Do-it-yourself kitchen finishing with PVC panels. Kitchen finishing with plastic panels

Plastic wall panels for the kitchen allow you to carry out repairs quickly and cleanly; with minimal installation skills you can do it yourself. This finishing material is distinguished by a wide variety of color and texture solutions; it is easy to process and install.

Kitchen panels - composition and purpose

Almost all plastic panels intended for interior decoration of walls and ceilings consist of polyvinyl chloride. The abbreviated name for this material is PVC, it is present in their name. From a layman's point of view, the composition of PVC is alarming; it contains ethanol, lead and chlorine. However, these elements are in a bound state and are not released even when burning - and wall and ceiling panels burn poorly.

With proper manufacturing quality, they do not emit any toxic substances - both during installation and during operation. Therefore it is extremely it is important to purchase PVC panels in branded stores, where such quality is guaranteed. And the choice of manufacturers, sizes and colors with such a purchase is greater, as are the chances of getting competent advice from a trained manager.

The use of plastic panels in renovation is important when finishing kitchens, balconies, loggias, corridors, toilets and bathrooms, as well as utility rooms. Lightweight options are chosen for ceilings, because... they are not required to have mechanical strength. Wall panels are made of hard plastic, with a large number of internal partitions and stiffeners.

PVC panels for walls are available in a standard length of 3 meters, width from 12 to 37 cm and thickness of 5-10 millimeters. A reduced length of 2.6 or 2.7 meters is possible. Please note that scraps will not be used; the amount of material is calculated based on full-size elements in length or height.

Plastic panels for walls - advantages and disadvantages

The repair advantages of PVC panels include:

• Cost-effective: compared to the most modest tiles, they are several times cheaper;
• Speed ​​and ease of repair;
• Many options for colors, patterns and textures;
• The finished look of a flat surface, without visible joints and seams;
• Ease of sanitization;
• Resistance to chemicals and moderate impacts;
• Long lasting attractive appearance.

The disadvantages of the material include:

• Possibility of mechanical damage when hit by a heavy object, when rearranging furniture, etc.;
• The need for auxiliary and consumable materials during installation;
• Low resistance in conditions of constantly high humidity, especially during vaporization. This “minus” does not apply to the panels themselves; plastic is absolutely impervious to water. However, its installation requires a wooden frame - the slats can become moldy and rot from moisture within several years. And this means the need for new repairs much earlier than planned.

PVC panels for the kitchen - profitable renovation

In kitchens, the most common option for wall repair is a combined one - the area around the sink and gas stove is tiled, and the remaining parts of the wall are finished with plastic. This allows you not only to reduce the cost of the budget or speed up repairs, but also to hide any unevenness on the walls.

Plastic is a “warm” material, it is much more pleasant to the touch than cold tiles. PVC panels for the kitchen are easy to match in similar colors to both purchased tiles and existing furniture; there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. You can do the installation yourself; the corners and turns of the walls present some difficulty - but with perseverance and attentiveness, you can master these wisdoms.

PVC wall panels - installation instructions

With ideal evenness of the kitchen walls, no peeling of plaster, cracks, etc. Frameless installation of panels using special glue or “liquid nails” is allowed. In practice, you can hardly find flawless walls in kitchens, and it’s easier to paint them than to cover them with plastic beauty.

The main thing is to assemble the frame accurately and correctly. It is a wooden sheathing mounted perpendicular to the future installation of the panels. It is important to think about this at the very initial stage of repair - the PVC panels themselves allow installation both vertically and horizontally. Having thought through the design, you automatically set the direction of the sheathing.

Installation instructions for PVC wall panels - step-by-step diagram

Step 1: Optional but important

Even before starting work with the frame, you can insulate the walls. For this, any roll insulation is used, the thickness of which fits into the internal space between the plastic and the wall. You can perform this procedure partially by insulating only the end wall(s), as this is the area most exposed to the elements. Like insulating the veranda, internal wall insulation is quite doable on your own.

Step 2: Mount the frame

The slats are nailed or targeted to the walls in increments of 20-30 cm. The more frequent the increment, the stronger and more reliable our structure will be. It is important to maintain the parallelism of the slats so that none of them protrudes or is recessed relative to the others. To do this, use a level and a long metal ruler. If necessary, you can cut off part of the rail or place scraps of the same plastic under it.

It is easier to attach the slats to walls made of brick or cinder blocks; ordinary nails are suitable for this (holes are drilled in the slats for them, otherwise the thin wood may split). Concrete walls will have to be drilled or a concrete wall chaser used, otherwise our frame will not be securely fastened. A smooth frame is the key to the success of all repairs involving wall plastic. The number of slats is calculated based on the selected pitch between them and the surface area of ​​the walls.

Step 3: Attach the fittings to the frame

Plastic fittings are attached at corners, turns and joints - corners, joints and ends. Be sure to use a plumb line and level - the fittings need to be mounted as level as possible. These plastic elements should be purchased with a reserve - if you install them yourself, it is quite possible that a corner or end will be damaged or cut out inaccurately, but then do not go to the store for such an occasion. Corner joints are made at 45˚, for which a clamp or template is used.

The fittings are fastened with small nails into their invisible, inner part. To do this, use a hammer and a punch (see below) so as not to damage the surface visible from the outside.

Step 4: Mount the plastic

You need to decide where the last panel will be. Because it is not attached, but simply inserted into the finishing corner. It would be logical if the completion would be in the most “untravelled” place in the kitchen. If installation is from bottom to top, then the last panel will be under the ceiling.

Insert the first PVC panel until it stops. Now we pull it out a little and set it perfectly level and plumb. We nail it from the edges with mounting nails. Checking parallelism. We take out the nails and set the panel again - and so on until it works. The installation of the entire wall depends on the first plastic sheet. When this sheet is accurately mounted, further steps are simple - we insert the next panel into the “lock” all the way and nail it to each frame rail.

We reached the completion of the wall. We measure the remaining width (taking into account the depth of the mounting angle!). We cut out the plastic, slide it into the fittings and carefully insert it into the lock of the previous panel. The wall installation is complete, let's move on to the next one.

Installing PVC wall panels for the kitchen yourself is much easier than experimenting with laying tiles or laying linoleum. Any damaged part can always be thrown away and replaced with a new one; as you develop skills, the percentage of such defects will steadily decrease. This is pure work with quick results in the form of a smooth wall surface and the pleasure of your own skill.

Emmett Brown

The kitchen should be conducive to eating and pleasant evening conversations, so you want this room to be cozy and comfortable. Undertaking expensive and lengthy repairs is not always advisable, and sometimes quite expensive. In this case, plastic panels for wall decoration will come to the rescue; even a non-professional can master the work with them.
Plastic panels have a number of advantages. They are waterproof, have good sound insulation, do not emit toxic substances into the air, are easy to maintain, and are also designed taking into account fire safety requirements. Such panels are not flammable. The disadvantages include the relatively easy damage of the panels and the fading of bright colors in the sun.

Needed for work

To work you will need the following tools:

Finishing with plastic panels

Installation can be carried out using frame or frameless methods. The first is acceptable if the surface of the wall is perfectly flat; for this, it is carefully puttied and primed. The second method is used more often, so let’s consider it in more detail.

The frame is constructed using wooden, plastic or metal slats. The slats are secured strictly perpendicular to the floor and each other using dowels. You'll need a level here. The minimum distance between frame slats is 50cm. At this stage, the fittings are installed. Then the panel is cut to the desired size. The first panel begins to be mounted from the corner; screws or staples are used for fixation. Particular attention is paid to the quality of fastening of the first panel, since all subsequent panels will be aligned with it; these panels are inserted into the grooves.

Using plastic panels, you can make a beautiful apron for your kitchen set by choosing the appropriate style. But you should avoid the area above the hob. Pipes and risers can be hidden by taking care of a special door.

Kitchen finishing with plastic panels
Decorating the kitchen with plastic panels Posted by Emmett Brown The kitchen should be conducive to eating and pleasant evening conversations, so you want this room to be cozy and

Traditionally, the kitchen apron and walls are covered with ceramic tiles, but plastic panels can do a lot against this material - both in terms of design and practicality. To understand why this is so, consider the classification of material.

What types of plastic panels are there for the kitchen?

Plastic kitchen panels are made from extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC). They are classified into types according to dimensions:

1. PVC lining: 10-12.5 cm wide, up to 3 m long, usually monochrome painted,

1. The actual wall plastic panels: width 15-50 cm (25 cm are more common), length up to 3 meters, seamless connection,

1. PVC sheet: 0.8-2.03 meters wide, 1.5-4.05 meters long, thickness from 1 to 30 mm, with a flat, smooth surface, matte or glossy.

Advantages of plastic panels

Kitchen walls and apron lined with plastic panels have the following advantages:

• Lightweight design, which makes fixing PVC incredibly simple,
• Speed ​​of fastening work - kitchen panels made of plastic are fastened 10 times faster than ceramic tiles,
• The apron and walls made of plastic are incredibly easy to clean - they can be wiped with napkins or washed with standard detergents (non-abrasive),
• Plastic panels for the kitchen are made of hard PVC, resistant to high temperatures (sensitivity threshold - 120°),
• Modern plastic finishing allows you to create a kitchen backsplash with any design - with unusual prints, three-dimensional patterns or original colors; transparent wall panels are often used,
• And the main advantage is that the walls and apron are covered with plastic - it is budget-friendly and affordable.

Cons of plastic trim

Of course, plastic wall panels have their drawbacks - in most cases they are a counterbalance to the affordable cost. The main negative characteristics of plastic include:

• Small margin of safety, low wear resistance,
• Possibility of damage to the front decorative panel due to prolonged contact with detergents or ultraviolet rays,
• Flammability upon contact with open fire - this should be taken into account when arranging the kitchen apron.

There is one more nuance - PVC wall panels for the kitchen must have all certificates, including hygienic ones, confirming that the material is made from safe raw materials that do not emit harmful substances when heated.

Do not think that finishing a kitchen with PVC panels is impractical or unprofitable. The main thing is to choose the right material.

When choosing kitchen wall panels, you need to follow these recommendations:

1. The dimensions of the plastic sheet or panel should be larger than the apron area so that the material extends behind the cabinets and is slightly below the working surface.
2. If you plan to place plastic close to the hob, then do not forget to make sure that the material has fire safety certificates.
3. The color scheme is selected depending on the features of the kitchen: large patterns and dark colors are preferable in spacious rooms, and in small rooms wall panels with small floral patterns or calm light colors will be more appropriate. A win-win option is light, plain or wood-imitating panels without gloss.

1. You can choose wall panels of unique design textures: metallized for hi-tech, brick for minimalism, wood – for classics, imitation of old images or ornaments - for vintage.

With the help of plastic panels in the apron and on the walls, you can even visually expand the kitchen space if they are installed horizontally, and “raise” the ceiling when installed vertically.

Advice! The plastic apron should be supplemented with a border that protects the joints of the panels from moisture and dirt.

We fasten the wall panels with our own hands

To attach the panels to the apron or to the walls you will need the following tools:

• Hammer drill and screwdriver,
• Pencil, tape measure,
• Plumb or level
• Construction stapler, staples for it,
• Glue,
• Metal profile or wooden beams to create sheathing,
• Suspensions,
• Dowels, screws,
• Actually PVC panels of the selected type and size.

Method 1. Plastic panels can be glued directly to the wall. This is an easy method to implement, but it will not be possible to dismantle the material without damaging it if necessary. In addition, gluing is possible only if the kitchen walls are smooth and their difference is no more than 1 centimeter. Additionally, the panels should be fixed in the corners with self-tapping screws.

Method 2. You can screw the material directly to the wall - for this, mounting holes are drilled, the panel is secured, and the places where the screw heads are located are masked with plugs. For this method of fastening, you will need to first prepare the wall: repair cracks and potholes, level it, prime it.

Method 3. Plastic can also be installed on the sheathing - first, the panels are screwed (attached) to a profile or plank, and then attached to the wall.

Method 4. Installation of plastic panels using metal profiles and brackets is carried out using a similar technology using lathing.

Plastic panels for lining the kitchen apron and walls offer an endless choice of designs that will transform your kitchen. You can choose from a wide palette of colors - from white to black, smooth or textured surfaces imitating leather, fabric or any natural material, three-dimensional drawings, photo printing, semi-matte, matte, glossy or mirror finish. And if desired, the plastic panel is easy to change, since the material is budget-friendly. More information about the plastic apron can be found in the material: Plastic apron - information for the buyer.

Plastic panels for finishing kitchen aprons and walls
Everything about PVC kitchen wall panels: the pros and cons of plastic, types, selection tips and instructions for installing in different ways with your own hands.

Kitchen renovation is a responsible and expensive undertaking. How to make it the least painful for both family members and the family budget? The use of plastic panels will help you save time and money on kitchen renovations.

What is unique about the material?

Seamless panels fit tightly to each other, suture panels leave the joint visible. PVC panels are a universal finishing material for interior spaces. This building material is not new at all, but has already firmly gained popularity in the finishing goods market.

Universal material properties

• Firstly, PVC plastic panels for the kitchen can be installed horizontally, vertically and at any angle.
• Secondly, the material is used both for finishing walls and ceilings, and for balconies and loggias. Among other things, window slopes in most cases are made of plastic panels.
• Thirdly, the standard size of a panel is considered to be a material thickness of 10 mm, a length of 2700 mm, and a width of 250 mm.

Key Features: Where does the quality lie?

The main differences between plastic panels can be identified:

• Coating material. On the construction market you can find glossy as well as matte panels made of polyvinyl chloride. Gloss appears due to the application of a specialized varnish to the surface of the material.
• Type of drawing on the material. Various types of patterns are applied to the surface of the PVC material. A printed pattern is applied to the material with paint, and a film pattern is applied by applying a colored film with a pattern to the front surface. This is a great opportunity to create a unique design with plastic wall panels for the kitchen with photo printing.
• According to the type of junction of materials. Based on this feature, a distinction is made between seamless and seam panels. Seamless plastic panels form gaps at the junction, which are provided for by the decor of the material, and seamless panels fit tightly to one another.

Lining or weaving - this is the “popular” name given to plastic panels with a seam joint and a width of 100 mm.

How to save time and money when decorating your kitchen?

When renovating a kitchen, what is important, first of all, is the speed of repair, knowledge and experience of how to lay tiles on the floor.

Everyone understands that enduring inconvenience due to repairs for 1-2 days and 2-3 weeks is a very big difference.

Therefore, PVC plastic panels for walls, kitchen ceilings, as well as bathrooms and balconies are deservedly popular during renovations for many reasons, the main of which are:

• relative cheapness of the material,
• speed in completing finishing work.

To lay regular tiles, a lot of time is spent both on laying and leveling the walls. In addition, it is necessary to agree with a good craftsman, since laying tiles without experience and appropriate qualifications is a difficult task that can result in both damage to the material and failure of the repair itself.

There is also a lot of daily noise and dirt from laying tiles, no one has canceled it. This situation is absolutely unacceptable in a house where there is a small child or an elderly person.

Finishing the kitchen walls with plastic panels allows the owner to complete the fastening of the panels in the kitchen in a short time (installation usually requires one working day). PVC panels are not only a profitable option in terms of pricing, but also in terms of time and labor costs.

Which flooring to choose - moisture-resistant laminate or porcelain stoneware? The answer is not so obvious. Details in our articles.

From this guide you can learn how to make a two-level plasterboard ceiling with your own hands.

Frame installation: laying the foundation

Kitchen renovation with plastic panels begins with the installation of the frame. It all depends on how smooth the walls in your kitchen are.
If the walls are good and fairly even, then you can do without installing a frame.

If the walls are far from perfect, then before attaching the panels, it is necessary to mount and install the frame.
To mount the frame for paneling, you need to stock up on dowels and screws. Next, using fasteners, you need to fix the plastic guides at a distance of 40-50 cm from one another on the wall and 30-40 cm on the ceiling.

Plastic guides must be installed both at the beginning and at the end of the panel.

The material can be attached to metal, wood or plastic sheathing. However, it is preferable to choose plastic guides, due to their exceptional properties to withstand temperature changes. In addition, plastic sheathing is relatively lightweight and extremely easy to install.

So that in the future you do not have questions about how to cover a kitchen with plastic panels and problems with polyvinyl chloride panels, use the step-by-step advice of a professional:

1. Use a level to level surfaces and also to form right angles.
2. Insert the first PVC panel to be laid into the groove of the fastening element using the narrow fastening flange of the product.
3. The second plastic panel should be inserted as tightly as possible to the first.
4. The panels should be secured when you are completely sure that there are no gaps between them.
5. All polyvinyl chloride material must be secured in a similar manner. The last panel must be reduced by 6-8 cm. Then the material must be inserted into the groove of the fastener and the groove of the previous panel.
6. Additional lathing for materials will be required in places where future kitchen shelves and cabinets will be attached. Don't forget about it!

If the walls in the kitchen are smooth, then you do not need to install a frame; you can easily fix the PVC material using liquid nails.

Kitchen finishing with plastic panels can be either complete or partial. For example, plastic panels for a kitchen apron are perfect as an alternative to a more expensive option - skinals.

Kitchen apron made of plastic: 10 reasons “FOR”

1. High impact resistance of the material. The panels do not break or crack under mechanical stress.
2. Good moisture resistance of the material.
3. The color scheme of the panels does not become distorted over time.
4. A simple principle of material installation.
5. Durability of PVC panels (more than 10 years of excellent operation).
6. The material can be drilled perfectly with ordinary wood drill bits.
7. There are no seams between the elements. It is possible to install a single structure up to 4 m.
8. Wide range of designs, monograms, compositions.
9. The panels are absolutely resistant to aggressive detergents.
10. The possibility of repairing the material and partial dismantling remains possible.

Tile vs panel: which is better?

If you are still in doubt about what to choose: a PVC panel or ceramic tiles, we will give a comparative description of the two materials that are the main ones when decorating a kitchen.

Plastic PVC panels for the kitchen: cheap and cheerful? Incorrect answer
Plastic panels for the kitchen are an excellent budget solution for kitchen walls and ceilings. Installation rules, photos, videos of the process.

Wall panels have become very popular relatively recently. These materials can radically change the design of an apartment without requiring large sums of money. Wall panels are very easy to care for, they practically do not get dirty and have good durability, so they are ideal for the kitchen. You can turn classic walls into unique style compositions, come up with a unique interior and fill it with beautiful decorations. Today we will look at how to decorate a kitchen with wall panels.

Preparing to install panels

First you need to prepare all the materials that you may need. Therefore, buy in advance: wall panels, corners, wooden slats, dowels, level, staples, tape measure, profiles, pencil, screws, protective impregnation, etc. After this, evaluate the degree of flatness of the surface on which the panels should be attached. If the walls in the kitchen are perfectly level (which is unlikely), you can attach the panels directly to the wall using glue. This option only applies to kitchens with normal humidity levels.

If there is high humidity in the room, you will have to install a wooden frame. It can also be installed if the room has uneven walls. In this case, some space remains between the wall and the kitchen wall panel, which can be filled with insulating material. In addition to sound insulation, it retains heat, so heating costs are reduced. In addition, in this way you can hide electrical wiring, for which you do not need to ditch the walls.

If the walls are not very smooth and you are not going to use a frame, you need to prepare them for finishing. To do this, you should thoroughly clean the walls from dust, dirt and let it sit. Be sure to remove any remaining old decorative coating, paint or wallpaper. All irregularities should be eliminated using high-quality putty that is suitable for the type of surface. After this, you should walk along the walls with sandpaper.

Calculation of material for installation

Before attaching wall panels in the kitchen, you should calculate their number. To do this, you must know the dimensions of the wall panels for the kitchen. Please note that there should be no errors. It is necessary to measure the width of the kitchen walls and divide it by the width of the panel. This way you will get the number of products needed for finishing. It may not turn out whole. If this happens, you will have to carefully cut one panel and adjust it to size.

If there is a window, doorway or arch in the wall, you need to measure this area. After this, you should subtract the resulting number from the length of the wall. To finish the walls you will need profiles and corners with which you can secure the wall panels in the corners. It is recommended to leave gaps as panels (especially sheet panels) can expand over time. The height of each piece should be one centimeter less than the distance between the floor and ceiling.

After this, you can cut the workpieces to the desired size. If you use a hacksaw, it is advisable to make cuts from the front side of the coating. If you plan to work with a circular saw, you need to cut the pieces from the base side. First, you should carefully cut the covering, then cut the panel itself with greater force. While cutting, try to keep the carpet knife strictly perpendicular to the panel.

For perfectly cut straight lines, it is better to use a straight edge or ruler. For sockets and switches, you need to cut appropriate holes in the material. Before attaching wall panels to kitchens, they must lie in a room at room temperature for more than twelve hours so that the humidity levels of the building materials and the surrounding air can get closer to each other. Therefore, unpack the box and leave the material for a while.

Procedure for gluing wall panels

Sheets can be glued using acrylic, silicone or universal construction adhesive. It is advisable to study the adhesive composition on the packaging and perform all actions, taking into account the manufacturer’s advice. First, the wall panels are glued to the inner corner of the room, and then along the perimeter. The adhesive composition should be applied to the entire surface of the material.

1. Tiles are square or rectangular wide panels with a side of 290-950 mm, mainly used for wall cladding or kitchen apron cladding.

Square fragments also look good on the ceiling

1. A slab (sheet) is the largest material in area, which is cut according to the parameters required by the customer. Dimensions are selected in the range from 1040 to 2800 mm for the most seamless wall covering.

In addition, MDF wall panels for the kitchen differ in thickness.

• The thinnest (5-9 mm) are convenient due to their low weight and ease of installation, but cannot boast of sufficient strength, so they are most often used in the manufacture of furniture facades, but can also be used to cover ceilings in the kitchen.
• Medium thickness (10-18 mm) - the main material for wall cladding (as well as the manufacture of doors or furniture frames). They are quite strong, but their thickness will have a slight impact on the usable space of the premises.
• Thick (19-38 mm) are the most durable, mainly used in furniture production, but can also be used for covering large areas that require additional insulation.

And finally, MDF wall panels for the kitchen can be divided according to texture into smooth and textured. A smooth surface (especially with a glossy finish) visually enlarges the room, which is especially important for small kitchens. But on a textured cladding with a pronounced relief, various defects are much less visible, and it looks more unusual and impressive.

Relief finishing materials based on MDF

Interesting! Anyone who wants to practice the art of design can try themselves in selecting combinations of different colors or textures, as well as in non-standard (for example, diagonal) installation of MDF boards. If you are not confident in your skills, use ready-made proposals with original design, for example, materials with a 3D effect.

Optical illusions using 3D technologies

Options for covering the kitchen with MDF panels

If you decide to use MDF panels when decorating your kitchen, it is important to determine the area of ​​their coverage. Actually, there are two options - complete cladding of all surfaces (which is quite rare) or fragmentary cladding of walls, ceilings or sections thereof. We propose to consider several areas in which this material will serve as both functional protection and an effective interior decoration.

Full cladding - pros and cons

At first glance, it seems that the best option for finishing a kitchen with MDF panels is to completely replace all facing materials with decorative wooden plates. But the result obtained rarely lives up to expectations. To implement this idea, you will need a really spacious room with a high ceiling, otherwise a small kitchen with such decor can turn into something like a wooden box.

Of course, you can use your imagination and try to create original color combinations, play with the texture of embossed and smooth materials, or perform installation with non-standard installation. For example, choose square slabs for the floor, multi-colored lining for the walls, and line the ceiling with seamless panels. But it’s still better to leave this option for the kitchen at the dacha or in a country house.

Full kitchen refurbishment in spacious home

MDF cladding of walls, floors and ceilings

For apartment kitchens, partial finishing with MDF panels is often used. This can be the cladding of the lower part of the walls, used mainly in large rooms, since in small kitchens this space is almost completely covered with furniture. You can also cover the ceiling with MDF lining or sheeting. Moreover, if finishing with wood slabs is more recommended for the walls, the ceiling covering should be chosen in light neutral shades - white, pale blue, creamy. In addition to plain panels for the ceiling, imitation stone, such as light marble, and original reliefs are suitable.

Highlighting the dining area with wood finishes

A cozy duet - a massive tabletop and a wall with wooden trim

If the kitchen is spacious enough, has a long rectangular shape, or is combined with another room in the house, you can install a small partition, separating the dining room and work area not only visually. And this is where seamless wall sheets made of MDF that imitate wood will come in very handy. Moreover, veneer made from expensive species, a simple varnish coating, or material with realistic photo printing can be used for this. Air partitions made of MDF made by laser cutting look no less impressive.

Openwork partitions for zoning kitchen space:

On a note! In kitchens with a small area (for example, in Khrushchev-era apartments), this material is used to decorate the wall opposite the working one. Moreover, for this it is not even necessary to completely sheathe the entire area; it is enough to cover the surfaces free of furniture with MDF panels. Particularly good for partial cladding is a seamless sheet cut to fit the open space.

Application of MDF for kitchen apron

The section of the wall between the upper and lower cabinets of the kitchen unit belongs to the working area, that is, it is here that the exposure to moisture and temperature is the highest. Therefore, MDF panels for finishing should be selected only with good protection (and ideally, moisture resistant) or additionally covered with a glass screen.

The most reliable option for wall panels for interior decoration of the kitchen are considered to be the so-called MDF skins with a heat-resistant plastic coating. By the way, another advantage of these sheet slabs is their rich decorative assortment, including photo printing. For inspiration, we offer a selection of photos of wall panels on a kitchen apron.

With plastic coating and photo printing:

On a note! It is better to mount the wall panels for the apron on the sheathing in order to run wiring underneath them to illuminate the work area and communications for connecting various household appliances.

DIY installation methods for MDF cladding

For finishing walls and ceilings with any MDF panels, there are only two installation options - adhesive and frame methods. The latter is considered more environmentally friendly, since it does not require chemicals that can release harmful substances when exposed to high temperatures. In a properly equipped kitchen, the negative impact of possible glue fumes is neutralized by exhaust ventilation, so both options are equally popular and are successfully used for covering various surfaces.

Fastening panels with glue

This method can be used to mount any types of panels, but it is most reliable for fixing thin and medium MDF boards. Glue mounting is chosen only in cases where the surface does not have defects extending beyond the plane by more than 2-3 mm.

For long or voluminous fragments, it is better to treat the wall with glue

• Installation begins from a corner - the first panel is pressed against the working surface, leveled vertically and horizontally and tapped with a rubber mallet (or just a fist) for a tight fit. Then the following elements are attached.
• In the case of gluing lining or tiles, the correctness of the connection is checked with a level every 3-5 fragments. Excess adhesive that comes out is immediately removed with a cloth soaked in water or alcohol.
• After fixing all the cladding, install the necessary fittings - internal, external and finishing corners, plinths.

Important! It is most convenient for novice craftsmen to use so-called “liquid nails” for installation; more experienced ones can choose any universal reinforced adhesive compositions or even polyurethane foam.

Installation on frame or sheathing

If the kitchen does not have perfectly flat surfaces, you will have to equip it with a frame made of metal profiles or wooden slats to decorate it with wall panels. This option is also chosen when installing hidden wiring and ceiling cladding.

Fastening MDF panels to the frame

Sequence of work:

• The preparatory stage consists of applying a primer with fungicidal properties to the walls or ceiling. All wooden parts of the future frame are treated with the same impregnation.
• The sheathing is being marked. When working with walls, the upper and lower slats are placed at a distance of 3-5 cm from the floor and ceiling, the rest are spaced 40-50 cm apart. For the ceiling frame, mark out a grid with a square side of 1 m.
• The frame elements are fixed to the working surface with metal or wood screws in increments of about 50 cm, checking for correct installation with a level.
• Installation of panels starts from the corner. The first lamella is leveled vertically and fixed to each batten of the sheathing with small nails at such a distance that they can then be covered with fittings. On the other side of the lamella, the comb is also attached to the frame. It is most convenient to use special clamps for this (in construction jargon - clamps).

Clamp fastening system

• The next lamella is installed in the lock of the previous one and is also fixed with a clamp by the comb. This rapport is repeated around the entire perimeter.
• If necessary, the last plank is cut to width with a hacksaw (if the gap is too narrow, you can reduce the width of the first and last fragments so that the difference is not noticeable).
• After installing all the main elements, the turn of the fittings comes - the necessary corners and baseboards are applied.

Video: how to attach MDF panels to a kitchen working wall

Now you know how to cover a ceiling or walls with MDF panels. This work is really simple and is accessible even to an unprofessional craftsman, but if you don’t have enough time for independent experiments, or you simply don’t have confidence in your own construction skills, you can always call on the help of specialists who will install MDF panels with high quality and in the shortest possible time.

The kitchen is one of the most difficult areas to design in a modern interior. This is especially felt when, in addition to good aesthetic properties, the surface must also effectively withstand frequent contamination and be easy to clean.

Tile tiles are most often used to decorate work areas, but not everyone will like the mosaic structure, appearance and price of ceramic products.

The closest alternative to tiles are wall panels, which are not only not inferior, but also in many ways superior to ceramic products in technical characteristics and visual impression. Due to their artificial origin, the panels are quite easy to form, which in turn allows you to significantly diversify the surface texture and color range.

Kitchen finishing panels are made of PVC or MDF - which modification you prefer depends solely on your wishes.

Panels made of polyvinyl chloride have a lower cost and moisture resistance, but they can be installed exclusively on a pre-assembled frame. MDF sheets have heat and sound insulation properties and can be fixed to the wall using either adhesive or frame methods.

The disadvantages of MDF products include high cost and relatively weak moisture resistance.

Also, this product is distinguished by ease of installation - even without professional skills, you can install the panels yourself without any difficulties. This article will tell you how to decorate a kitchen with wall panels.

Panel installation

Finishing the kitchen with panels is carried out in two ways - glue or on a pre-assembled frame. The first method is used exclusively in combination with MDF sheets - both MDF and PVC analogues can be mounted using the frame method. Below we will look at both technologies.

Panel stickers

The advantage of adhesive installation of MDF sheets is simplicity and cost-effectiveness - for fixation there is no need to assemble a supporting frame, which allows you to save money on the purchase of material. The disadvantage of this method is the lack of thermal insulation and the obligatory presence of the most even surface possible in order to avoid voids and excessive consumption of adhesive.

Most often, the walls in the kitchen are finished using 122x244 wall panels using the adhesive method, since smaller analogues are easier to “plant” on the frame.

Surface preparation

• Peeling layers of whitewash, paint, plaster, etc. must be removed from the walls. – the surface must be continuous and reliable. Cracks, cavities and other irregularities are filled with a repair mass, the composition of which is selected based on the structure of the original finish. As a result, you should have a smooth surface with a uniform texture;

• If the surface is porous, it is necessary to fill small voids and make the wall structure uniform.

Note! In this case, this means pre-installation of sheets that complies with all building codes. In any other case, it may be necessary to level the walls with plaster or putty.

Gluing

Before gluing, the panels should be left for 24 hours in the room where they will be installed so that the material can adapt to the temperature conditions.

The sheets must be unpacked in such a way as to ensure air access to each element.

• The back of the panel is cleaned of dirt and degreased, after which an adhesive composition is applied to it, according to one of the schemes presented in the figure;

• The panel must be pressed tightly against the wall and the entire surface of the sheet must be tapped to evenly distribute the glue. To guarantee fixation, it is recommended to use spacers and other temporary fixations;
• Between the panels and the floor/ceiling/internal corner, it is necessary to provide a temperature gap of at least 3 mm necessary for thermal expansion of the material.
• All joints, external and internal corners are masked with moldings and profiles, or filled with sealant - the first option is preferable, as it ensures complete tightness of the coating;

Note! If you use moldings or other connectors, sealant should also be applied to the joints to prevent moisture from penetrating the interior of the panel.

Frame installation is carried out using a tongue-and-groove lock, which is located at the ends of the panel. The elements are fixed to a pre-assembled frame, which allows you to smooth out small unevenness in the wall.

Assembling the sheathing

• As a material for assembling the supporting frame, you can use either a wooden beam or a metal profile. The thickness of the elements in this case does not play a big role, since finishing the walls with panels in the kitchen does not imply the presence of thermal insulation;
• First of all, the lowest rail/profile is installed, subsequent frame elements are located in increments of 40 cm from each other. If wooden slats are used, they are fixed using polyamide screws. The metal profile is mounted using metal fasteners;

• During installation, it is important to monitor the horizontal and vertical profiles/beams using a building level. Ultimately, all frame elements should form a single plane and be on the same level;
• The covering begins from the inner corner - using a stapler or screws, a corner is mounted into which the first panel is inserted. Then the free side of the panel is fixed and the next one is inserted - for a tighter fit, you can tamp the panel by placing a piece of foam plastic between it and the hammer so as not to damage the edge;

• When the sheathing reaches the next corner, a corner is put on the end panel, after which the panel can be fixed. External corners are also formed using appropriate corners;
• To seal the sheathing, the joints are coated with sealant. It is most convenient to make longitudinal cuts with a construction knife, and transverse cuts with a hacksaw.

Bottom line

Finishing panels for the kitchen make it possible to diversify the interior with bright colors and new ideas, while maintaining the functionality of the coating. Along with a unique appearance, you will receive a surface that is resistant to stains and is easy to care for.

You can learn more about this topic by watching the video in this article.

A kitchen is a specific room that has its own operating characteristics. It is characterized by high humidity and degree of pollution. In addition, all family members spend quite a lot of time in this room. This means that the material for finishing the kitchen must meet certain requirements.

The main ones are immunity to moisture, ease of maintenance and good performance characteristics. Often the kitchen facade is finished with ceramic tiles. But this is not the entire list of materials.

Plastic or PVC panels are quite popular in kitchen decoration. What makes this material special? Why can it be used to decorate the kitchen facade? How does the process of covering a room take place? Let's find out.

PVC panels for the kitchen - features and advantages

What is PVC panel? This is a finishing material based on plastic. It turns out that the products have all the same characteristics that polyvinyl chloride has. And as you know, plastic is a practical, cheap and versatile material that has its own advantages. You can see an example of the products in this photo.

The PVC panels themselves can be produced in several variations. Here are the types of products:

As you can see, PVC film is a fairly diverse material that can be used to decorate a kitchen. But why should you choose PVC film or lining? Let's look at the benefits of using the products.

Why is plastic so good?

Everyone knows that plastic products are quite cheap. It's all about the production method and raw materials. But for us, as consumers, this is only to our advantage. After all, with excellent characteristics, you get affordable kitchen finishing material. And repairs are a costly business, so every penny can count. The price-to-practicality ratio of PVC panels is simply excellent.

Here are all the advantages that plastic has:

There are really many advantages, and this despite the fact that the price of the material is low. In this regard, the shortcomings that the material has seem negligible. The main one is high flammability. If a fire source is opened, the material will quickly ignite.

Advice! Buy PVC panels that can withstand temperatures of 170 degrees.

I would also like to note the insufficient strength of the material. With a strong point impact, you can break the surface. The damaged piece will need to be replaced. And if you buy low-quality material, then over time it will fade in the sun.

Now that you know everything about plastic panels, let's look at the installation technology. Thanks to her, you can do the kitchen tiling yourself.

Preparing the surface before work

Before you begin installation, you must prepare the kitchen for plastic paneling. First, you will have to dismantle the old material if you are renovating an old kitchen. In fact, this is all the preparation. All that remains is to purchase the material and prepare everything necessary for the work. After all, another feature of plastic is that, unlike tiles, you do not have to level the surface to perfection.

Note! Since the PVC panels will be attached to a metal or wooden frame, you can even leave old plaster or wallpaper on the surface.

But dismantling includes not only removing the old finish, but also providing free space for work. To do this, remove from the wall all elements that protrude and will interfere with you: lamps, paintings, nails and other elements.

All that remains is to prepare an arsenal of tools and materials for the job. Here is a list of things you will need:

• tape measure and building level;
• pencil;
• knife for cutting plastic;
• drill and screwdriver;
• fixing brackets;
• dowels and screws;
• wooden slats or metal profile to create a frame.

Now let’s look at the plating process step by step:

Our design is based on a frame onto which plastic panels will be attached. It is made of metal or wood. If you have dealt with lining before, then the process of covering with PVC panels will be familiar to you.

Before making the frame, you need to make even markings. I would like to say right away that the frame can be made in a vertical or horizontal direction. In this case, the fixation of the panels occurs exactly the opposite. With a vertical frame, the slats are attached horizontally, and with a horizontal frame, they are attached vertically. Here you can decide for yourself how you like it.

Now you can make markings on the wall. The most important thing is to draw the starting line correctly. Subsequent slats will already be guided by it. The distance or step of fastening the frame is 50 cm. Be sure to use a tape measure and a level.

After which you can attach the frame to its place. This is a very important stage on which further work depends.

Now it's time to fix the panels themselves to the walls. It is worth noting that in addition to simple PVC panels, you will need other components. They are also called profiles, which will help with installation. There are several types of profiles: L-shaped are used for the start and finish of your finishing, F-shaped profile, which is needed to cover corner joints (it can also be used for start and finish), H-shaped profile is considered universal and is used for processing joints. In addition, the work will require a plinth.

So, covering a kitchen with PVC products begins with attaching the profile. This may be an L-shaped plastic profile. Attach it to the frame along the perimeter.

After this, install an F-shaped corner PVC profile at the corners of the wall.

Carry out the kitchen trim from the corner. This will help reduce material consumption. You can fix PVC panels to wood using a stapler. If you don't have one, small nails will come in handy. If we talk about the metal profile, then fixation occurs using screws.

Thanks to the design features, the panels are easily connected to each other. The tongue-and-groove system makes the fixation reliable. Move along the wall, gradually covering the kitchen space.

The last element of the PVC product will need to be cut to width. It must be remembered that the outermost strip is first installed in the corner profile, and only then connected to the previous PVC sheet.

That's all, now your kitchen is decorated with this wonderful material. Watch this tutorial video to understand the installation process in more detail.

Let's sum it up

Using plastic panels in the kitchen is not only economically beneficial, but also beautiful, practical, durable and simple. Cleaning the kitchen will become even easier. And due to the fact that the material is not afraid of moisture, it does not need to be changed soon. Thanks to the varieties and wide range of products, you can choose the material for your kitchen that will be ideal, in your opinion. All that remains is to apply the tips from the article, buy the material and start covering the kitchen. We wish you successful work!

PVC wall panels, photos of which can be seen on the Internet, are not suitable for all styles. This is a relatively new material that has recently been increasingly used for finishing. A practical, durable material that has many advantages. Find out exactly what advantages it has and how it can be used in the interior in more detail later in the article.

Advantages and disadvantages

Due to their specific properties, the panels can be used in places where other materials would suffer. For example, in a bathroom or toilet, plastic panels will fit just right. Or, if repairs need to be done, but there is no money for natural materials, plastic can also come in handy.

But in order for it to look good, not leave the walls and complement the interior, instead of completely breaking it, you need to approach the choice and placement in the house wisely and consistently.

Before we figure out what types of plastic panels there are, where they should be placed, and where it is better to use another material, let’s first look at their basic properties.

The following are useful:

• Low price. This is one of the main advantages - plastic is a cheap material that can still look good, stylish, and interesting.
• Ease. Typically, wall finishing materials are quite heavy - especially when it comes to tiles or natural wood panels - but plastic does not have this drawback. Even a child can lift one element, therefore, there will be no problems with delivery and mounting on the walls.
• Moisture resistance. One of the materials that is completely insensitive to moisture. Even the joints between the panels can be sealed so that no water gets into them.

• Diversity. Plastic, like any synthetic material, is easy to paint. That’s why you can find all kinds of panels on the market - single-color and multi-color, patterned and plain, with and without patterns. They can also be made with different textures - waves, imitation wood or stone.
• Easy to install. Structural elements are usually equipped with a simple device for coupling of the “spike-lock” type. Even a person who has never undertaken a renovation in his life can put them together. No specific skills are required.

But, of course, not a single material can have only useful properties.

There are also unpleasant ones:

• Lack of resistance to mechanical damage. Plastic is a thin, lightweight material that is easy to damage. You can scratch it even with a brush that is too hard, but a blow inflicted accidentally and casually will probably leave a crack. Therefore, both use and transportation must be careful.
• High probability of buying low-quality goods. It’s difficult to mess up with natural stone, just like with wood - they won’t cost less if you violate the production technique. But plastic will, so there is always a chance of buying panels that will melt, have a very unpleasant smell, or quickly deform.
• Specific smell. Despite everything, even expensive PVC, made according to all the rules, at first emits an odor that may seem unpleasant.
• Difficulty fitting into the interior. Natural materials can be adapted in one way or another to suit any style. But PVC is suitable only for those that are democratic enough to tolerate synthetics - all these are modern styles.

In fact, it makes sense to install plastic panels in rooms where strength is less important than resistance to changes in temperature and humidity.

It is interesting that despite its stability, plastic cannot be placed in rooms where the humidity rises higher than seventy percent, otherwise it will quickly fail.

Types of panels

The material for all panels is the same - PVC, also known as polyvinyl chloride. But that doesn't mean they are all the same. There are important nuances - from shape to thickness.

Form

Typically, structural elements are rectangular - despite the flexibility of plastic, no one sees the point of giving them a more intricate look. But even rectangles are different:

• « Lining" Such panels reach a length of one and a half to two and a half meters, a width of up to thirty centimeters and easily cover the entire space from ceiling to floor. At the same time, they look very similar to real wooden lining - especially if you apply a special coating that imitates wood as the top layer. Less fragile than tiles, they allow you to influence the perception of the room, making it larger or smaller.
• Sheets. The height of such sheets is the same as those made for lining, but the width reaches up to a meter. The result is wide slabs - and you don’t need too many of them to cover a wall in a room.

The choice depends on how much effort you are willing to put into the repair (it is much easier to attach sheets than tiles) and on what visual result you want to get.

Seam presence and surface finish

In addition to the shape of the panels, they also differ in the presence of a seam:

• Seamless. Unfortunately, they do not fully live up to their name - even the thinnest panels are not able to merge with each other so that the joint is not visible at all. But still, they do their best - the seams, although quite noticeable, do not stand out from the overall canvas, they do not get clogged with dirt or dust, and the wall seems quite uniform.

• With seams. All panels have seams, but these ones are specially highlighted so as to become a kind of decoration. To understand what it looks like, just look at the wooden paneling - there, at the junction of two elements, a special recess is made, because of which the final wall appears striped. It looks stylish in its own way, but only if there is no pattern or design.

The choice is not fundamental and depends solely on the effect you want to get. If you make panels to look like wood, then with seams. If it’s a flat wall, then without.

The final impression is much more influenced by the way the surface is finished:

• Varnishing. When the panel is ready, it is coated on top with a colorless varnish, which provides it with greater resistance to all external influences. The result is a shiny, glossy surface that slightly reflects in the light. Her colors are rich and bright. It is immediately obvious from the material that it is plastic.
• Lamination. When the panel is ready, it is covered with a special film, which not only protects it from environmental influences, but also gives it a certain color. The result is a matte surface that does not shine and looks quite discreet. This method is used when it is necessary to imitate natural material using plastic.

No finishing method is perfect. The varnish peels off over time, and with constant contact with something it rubs off, losing its glossy shine. The film also peels off over time, can also be worn out, and water can also get under it and then it will swell.

But if the panel gets worn out, it will be enough to simply re-varnish it or re-glue the film - as a result, it will look renewed.

Advice

To better imagine what the room will look like in the end, draw it or use special design programs.

Technical nuances of choice

To choose panels that will last a long time, you need to pay attention to their technical characteristics and overall quality:

• Thickness. Of course, no plastic panel will be very thick - its purpose does not require it. But still, more or less durable products start from two and a half millimeters. Anything that is thinner belongs to the low-priced segment and cracks not only from an impact - it will be enough just to lean against it poorly.
• Number of stiffeners. The rigidity of the panel is provided by special ribs on which the main surface rests. The more there are, the less likely it is that the plastic will crack due to careless movement. But the more ribs, the more expensive the product.

• Appearance. Not so much in the context of compatibility with the interior, but in the context of obvious quality problems. The color of the panel should be uniform, there should be no cracks, chips, or minor defects. No discolored spots, no raised areas or shallow depressions. All little things of this kind may indicate that the panel will very quickly lose its attractive appearance.
• Weight. The stronger the panel, the more it weighs; this is logical, since a lot of additional stiffening ribs are added. To understand which of two panels of the same size will be stronger, simply lift them up at the same time.
• Mutual compatibility. In one batch, the plastic is always the same - it was manufactured under the same conditions, packaged and stored under the same conditions. That’s why you should buy products from the same batch. The same item, but from a different batch, may turn out to be slightly different in color.

• Certificates. A serious seller is always able to provide documents for the goods - provided that they exist in nature. They indicate the manufacturer, materials, warranty period, and are stamped for compliance with GOST. If there is no quality certificate, it is better to refuse the purchase - such plastic is unreliable and may be harmful to health.

But if the seller does not provide such a service and you need to drive it yourself, use a taxi. In public transport, fragile plastic is likely to be damaged.

Aesthetic side

Long service life is not everything. If the panels are ugly, do not fit into the interior, and do not please, then their reliability will rather irritate them. There are several important factors to consider.

Room

Different rooms require different handling of plastic.

First of all - the bathroom. The most common place to use plastic panels. This is due to the fact that they are cheaper than tiles, but they withstand humidity very well. Designer delights in the bathroom do not catch on with everyone; practicality takes precedence over the desire to make it expensive and stylish, which is why plastic can be seen often.

To make it look good, you need to combine it with the color of the bathtub (if it is not white, then any color will do), with the color of accessories, such as a rug and curtains. Most often, shades of green, warm light shades like beige and peach, blue, or designs that somehow echo the theme of water procedures are used here.

Then - the toilet. Not everyone has the inspiration to choose a style for a toilet, and plastic is cheap, holds moisture and can hide pipes, for which wallpaper, for example, is useless. The colors used here are the same as in the rest of the house, or as neutral as possible.

PVC can also be used on the balcony - especially if you are going to use it as another storage room. PVC withstands moisture well and can last for about a decade, even if you don’t like to close the windows on your balcony.

General impression

Having decided in which room to place the panels, you can move on to other questions: how to arrange them and what color to paint them.

• Horizontal arrangement. Suitable for tall, narrow rooms that seem too small. Horizontal stripes on the walls will help to visually enlarge the space, make the ceiling lower and the walls seem wider.
• Vertical arrangement. Suitable for low, wide rooms that seem very flattened. Vertical stripes on the walls will help visually reduce and elongate the space in height, so that it appears larger.
• . Absolutely neutral in nature, but depending on the pattern used, it can have a different effect on the surrounding space.

It is also important to consider how the color of the panels will match the color of the floor and ceiling.

• Light walls, dark floor and ceiling. It is good to combine with a horizontal arrangement, since this combination is suitable for rooms that are too narrow and tall. The dark ceiling seems to press down the height, making the room lower, and the floor enhances this impression.
• Light walls, dark floor, light ceiling. Well suited for low narrow rooms. Makes them visually wider, increases the space and seems to stretch it upward.
• Light walls, light floor, dark ceiling. This combination looks a little strange, but can give a strange effect - it will seem that the room narrows slightly towards the ceiling.

Minimalist room style

• Dark walls, dark floor and ceiling. A very controversial decision, suitable only for pompous ornate styles and truly large rooms, since it makes them visually noticeably smaller. It is better not to do this in a small room, as it will feel like the walls are squeezing anyone who enters.
• Dark walls, light floor and ceiling. Such a room seems to stretch upward. Well suited for wide ones with low height.
• Dark walls, light ceiling, dark floor. Such a room stretches upward even more. If you decorate a narrow room like this, the person entering will feel as if he has fallen into a well.

In addition to the combination, the shade of color also matters:

• Light warm shades. They give the room coziness, but make it visually a little smaller. Well suited to classic romantic styles.
• Light cool shades. An ideal solution for loft and minimalism - which, being modern, fully accept plastic. Makes the room more spacious, gives it a echo, but also some coldness.
• Dark warm shades. Quite acceptable, cozy, and make the room a little smaller. Goes well with wooden furniture.
• Dark cool shades. They are acceptable only in some styles, and even then - serious ones, usually requiring natural materials and restraint. Plastic doesn't go well with them.