Protecting chipboard from moisture with your own hands. How to treat the end of chipboard

Garden equipment 17.06.2019
Garden equipment

The adhesive tape prevents the surface layer of the board from splitting when sawing. The hand saw must be positioned at maximum angle.

The jagged edge is a sad sight. It is especially striking on slabs painted white.

Chips and artificial resin create a strong connection when pressed, but with certain processing of the slab, the chips can split. For example, along the edge of a cut, at the point of drilling, when planing and processing with a rasp. Fibers natural wood longer and more tightly connected to each other. This is why chipboard needs to be handled more carefully.

How to saw particle boards

Almost any saw is suitable for these purposes. You just need to lead her under very acute angle to the surface of the slab, that is, placing the saw almost flat to the surface. Drive the circular saw and bow saw with a slight feed, applying only light pressure. This will also reduce the risk of a brittle cut line. It is, of course, advisable to use a saw with the finest teeth. Additional protection can also be provided by adhesive tape, which is stretched along the cut line. This is generally recommended for coated particle boards.

Another tip: saw without rushing. Excessive haste can lead to such a result that the uneven, chipped edge of one part forms an unsightly joint with another. By the way, the coating can be protected from splitting if you cut it with a sharp knife - the deeper the better.

Drilling, rasping and planing

Dull or slow-speed drills tend to chip the edges of the hole being drilled. Only by picking good drill, and by guiding the tool correctly, damage can be avoided.

With an even, clean cut, no additional processing is required. And here Circular Saw may leave uneven surfaces that need to be removed with a rasp or plane.

The rasp (or plane) is moved along the edge carefully, as when working with wood, from the outside to the inside, so that the chips do not break out, and the edge does not seem even more sloppy after cleaning.

For slabs covered with film, a plane is more suitable. Anyone who finds working with a plane too difficult can use a file.

Surface treatment

There are two ways to decorate the surface of wood products and particle boards - varnishing or cladding. Varnish is usually applied wooden surfaces, chipboards for aesthetic reasons - extremely rarely, only in the case when it is necessary to “ennoble” a not very impressive appearance slab or finished product.

Before varnishing, the surface should be puttied.

Even a factory-polished wood surface particle board needs to be puttied and sanded before applying varnish to it. Tiny, barely noticeable damage can clearly appear under the varnish film, and this will only worsen the appearance of the product.

The putty is applied evenly using a spatula, and after drying the surface is treated sandpaper. The result of this preparatory work The surface should become absolutely flat, and then one layer of varnish will be enough to form a flawless film.

If any errors are discovered after applying the varnish, the surface should be lightly sanded with sandpaper before recoating.

Glue the covering.

The choice of coatings for particle boards is very large. Those who have special requests regarding color are better off using film.

Films are available in a wide range color scheme and with a variety of decor, in addition, they are usually treated with an adhesive composition, which simplifies the work on finishing the slabs. Since the film coating is very thin, the bearing surface must first be thoroughly sanded before stretching the film.

Sheet laminated plastic, thicker and more wear-resistant. It is glued with a special glue, which is applied to the load-bearing surface of the slab and to the coating.

The laminate coating makes the particle board attractive and at the same time protects it from various influences.

Surface protection

If you have purchased or made furniture from particle boards whose composition is unknown to you, it is better to take additional measures to protect your health.

Protection with varnish.

Formaldehyde fumes can be stopped by applying a new coating to the furniture. This layer should be thick enough. Thus, a varnish coating of at least two layers prevents further evaporation of formaldehyde.

Films and laminate sheets also protect the surface. Here you need to pay attention to the joints: they should be as tight as possible.

Plywood can also become a protective material, but not just any kind. Some types of plywood are made using adhesive composition, which still contains the same formaldehyde. Therefore, it is advisable to treat the plywood and varnish it.

Matter and wallpaper.

Absolutely unsuitable materials for protection against formaldehyde emissions are fabric and wallpaper. They are porous and therefore cannot serve as reliable protection.

Carpet, as well as the adhesive used to install it, can also release formaldehyde. If the relevant services during the inspection discovered an increased concentration of fumes hazardous to health, it is necessary to find out which material is the source before blaming the chipboards for everything and starting new treatment their surfaces.

Edges

A narrow strip of plastic is applied to the edge. The iron promotes adhesion.

The cut of particle boards does not look very beautiful, and, more importantly, it exposes the loose, most vulnerable inner layer. Also, impact and strong pressure can damage the edges of the cut. Therefore, the edge must be protected.

The simplest, but in most cases sufficient reliable protection- glue a plastic tape with an adhesive coating or a veneer plate using a not very heated iron.

Wood planks.

The edges of the slab that are subject to the greatest loads require better protection. Thin planks of wood will help ensure this. The color should be in harmony with the coating of the slab. After gluing the planks separately or together with the slab, they must be coated with varnish or some other protective compound.

Even a 5 mm strip provides effective edge protection. A wider strip will also prevent the slab from bending.

Chipboard is an excellent construction material, but is not very attractive in comparison with wood, and is also particularly susceptible to the influence of factors external environment. Products made from chipboard receive certain protection during the manufacturing process. For this, all kinds of impregnations and additives are used. However, under intensive operating conditions, such factory measures are not enough, so it is recommended to further protect the material. About how to protect chipboard and also process it finishing materials, we'll talk below.

Surface treatment of plates

The front and inner parts of the slab have the most large areas, so if they are not protected, they are subject to greatest number moisture. At the same time as protection, you can decorate the material. Below are several such techniques.

Lamination

The lamination process involves finishing chipboard with paper-resin films. The lining is carried out at high temperature (150-200 degrees) and high pressure (25-30 MPa). The protective and decorative layer occurs due to the spreading of hot resin over the surface. The resin then polymerizes, forming a hard, uniform coating.

If the technological process is followed, reliable adhesion occurs between the chipboard and the resin. During lamination, a certain surface texture is created - usually gloss or. Laminated surfaces are resistant to mechanical stress, moisture, ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures.

Laminating

During lamination, the chipboard is covered with an adhesive layer, on which hard paper-resin unvarnished films are then placed. The difference between lamination and lamination is that when laminating decorative coating glued to the plate in finished form. For example, wood grain embossing is done in advance. Such films are called “finishing films”.

As in the case of lamination, when processing material using the lamination method, it is also used high blood pressure and high temperature. However, the parameters in in this case more gentle: temperature - from 20 to 150 degrees, pressure - from 5 to 7 MPa.

The disadvantage of laminating is that the coating is unstable to mechanical stress and moisture. This surface is easily scratched and swollen. Lamination is used mainly in the manufacture of inexpensive furniture, as well as for the production of parts that are not subject to aggressive influences. environment(for example, the back walls of a cabinet).

Paint coating

A non-laminated chipboard sheet can be coated in several layers paint and varnish material. The sequence of work is presented below:

  • remove dust and dirt from the sheet;
  • coat the chipboard sheet with heated drying oil;
  • coat the sheet again, but this time with cold drying oil (a thin crust should appear);
  • apply the first layer of paint;
  • After the first layer has dried, apply the second.

Finishing with paper-laminated polymers

Laminated plastic is a polymer in which there are niches for filler. Fabric, paper, veneer and other materials are used as filler. The basis for the manufacture of paper-laminated filler is paper. It acts as a reinforcing layer, and also gives the layered polymer ductility, strength and visual appeal.

Finishing begins with cutting chipboard sheets of the required size. By using compressed air and brushes remove dirt and dust from the sheets. If contaminants are not removed before painting, high-quality adhesion will not work.

Pasting facing material is carried out by direct pressing of a paper-laminated polymer, onto which glue and chipboard are previously applied. Pressing can be done hot (using adhesives based on urea or PVA) or cold (using contact adhesives PVA dispersion). In practice, cold pressing is not used very often, since the process requires large areas and the productivity is relatively low.

The finishing is completed by postforming. The task is to give the plastic bends and other irregular shapes. The process is carried out on special equipment at elevated temperatures.

Pasting with polymer films

The process of applying polymer films is similar to decorative cladding plastics. The difference lies in the materials used. In this case we are talking about a thermoplastic film applied by pressing to chipboard treated with an adhesive composition.

Polyvinyl chloride films are used for finishing chipboard. Polystyrene and acrylic films are occasionally used.

Finishing with polymer films is carried out on the same technological equipment, on which finishing materials such as veneer or paper-laminated polymers are applied. The cladding process can be either hot or cold.

The advantage of cladding using the polymer method is the ability to process profile parts. However, the use of polymer films has limited potential, since the coating does not have high physical and mechanical properties and is also unstable to temperature influences.

Vacuum pressing

Vacuum (or, as it is otherwise called, membrane) pressing is a technological process during which furniture is covered with decorative film. The main advantage of the method is the ability to coat parts of complex shapes.

For example, using membrane pressing you can veneer furniture self made with all kinds of recesses, cutouts, miniature parts, etc. The part is placed in vacuum press, where a heated polyvinyl chloride film fits tightly around it, repeating the surface relief.

Veneering

The correct name for the process is veneering. However, the term “veneering” is often used in everyday life. Natural veneer can be finished with either chipboard or furniture board. Veneered furniture is of higher quality than laminated furniture. However, maintaining the safety of veneered furniture is quite difficult, since veneer is not as durable as laminate.

Table top made of chipboard or MDF

For finishing chipboard sheet or MDF you will need plastic (laminated paper, polycarbonate, polystyrene).

Work progress:

  1. We cut out the necessary parts from the chipboard and connect them with a stapler.
  2. The joints between the chipboard base parts must be identical. If this is not the case, smooth them out with sandpaper.
  3. We make facings for the ends.
  4. We cut the facing part using a grinder.
  5. We glue the finishing material and secure it with light blows of a rubber hammer.
  6. We install the end trim level with the bottom edge of the tabletop.
  7. At the same time, coat the base and apron with glue.
  8. When installing laminate flooring, we use separators. After installing the sheet, remove the dividers.
  9. Smooth the surface with a roller.
  10. Using a router, cut a hole under the sink.
  11. When the structure is assembled, we sand all the edges.

Protection of joints and edges

Any liquid always seeks and finds the lowest place on the surface. The joints are recesses and are therefore vulnerable to water penetration. There are a considerable number of joints in cabinet furniture, where the main structural material is chipboard.

Because of high humidity and frequent contact with liquids is especially vulnerable kitchen furniture. The sink, countertop, and furniture next to the stove are the most frequently moistened pieces of furniture in the house. An example is the part of the countertop that is in contact with the mixer. Sooner or later, the faucet leaks, which means that unprotected chipboard will inevitably begin to get wet and collapse.

To protect the joints, we first clean these places and dry them with a hairdryer. Then we apply PVA glue to the joints, and when it dries, we treat the protected surface with silicone or, alternatively, construction sealant.

If there is no tray in the cupboard, then sooner or later the liquid draining from the wet dishes will destroy the chipboard. Therefore, the material must be degreased and then treated with a sealant.

We seal the seams with sanitary silicone in the color of the furniture. This will prevent mold from growing on the furniture.

In those places on the edges of the tabletop where there is no lamination, we install end or connecting strips. These elements can be made of metal or plastic. The strips are not ideal protection, so the edges still need to be pre-treated with sealant. Another common method chipboard protection– applying PVA glue or furniture varnish to the edges.

Protection of joints on the floor

The main difficulty in protecting joints on the floor is that such slabs are subject to increased mechanical loads and constantly shift slightly under load. Because of this, the putty does not adhere well to the chipboard.

To ensure protection of joints on the floor, the seams are treated epoxy resin, mixed with sawdust. Moreover, the sawdust must be very fine - it must be sifted in advance.

Note! The epoxy-sawdust composition sets extremely quickly. Based on this, you should not mix too much putty at once.

A mixture of epoxy and sawdust will reliably protect the joints, but the cost of such a solution is quite high. You can replace epoxy resin with wood glue. You need to add sawdust to the hot glue, and then treat the seams with the resulting composition. If done correctly, the effect will be even better than when treated with epoxy resin, since the glue penetrates deeper.

After processing the seams, the chipboard joints will become more resistant to moisture and, just as important, they will stop “playing” with each other. If you decorate the chipboard with linoleum, you no longer have to worry about the safety of the slabs.

After processing the seams, it will take several days for the putty to dry. At this time, you cannot walk on the slabs so as not to disturb the joints.

Coating chipboard with protective and finishing materials in many cases requires certain experience and qualifications, and sometimes even the presence special equipment. If you are not sure about own strength, it is better to entrust the work to specialists.

Today, the use of recycling waste to make secondary materials is very popular. Such products include chipboard, which today is used as a basis for the construction of various types of products.

This substance has good technical characteristics, which made it possible to replace even wood to some extent. Chipboard is processed with special tools that make it possible to obtain parts of certain sizes and shapes. You can find out more about where you can also purchase these mechanisms.

We use solutions

Chipboard is trimmed very often, since in production it is made in sheets of a certain length. Many types of them are subsequently made from them. different products, ranging from ordinary partitions to complex furniture. This material is often coated (laminated) special paint.

The end can be treated with several substances:

    1. Waterproof glue. This is done primarily to protect it from moisture.
    2. Special sealants. These substances have the same purpose as the previous type.
    3. Paint. If you need to give beautiful view product, then the end can be coated with any paint, matching it to the color of the item.

We use a special tape

All factory products made from chipboard always have an attractive appearance, but even they have ends. To hide them, use a special edge tape. It is attached to the edge with a special tool.

Such products can also be installed at home. This material sticks to the end of the chipboard when heated. This property is used in technological processes.

This can be done at home using an iron, which is used to heat this product and attach it to the edge of the workpiece.

To give the product an aesthetic shape, the end can be sanded with a special tool and coated with special paint and varnish. In such cases, you can use different types putties that are designed to work with this type of material.

Edge processing is a very important process, since in most cases not only the appearance, but also the service life of the entire product depends on it. To obtain high-quality chipboard products, you should use only special tools that will greatly facilitate the work and allow you to create modern, beautiful products.

Video instructions for gluing an edge to the end of a chipboard to help you:


For more than half a century, laying chipboard on the floor has been relevant for finishing flooring. Continuous improvement of technology and technological processes improves the structure and improves the quality of chipboard.

The stove has become durable, moisture-resistant, and environmentally friendly. And if we take into account that the panel is based on wood processing waste, then in terms of price-quality the slab is out of competition with other finishing materials. As a subfloor, a chipboard base will last for decades, extending the life of the floor covering.

Characteristics and use of chipboard

The board is made from waste from sawmilling, carpentry and furniture wood processing; shavings, sawdust, wood chips. The product uses wood-based material from coniferous and hardwood species, and a polymer thermosetting resin based on phenol-formaldehyde is used to bind wood particles.

The quality of the panel depends on the dosage of resin when applied to wood particles; a lack or excess of binder leads to defective products. During the manufacturing process, the boards are sanded, laminated, laminated and veneered.


These panels can be used to decorate not only floors, but also walls and ceilings.

Based on their use, chipboard products are divided into general-purpose and special-purpose boards (made to order).

Construction panels are used to decorate walls and ceilings indoors, and chipboard is laid on the floor as a finishing coating or rough base.

According to the properties that determine the use of chipboard products, the panels belong to the grades P - A and P - B, distinguishable by physical and mechanical indicators.

Properties of chipboard

In terms of their physical and mechanical properties, chipboards belonging to groups P - A and P - B, depending on the components used and additives to the binder resins, differ in density, strength and water resistance to swelling.

Products of grade P - A are used for finishing in residential premises, where the release of phenol and formaldehyde from the slabs, which are harmful to human health, does not exceed the norm.

High Prominence Panels harmful substances used on objects such as auxiliary materials or temporary structures.

Characteristics of chipboard

Based on their properties, chipboard is chosen for finishing various objects. When choosing, it is important to find out everything about the panel manufacturer and look at product certificates, which reflect laboratory tests of samples. The table shows indicators of physical and mechanical properties continuously produced products.

When choosing chipboard for use in a house or apartment, we check the product for the presence of phenol and formaldehyde in the resins to prevent the use of panels with harmful emissions.

Subfloor made of chipboard on joists


In damp rooms, particle boards quickly become unusable

The use of particle board as a base for flooring is economically and technically justified. But when using panels, we take into account the operating conditions of the products. In a room where the humidity is above 60% and the temperature is below 10°C, the slabs swell and collapse.

This also applies to laying panels on the concrete floor of the first floors multi-storey buildings. And the subfloor is made of chipboard on joists, correct solution for long-term operation of the slabs. A slab base raised above the concrete creates a flat surface on which the coating will last no less than the standard period.

Work order


Chipboard laying scheme

Before laying the logs, we prepare the concrete floor and level the surface with a concrete screed. We lay the beams on concrete and connect them with jumpers into a rigid frame.

Insulation is laid between the joists and lintels, which together with the chipboard flooring creates thermal and sound insulation of the base. It’s easy to assemble a chipboard subfloor with your own hands, taking into account the step-by-step instructions:


A strong and rigid frame made of beams and lintels, presses tightly against the walls of the room and is not attached to concrete base anchors.

Using a frame made of beams for the base of the floor covering allows you to separate the chipboard flooring from concrete floor and insulate the floor, keeping the room warm.

Chipboard floor on a wooden base


Leveling a chipboard floor is not difficult

Any floor covering is laid on a wooden floor, but will last regulatory period floors laid on a reliable and level base will be able to. This base is made from old restored floor slats or particle board.

Leveling a chipboard floor is not a difficult task and can be done on your own. Let's get started by repairing the old one wooden base. We check joists and floor slats for rot, wormholes, mechanical damage and replace defective ones. We cover the logs with an antiseptic solution, we glue the floor boards together so that there are no gaps left.

We cut through the wooden covering with an electric planer and remove old paint and level the surface. After checking the horizontal surface laser level, prime the base.

Logs for the base frame and floor boards for flooring are used with a humidity of no higher than 12%. Before installation, the materials are treated with an antiseptic.

Laying chipboard on the floor, prepared old floor covering from floor slats, is carried out according to a diagram that reflects the estimated number of slabs. The layout of the panels on the floor of the room is made in checkerboard pattern and provides a compensation gap of 1.5 cm for the chipboard flooring from the walls of the room.

Before assembling the floor covering, we lay a jute backing under the chipboard to level out the errors of the wooden base and maintain air exchange between the panel flooring and the wooden floor. We begin installing chipboard on the floor by treating the boards with drying oil and drilling holes on the panels for mounting screws, and covering the edges of the boards with silicone sealant.


The slabs are laid from the far corner

We lay the slabs from the corner of the wall opposite the entrance to the room, compressing the rows of laid out panels with wedges. The slabs of the first row are attached to the wooden floor with a gap from the wall of 1.5 cm.

To ensure that the joints of the slabs do not coincide in the rows, we lay the 2nd row with a shift of half the slab. We cut one slab in half and apply sealant to the ends. We lay half the slabs at the beginning and end of the row. We compress the row with mounting wedges and screw the panels with self-tapping screws to the wooden base.

We lay the rest of the chipboard in a checkerboard pattern. If the design provides for it, cut off the last row of slabs to fit tightly against the wall. After laying the flooring, we close the expansion gap with a plinth and screw it to the walls of the room. How to level the floor with slabs of this material, watch in this video:

If the chipboard coating was intended as a front covering, then we coat the slabs with two layers of wear-resistant varnish and after the varnish has dried, the coating is ready for use. And if it was intended to use the slab flooring as a subfloor, then we lay laminate or linoleum on it.

For long-term operation of the floor covering, the base made of concrete, frame made of beams or floor boards is carried out without deviating from the step-by-step instructions.

This material is devoted to waterproofing the ends of laminated chipboards. To a greater extent, it is relevant for protecting the countertop from water, but when assembling furniture for the bathroom or kitchen, it would also be useful to treat the ends of the parts that make up the box.

As can be seen from the structure of the laminated chipboard, the part most exposed to moisture is the saw cut unprotected by the laminate. When water gets on it, sawdust swells and the part becomes deformed. I will say right away that moisture-resistant laminated chipboard (green polymer sawdust is visible on the cut) is not a panacea - for an experiment, throw a piece of such chipboard into a bucket of water... So for it, waterproofing issues are just as relevant, although to a lesser extent.

So, let's look at various protective techniques - their advantages and disadvantages.

1. Edge banding(often kitchen countertops the edges are sealed with simple PVC or melamine). To be honest, this technique does not greatly protect the chipboard from swelling - water penetrates into the joint between the edge and the laminate and does its dirty work. Not suitable as a waterproofing agent(see photo 1).

2. - due to the fact that the edging has overhangs that extend slightly onto the surface of the laminate, the joints, which were so defenseless in the previous version, become more closed, therefore provides better waterproofing. But isolated, that is, without the use of sealing compounds, its effectiveness is clearly insufficient.

3. Silicone sealant - can be used both in isolation and in

in combination with other techniques (processing the ends under edging or decorative end strips).

In addition, you can coat the ends of the laminated chipboard in the boxes with sealant in the places of the ties (those that are not covered with an edge); after tightening the joint, it is necessary to remove the squeezed out excess sealant with a rag - after the silicone dries, the box will be more airtight. Silicone should be used sanitary, that is, with protection against fungus. A “sausage” of sealant is squeezed out of the tube onto the end, and then smeared with a spatula or finger.

I would also like to note that the edge does not stick to silicone, and if it does, it doesn’t stick for long!

4. Treatment with Aquastop - An excellent alternative to sealant. Apply with a brush twice. After complete drying, it forms a layer on which you can even glue the edge (according to furniture makers - I haven’t tried it myself).

5. Paraffin treatment - this is old-fashioned, but nevertheless, extremely effective method waterproofing. The method looks like this: we put the part on the end, masking tape is glued to both sides of the laminate (so that the end looks like it has sides), then we take a candle and use a hairdryer to melt the paraffin, pouring it into the resulting groove so that it spreads in an even layer over the surface of the end ). And we continue to warm it up. In this case, paraffin will be absorbed into the chipboard like water. Processing is carried out at least twice. After this, we pour paraffin on the end, but do not fry it, so that it hardens, forming protective layer. Excess is removed with a knife. A cross-section of the laminate shows that paraffin penetrates into the material to a depth of at least 3-4 mm, which provides excellent, but again not 100% waterproofing.

The main disadvantages of this technique are the labor intensity and, again, the impossibility of gluing the edges.

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