Ldsp: what is it? features, advantages, manufacturers overview

What's better?

The cost of finished furniture products depends on what material is used for their production. Therefore, in budget class furniture, inexpensive chipboard panels are used, which can be covered only on one side with a moisture protection film. In addition, for the production of furniture, it is also important whether the material from which it is made emits formaldehyde. For example, a higher quality laminated chipboard material will be used for a bed, since its protective layer does not allow a vapor of a harmful component to come out.

The cost of budget furniture made of chipboard is also influenced by the type of material. There are several types of chipboard.

• I grade - sawdust of fine standard fraction without foreign inclusions is used as raw material for the manufacture of the panel. The finished chipboard turns out to be perfectly flat, smooth, it has no chips or cracks. The first grade of chipboard is subject to mandatory additional decoration with foil or veneer, and this is done on both sides of the chipboard.
• Grade II - made from high-quality sawdust raw materials of different fractions, let's say a minimum percentage of impurities. The finished board may have minor damage in the form of chips or scratches. For grade II chipboard, decorative cladding may not be used.
• III grade - made from sawdust of various wood species, may include a small percentage of foreign inclusions. The material is not exposed to decorative cladding, since this grade is not used in furniture production. Particleboard III grade can only be used for construction purposes.

By the type of protective coating, chipboards are divided into such main types as:

• without cladding - this material is called rough; it applies only when performing construction work;
• laminated - chipboard has a durable varnish coating or melamine film treatment;
• veneered - chipboard has an external finish with natural wood veneer.

Unlike chipboard, chipboard materials have a wider variety. Lamination of the board can be done in various colors, as well as create an imitation of any texture. Furniture products made of laminated chipboard can harmoniously integrate into almost any interior composition. They look solid and elegant, while having a small, quite affordable cost. In some types of laminated chipboard material, a fire-resistant film containing carbon or HLP class material, which is resistant to fire, can be used as a laminating layer.

Chipboards of the laminated type, despite the mass of their advantages, are prone to the formation of chips and cracks. Most often this occurs from heavy objects falling onto the surface of the plate or under the influence of a mechanical factor. It is no longer possible to eliminate such a defect in furniture later. Due to this property of the material, it is not subjected to various treatments by milling, therefore, it is impossible to obtain a relief surface, smooth bevels or rounding of a chipboard panel.

When a chip or crack appears, the surface of the chipboard loses its safety, since formaldehyde begins to release outward, therefore, the quality of the laminating layer and its stability play a very important role for this type of chipboard.

For the manufacture of countertops or kitchen sets, chipboard material is not used, since only the laminated surface of chipboard is able to withstand frequent and prolonged contact with water without prejudice to its appearance. Although prolonged wetting is undesirable even for laminated boards, such an effect from the edges of the material is especially dangerous.

To make low-cost, but high-quality and beautiful furniture, modern manufacturers use both woodworking products - chipboard and laminated chipboard, moreover, ordinary chipboard is used to create the supporting frame of furniture, while the front part is performed using laminated board. Furniture products made from a combination of materials, can be used both for home use and in office premises.

See the next video for the differences in materials.

MDF finishing panels

Finely dispersed pressed boards are used as the basis for the production of decorative finishing panels. The front surface is pasted over with paper. This is the cheapest option. Slightly more expensive ones are laminated with PVC film. There are also panels covered with veneer. This is the more expensive material. There are also options with plastic, but this is very rare.

MDF panel with three-dimensional image - 3D

Decorative MDF panels are most often sheathed on walls, sometimes - on a ceiling. This method of finishing saves time: the surface is leveled and immediately take the final look, since no additional finishing is required.

Types of decorative MDF panels

It's not about colors and shades, but about the shape of the inlet and the type of decorative surface. In shape, the finishing panels made of pressed wood fibers are:

Rack type. The length is many times the width. Length 2.0 m - 3.0 m, width 150 mm to 250 mm

When choosing, pay attention to the thickness of the panel (from 3 mm to 9 mm) and the depth of the lock. Ideally, the lock (protrusion) should be at least 5 mm

In this case, joining the planks will be easy and hassle-free. They are mounted on a frame, fastened in a tongue or groove with self-tapping screws.

Tiled type. Rectangular or square slabs. The maximum dimensions are meter by meter, but rectangles with different aspect ratios are more common. They are mounted on the frame or directly to the walls using a special system of secret fasteners, the fragments of which "cling" to the projections of the slabs.

Sheet panels. They are rarely used for decoration of premises, more often for cutting in the manufacture of furniture. But, if necessary or desired, they can also be used as a decoration, more often installing clamps.

When choosing MDF panels, pay attention to the type of finish. The cheapest material is covered with paper, on top of which a thin layer of protective coating is applied

It is clear that such a surface is quickly scratched, it can only be wiped with an exceptionally soft, slightly damp cloth. You cannot even use a rough sponge, otherwise light spots will form. Such MDF panels are good for ceiling finishing - there is no mechanical load at all. If you install them on walls, it is better to immediately cover with two layers of varnish.

You choose the type of surface yourself - gloss, semi-gloss, matt, semi-matt ... It is important that the film is strong

These are some more types of 3D MDF wall panels

Installation methods

MDF panels are mounted either on the frame, or directly on the wall, using glue. The technology is described in the previous paragraph and differs only in that for installation, clamps are used - special fastening plates for secret mounting. The first panel on the wall is installed in the corner. Here it is fastened through and through with self-tapping screws. All others are fixed with clamps. After the installation is completed, the corners are closed with a special corner profile. It is mounted on glue - applied in a thin layer and pressed at the installation site.

There is also a system of profiles - starting, finishing, connecting and corner (outer and inner corner). But this fastening system is more expensive, it is used with MDF veneered panels, square or rectangular format.

There is one more subtlety of mounting decorative MDF panels for ceiling... If you use thin sheets / strips - 3-4 mm thick - you need to put suspensions often, otherwise the material will bend under its own weight. When using slabs 6-8 mm thick, suspensions can be installed less frequently. They are stiffer and do not bend. But the weight of the trim will be greater, so you will have to use more powerful guides and the hangers themselves.

Where is chipboard used

As already mentioned, laminated chipboard is mainly used for the manufacture of furniture. This is due to the fact that this material is durable, cheap compared to wood, and has a wide palette of colors and textures. For each type of furniture, chipboard of a certain thickness and class is required.

Making a kitchen from chipboard

Laminated chipboard kitchen sets are the most popular and affordable option. This is largely due to the rich selection of colors and textures, well thought-out design and durability, subject to proper care.

A kitchen made entirely of chipboard looks pretty good

The main advantage of laminated chipboard kitchens is their low cost. Despite its budget, this material has several features, namely:

• despite the fact that the plate itself is not very resistant to moisture, the protective film ensures the safety of the material;
• the strength is average, but it is sufficient for the main loads that furniture is subjected to at home.

Chipboard kitchen with postforming facades

Chipboard kitchens look great while new, but with improper care they quickly lose their appearance and become unusable. In order for any kitchen from laminated chipboard reviews, about which in most cases are positive, to last a long time, you should adhere to a few simple rules for care:

• when cleaning surfaces, you can not use wire sponges, detergents containing abrasives and you need to try to make the laminate less contact with water, and if this happens, then you need to immediately wipe it dry;
• do not allow moisture to penetrate into the joints of tabletops and on the edge of cases and facades. Ideally, the ends of the chipboard should be pasted over with a PVC edge, and the joints should be treated with sealant and covered with special overlays;
• protect surfaces from mechanical stress and high temperatures.

The main thing is to properly care for the furniture and it will retain its original appearance for many years.

If you adhere to these rules, then the furniture will last for many years and retain its original appearance. On the picture kitchens from laminated chipboard do not look like budget models at all.

Attractive and affordable: laminated chipboard furniture

Not only kitchens are made of laminated chipboard. Since the material is very easy to process, you can make furniture from it yourself at home. For example, you can easily make a bed from chipboard with your own hands. To do this, you just need a drill with a drill and nozzles, hex keys, screwdrivers and, of course, material. Drawings can be easily found on the Internet or made by yourself (if you have experience), and the material, cutting and cutting to the required size, can be ordered from specialized stores or firms. By the way, in addition to the bed, you can make a bedside table from chipboard, especially since 1-1.5 large sheets of material are enough for this, and from the remains to build shelves for books or flowers.

Chest of drawers made of laminated chipboard

In principle, for any piece of furniture, be it a medium-sized wardrobe, a standard laminated chipboard chest of drawers for 4 drawers, a desk and much more, just one sheet of "laminate" is enough.As already mentioned, drawings with dimensions can be easily found on the Internet or you can calculate everything yourself, especially since, knowing the dimensions of the sheet and its thickness, it will not be difficult. In general, do-it-yourself laminated chipboard furniture is not only an interesting and economically profitable activity, but also brings pleasure from the fact that you can make a unique and original thing that no one has.

The sliding wardrobe made of laminated chipboard looks great

Plumbing partitions from laminated chipboard for bathrooms

Relatively recently, plumbing partitions in home and public bathrooms were created from bricks, foam blocks or drywall. Such designs were time consuming and costly. At the moment, lightweight partitions that can be quickly installed have become an alternative to such partitions.

Modern plumbing partitions made of laminated board are not like old brick structures

Modern plumbing partitions consist of a lightweight frame, sheet material filler and special fittings. The frame is usually made of anodized aluminum. Chipboard, tempered glass or plastic panels are used as a filler. Fittings are furniture handles, locks and hooks.

Laminated chipboard is mainly used for partitions, since it is a durable material with a rich color palette and low cost.

Manufacturers overview:

In the world, a large number of companies are engaged in the production of chipboard. Both foreign and domestic producers are successful in Russia. Consider the most popular laminated board manufacturers today.

Egger

The Austrian company Egger is one of the leaders in the production of laminated chipboard. It was founded in 1961 and was originally a family business, however, it is now a company with a large number of manufacturing facilities in seven factories in Europe. One of them operates in Russia.

High-quality products are produced here, which collect only positive consumer reviews. It meets all European quality standards. This is confirmed by the annually growing demand for products. A huge number of color options are constantly appearing.

Kronospan

Kronospan is a company founded in the 19th century in Austria. Carries out activities in 24 countries of the world.

The products of this plant are distinguished by increased moisture resistance, quality, and antistatic characteristics. The manufactured products meet all environmental requirements and are distinguished by a great variety.

Lamartie

Despite the foreign name, Lamarty was founded and operates in Russia. It successfully competes with foreign counterparts. Pine and birch shavings are used for production without extraneous additives. The company has environmental certificates of product conformity, which means it produces laminated chipboard that is safe for health.

Since 2012, a laminated chipboard of class E 0.5 has appeared in the range of products of the plant, which meets all quality standards of the European Union.

Nevsky Laminate

The Russian company "Nevsky Laminat" offers its customers high-class products at affordable prices. The laminated boards produced in this plant are characterized by high strength and increased resistance to moisture. The company produces a wide range of laminated chipboard. Its products can be used as a base for frame furniture, countertops and more.

The video briefly tells about the main thing. Useful information about laminated chipboard and MDF.

Chipboard edging

All furniture parts must be processed in accordance with technical and sanitary standards. For chipboard, there is a rule according to which it is mandatory to use an edge for processing the ends of a part. The edge can be made of ABS, melamine, but most often you can find PVC. Its thickness can vary from 0.4 to 2 mm.Occasionally you can find veneer.

Why this particular material? The use of PVC edgebands is subject to compliance with all sanitary and hygienic standards. It is also resistant to mechanical stress, wear resistance is much higher than that of analogues. The advantages of this material include the low price, especially if the country of origin is China.

Is it obligatory to cut laminated chipboard? Of course, otherwise you can encounter glue fumes from the inside of the stove, which can harm the body. PVC edging blocks this process, thereby preserving the health of those around.

The best areas of application for OSB and chipboard

The areas of application of these materials are determined by their properties.

Chipboard

The greatest field of application of particle boards is in the manufacture of furniture. They are laminated or veneered and furniture parts are made after facing. In construction, chipboard is used as a structural material for creating volumetric interior elements, for hiding communications, for creating any structures for which it is natural to use panel materials. Frame structures are sheathed with these sheets, used as a material for the subfloor.

Chipboard flooring.

OSB

The area of ​​application of OSB is shifted towards high humidity and high loads. It is well suited for making stairs and any type of stressed structure, such as ceiling beams or floor joists.

OSB I-beams.

The main difference is moisture resistance. Thanks to it, OSB is used for cladding frame houses, as a solid base for soft roofing materials, for temporary or permanent closure of openings, for the manufacture of formwork.

Base patch for soft roofs.

Wall cladding of frame houses.

What is MDF and the method of its manufacture

MDF appeared on our market in the last years of the last century, and it was invented in the USA at the end of the 60s of the 20th century. You can understand what MDF is if you translate its English name - MDF - Medium Density Fibreboard. In Russian it translates as "medium density fiberboard". That is, the Russian-language name was formed with the help of transliteration - instead of Latin letters, they put similar Russians. A common phenomenon for our language.

MDF - Medium Density Fiberboard

Manufacturing process

MDF is made from wood, ground to the state of very fine chips, practically - to the state of fibers. Mostly wood waste is used, so the release of this material does not harm forests.

Milled wood is cleaned of sand and other foreign inclusions, washed, dried. The prepared mass is heated, a tape of the required width is formed from it, and then pressed. Under pressure, a natural binder, lignin, is released from the heated wood fibers. It is he who is the binder in this material. The final shape of the products is passed in a finishing press, which squeezes out the remaining air from the mass, forming a homogeneous MDF structure.

Before the press, a plate is formed from the mass

After pressing, the cooled material is fed to grinding, where flaws on the surface are removed from the MDF, the material is brought to the required thickness.

Not all wood species provide a sufficient amount of binder. Then add a similar, previously isolated, lignin or other natural binder. MDF is considered the safest of all wood-based panel materials, since the binder is natural, and the formaldehyde emission is comparable to that of wood (emission class F1, that is, it is allowed to use it for the manufacture of furniture for children's and medical institutions).

Fiberboard can be produced with special properties. Basically, moisture resistance additives increase moisture resistance and reduce flammability.

Appearance and release forms

In its "pure" form, the material has a grayish-brown color, on the saw cut is a homogeneous dense mass.The exact shade depends on the type of wood crushed and the amount of bark. In this form, the material is used as a sheet building material - for the construction of light partitions, leveling walls.

The MDF surface can be "refined". It can be painted, laminated with PVC film, pasted over with veneer or plastic. This gives a fairly large number of design options that are used in the furniture industry, in the production of finishing materials.

Not only can it be molded from the mass

The production technology makes it possible to form products of various shapes, thicknesses, and sizes. During finishing pressing, a certain relief can be formed, which is used in the production of furniture and doors. Also, finishing materials are made from MDF - plates, panels. They make plinths, platbands, and other moldings from it. All these materials can be used for interior decoration.

The structure of MDF is fine-grained, dust is formed during milling, which makes it possible to make carved products. This is used in the manufacture of carved decorative elements - panels, screens for heating radiators, decorative grilles, curly furniture facades.

MDF or chipboard - which is better?

Having appeared on the market, MDF created competition for fiberboard. This was facilitated by its properties:

• with an equal thickness of MDF, it is twice as strong as chipboard;
• the mass is very plastic and allows you to form reliefs of any complexity;

• easier to handle;

• a uniform smooth surface makes it possible, even when painting and laminating PVC, to obtain a good appearance, suitable for the furniture industry;
• has a lower formaldehyde emission factor;
• does not change shape when temperature changes.

All this led to the growing popularity of the material. Even though MDF is more expensive than chipboard. To some extent, MDF even competed with wood. For example, skirting boards, MDF platbands, finishing panels are increasingly being used. This is due, firstly, to a lower cost, and secondly, to greater practicality. Wood requires regular maintenance - painting, varnishing. MDF does not require special care. It is simply wiped off with a damp cloth, using liquid detergent if necessary.

Dimensions and thickness of sheets

There is no single standard that manufacturers would adhere to when determining the size of a laminated chipboard sheet. Both width and length vary considerably, as well as thickness. If the thickness has some specific options, then there is a huge variety of sizes with length and width.

The width and length of each manufacturer vary greatly.

Typically, manufacturers produce sheets with a thickness of 8 to 38 mm.

Thickness of sheets depending on use:

Applications

The high density and strength of HDF boards contribute to their use for flooring. Often, subfloors are made from this material. Since the sheets are able to withstand all kinds of mechanical stress and laser cutting, they are used as a basis for laminate or natural veneer. HDF material has found its way into the furniture making process.The affordable cost of the slabs allows them to be used for the production of those elements of furniture structures that are hidden under the facade. For example, they are used to make doors, back walls of furniture structures, and the basis for drawers. Also, HDF is often used to make picture frames, trade stands and various decorative elements.

Since HDF sheets have a minimal deviation from the thickness indicator, they are considered an ideal basis for leveling a wall or floor. In non-residential premises, they form a suspended ceiling, with which you can hide the elements of ventilation and communications. In the field of automotive and railroad car construction, HDF is a material used to decorate the inner surfaces of a bus or tram. It is difficult for industrial production to do without it in the production of containers and packaging.

Wall panels are produced from HDF boards, which create imitation of stone and tiles. In this case, the material is an excellent option for decorating walls and a kitchen apron. Do not forget that HDF partitions will be a great alternative to drywall, and even surpass them in many ways. Such a structure will not vibrate and will retain its strength for a long time.

Often, in office premises and corridors, wall cladding is carried out using HDF sheets. With their help, a vertical fence is installed to the full height and a curb is formed. HDF leaf is an excellent basis for an interior door, as it will have a small mass in comparison with a solid wood door. You can make such doors at home, while not requiring significant material and physical costs, as well as special skills.