MDF

MDF, or medium-density fibreboard, is a composite material with a smooth surface, notable for its environmental safety and how easily it is worked. Pressed sheets are widely used in the manufacture of:

1. Furniture. MDF boards are used to make practical, hard-wearing furnishings. Desks, whatnots, shelves, shelving units, wardrobes, dressing tables, chests of drawers, coffee and side tables are only part of the list of items made from the composite material. Cabinet furniture made from MDF is environmentally safe, stable in shape and attractive.
2. Ceiling and wall panels. MDF sheets veneered with natural wood are used as ceiling and wall panels. The sheets are made into decorative panelling that looks striking in bedrooms, living rooms, studies and libraries. This kind of finish is rightly regarded as a worthy alternative to ordinary wallpaper or plaster.
3. Doors, window sills and partitions. Fibreboard is used to make screens and partitions that allow a space to be zoned. Doors, window sills, balusters and staircase handrails, cornices and arches made from MDF last a long time when used as intended.

MDF board: sizes and types

Woodway Expert stocks lengthwise and crosswise flexible MDF boards with kerf cuts, veneered MDF profile, and veneered composite sheets. The sheets on offer are:

• 1.03 m and 2.07 m wide;
• 2.85 m long;
• 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, 17 mm, 19 mm and 26 mm thick.

The board material is available for collection from the trade warehouse, and delivery across Ukraine is possible. Our consultants will confirm availability, the current price for trade and retail customers, payment methods and approximate delivery times for your order.

The characteristics of MDF panels

There are a number of differences between MDF and particle board. Particle board is made from fine chips, whereas MDF is made, in effect, from a homogeneous wood pulp. Beyond that, the main reasons given for buying an MDF sheet are:

1. Durability. Thorough grinding and pressing leave no gaps or air between the fibres. The material holds its shape well and does not crack. Special additives are sometimes introduced that make an MDF panel resistant to high temperatures and raised humidity. Sheets of that kind are used, for example, to make bathroom or kitchen furniture.
2. Ease of working. The sheet takes sawing well. With the right tools, items with smooth curves can be produced. The smooth surface is also straightforward to decorate.
3. Environmental safety. MDF panels are regarded as an environmentally clean material, because the wood is bonded with paraffin wax and resins with a lower formaldehyde content. We offer class E1 MDF board, which can be used in residential and public spaces.

How MDF is made

The composite board is made from finely ground sawdust. The raw material is timber scheduled for felling, along with wood-processing waste. Making MDF sheets involves several stages:

• the wood material is broken down into small pieces;
• the ground raw material is treated with steam at considerable pressure;
• the ground, steamed mass is fed onto the discs of a defibrator, where it is pulped;
• the pulped material is dried;
• adhesive resins and paraffin wax are added to the fibre mass;
• the mixture is dried with hot air and sent to a special hopper to be compacted;
• the mass is levelled on a conveyor and pressed, then heated. The partly melted blank gains density and strength. After a time the pressure is reduced and the thickness of the sheet is adjusted;
• the finished material cools, is sanded and is cut into sheets;
• the last stage is the application of a decorative finish.

Types of MDF panel

Sheets differ in a number of respects. Taking quality as the criterion, there are grade I boards, which are free of defects, and grade II sheets with possible minor imperfections (unevenness, irregular inclusions).

Another important characteristic of the material is the finish. MDF panels differ in price according to what the surface is faced with. The following options are available on the market:

Types of veneered MDF panel

Our company offers a wide choice of veneered medium-density fibreboard. Sheets are available faced with a thin slice of alder, oak, American walnut or ash.

MDF panels veneered with American walnut. This hard-wearing timber has a distinct figure that can be a feature in its own right in both classic and contemporary settings. The palette of shades runs through the browns: from light beige, honey and cream to deep chocolate and coffee tones with reddish flecks.

MDF board with ash veneer. This hardwood has straight fibres and a clearly visible wavy figure. Common colours are yellows, greys, reds and pinks.

MDF sheet veneered with oak. This textured timber with its clear annual rings is finished with stains and lacquers, which makes the figure more pronounced still. Untreated, the wood is usually light. Grey, yellow, milky and light brown shades are available.

MDF panels with alder veneer. Alder is almost uniform in colour. Annual rings are present but not contrasting. Sheets of this kind are often used in light interiors. The palette runs through milky, cream and golden-pink tones with reddish flecks.

Where MDF is used

The composite material is used to make a wide range of household items. The boards are also used in construction. Most often, though, MDF is bought for furniture manufacture. The sheets work and decorate very well, which makes it possible to produce items of very different styles and dimensions. Fibreboard is used to make:

• cabinet furniture fronts. MDF fronts differ in price according to the type of finish. A coat of moisture-resistant paint protects the surface from water, which makes it possible to build units, cupboards and tall cabinets for the bathroom. Kitchen units made from MDF, whose price depends both on the finish and on the complexity of the design, are another popular application for composite sheets. Tables, shelving units, wardrobes and shelves for flats, country houses and office spaces are also made from the boards;
• internal doors, skirting, window sills, balustrades, screens and decorative beams. MDF is bought for making doors and other elements of a scheme. Worked properly, this yielding material takes the shape required and the appearance to match;
• wall and ceiling panels. MDF cladding board is a sound choice where thermal and acoustic insulation is needed. Wall and ceiling panels are a worthy alternative to the usual finishing materials. MDF panels veneered with natural wood are widely used in country, eco and Scandinavian schemes.

Our trade warehouse stocks MDF panels, which can be bought wholesale or retail. The catalogue gives the width, length and thickness of each sheet. Any questions about delivery times, payment methods or availability can be put to the managers when you place your order.