is lignin, which is of natural origin - it is extracted from wood.

The obvious advantages of MDF, which are used for the manufacture of facades, experts include:

• excellent moisture resistant qualities;
• heat resistance;
• surface strength;
• versatility and ease of use;
• resistance to harmful microorganisms and fungi;
• budget cost.

Since MDF facades lose their original luster over time, they need to be replaced or painted. Even a beginner can paint a facade from such material with certain skills and suitable equipment. Since the material is homogeneous, it does not need any preliminary preparation. The only exception is the removal of the layer old finish, if any. The surface of MDF facades is resistant to mechanical stress. You can not only cover it with paint, choosing a color to your taste, but also change the texture a little.

If we talk about the technology of painting MDF facades, then it includes several simple steps:

• minor surface preparation
• soil application;
• choice of type and color of coating material;
• its application to the prepared surface.

When painting MDF facades at home, you need to prepare:

• paint brush or roller;
• masking tape;
• building hair dryer;
• primer for wood;
• fine-grained sandpaper;
• rubber gloves to protect hands.

For professional painting MDF facades will require a room of about 40 square meters. meters with a separate chamber for painting, a place where you can grind parts, dry and store workpieces, and then finished goods. The temperature in it should be at least 20 degrees. The painting chamber must be equipped with an exhaust hood and a rotating table. There should be shelving in the drying room, and a powerful vacuum cleaner in the grinding sector.

Facades are carried out using a spray gun. Keep in mind that the material consumption is 60 - 200 grams per square meter. meter.

The type of paint will depend on the diameter of the nozzle, air pressure, the chosen method of spraying, the number of layers applied and the frequency of coating.

Surface preparation

The paint application procedure includes the preparation and application of the selected finishing material.

If the paint will be applied to the furniture, the headset should first be disassembled. It is not required to unwind it completely, it is enough to remove only the parts that are planned to be covered with paint. It is recommended to remove handles, inserts and other fittings. If this is not possible, a special masking tape will help protect them.

If the surfaces to be treated are always close to gas stoves and electric furnaces, it is advised to choose paints for painting that have fire retardant properties, such as Polystil metal products. In order to protect the hood and air outlets from corrosion in the future, an electrically conductive paint such as Zinga should be purchased.

To prepare the surface yourself, you need to completely remove the existing paintwork. When the cleaning is completed, the MDF facade is also cleaned of dust. It is difficult to manually clean the surface, it is recommended to use a building hair dryer. The next step is sanding with fine-grained sandpaper.

Next is priming. Before starting work with the composition, it must be shaken. To prepare the surface, it is advised to take a primer intended for wood. But if there are plastic components, it is better to use a primer designed for plastic. The primer should be allowed to dry well, up to 2 days. Only when it is completely absorbed by the surface, it is permissible to proceed with staining.

Coloring and coating

Staining can be done in two ways:

• Usual. It involves traditional paint application, resulting in a beautiful matte or glossy finish. It all depends on the type of paintwork material that you choose.
• Textured. Here, glisal is used for coating in order to get an unusual surface at home.

When painting regular paint you should stick adhesive tape on those parts that you will then cover with other colors if you plan to have a two-color or multi-color finish. It is necessary to apply paint in the selected direction in the direction of movement of the tool. Before applying the next layer, the previous one should dry well. After finishing painting, all parts are screwed into place.

When covering the facade of MDF with glisal, you should first choose a color. To achieve an unusual shade, it is permissible to add a little paint of the color that you like to the glisal. Bring the solution to the desired consistency will help plain water. Before applying the composition to the MDF board, it is advised to first try it on paper.

Staining with glisal is easy to carry out. You should stir the composition, put your hands in protective gloves, stock up on a sponge, a brush with soft bristles and a bag. Glizal is applied with a brush to the surface with a layer, which is advised to do medium thickness. After applying the composition, a sponge is applied to the still wet surface, achieving the formation of interesting bubbles. Their size depends on how large the pores of the sponge are. If you use not a sponge, but a crumpled plastic bag, you can get a beautiful texture on the surface, reminiscent of the bizarre patterns that frost leaves on windows in winter. A textured pattern should be made on the surface without waiting for the glazing to dry.

When the material dries after a week, it is required to varnish the surface. It is better to choose a transparent varnish in order to emphasize all the advantages of the glazed coating, and apply it in 1 layer. In conclusion, you need to return all the pieces of furniture to their place.

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.

The choice of materials for staining

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.

Polyurethane enamels

This material should be preferred for the following reasons:

• The coating is wear-resistant, withstanding exposure to household chemicals.
• The solution has no bad smell, 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 given 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

varnish

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, protect against chemical compounds- use varnish. And for such work, a two-component polyurethane composition is especially well suited, which has all the desired parameters.

Stages and technology of painting

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

1. Grinding.
2. Putty.
3. Padding.
4. Coloring.
5. Lacquering (patina).

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

Grinding

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 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

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 stage skip.

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.

Padding

Priming the surface of the MDF board is best done with an airbrush, then the primer layer lies more evenly

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.

Coloring

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 you want vintage

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.

Varnishing

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.