Installing skins: rules and nuances of installation in the kitchen

Decorative glass panels are a stylish and inexpensive solution for decorating a kitchen apron. Practical and safe at the same time, they will help you create the perfect space without breaking the bank. The main condition for durability and trouble-free operation is correct installation.

A kitchen apron must meet a number of requirements and be:

• heat resistant. The panels do not deteriorate from hot splashes of fat, steam and close proximity to the cooking surface;
• perfectly smooth. The non-porous surface does not accumulate dirt, is easy to clean, and does not support the development of mold and mildew;
• environmentally friendly. When heated strongly, some types of plastic release toxic substances, which does not happen with glass;
• safe. Tempered glass is sufficiently resistant to mechanical stress, and in the event of a strong impact it crumbles and does not form sharp fragments;
• stylish. The cooking area is often located in the central part of the kitchen, attracts attention and serves as a connecting link in the chosen interior. The panels must be combined with the set and fit into the existing design.

Failure to comply with technology when installing kitchen skins with your own hands negates all the advantages of the panels and reduces their service life. The finished version may not meet the design objectives. It is better to entrust such work to professional performers.

How to install an MDF apron in the kitchen - expert advice

What is a kitchen apron? This is the part of the wall that is located between the countertop and wall cabinets. This is a prominent part that must be included in the overall interior design.

But at the same time, the apron must have a number of qualities:

• Practicality;
• Resistance to changes in temperature and humidity;
• Resistance to chemically active substances;
• High operating period.

The thing is that this element is located in the so-called working area of ​​the kitchen, that is, next to the sink, oven and countertop, where products are prepared for further heat treatment. Therefore, its main task is to protect the wall from splashes of water and oil, from food particles and from other types of pollution.

There is a useful article on this topic on our website - What to make an apron from in the kitchen: practical options.

The modern building materials market today offers a fairly large assortment of finishes that can be used to construct an apron. Among this number we should note MDF, which meets all the requirements listed above.

But it has one big advantage - it is easy to install and easy to match to the desired interior. Therefore, ordinary people who are trying to carry out some repair work on their own are wondering how to attach an MDF kitchen apron with their own hands?

Varieties

At first glance, the skins do not differ from each other. But that's not true. Mirror aprons are divided into types depending on the material of manufacture and the method of applying the pattern:

1. Thick glass. A self-adhesive film with any ornament or design, which is selected based on the style of the kitchen, is applied to the back side. A glass kitchen apron can be made without film. But in this case, a drawing is written on the back side using oil paints.
2. Tempered glass. In this case, the ornament or design is applied using photo printing. It is extremely difficult to do this at home due to the scarce material. To apply a picture, ultraviolet paints are required, the use of which allows the picture not to blur.
3. Triplex. The drawing is protected by glass on both sides and is located “inside”. An apron made using this technology is the most durable.

• Mirrored. Organic in small spaces. Mirrors visually enlarge the space.
• Matte. They are practical and mask traces of dirt.
• Illuminating. Unusual panels. Additional lighting in the kitchen adds coziness and comfort.
• Transparent.
• Painted.
• Colored.
• With photo printing.

Choose any design you like or make it to order

Advantages and disadvantages of MDF

Experts note that MDF is in great demand.

It's all about its advantages.

1. Affordable price when compared with other materials (ceramic tiles, glass, porcelain stoneware, mosaic).
2. Easy to install. Even a non-professional can handle the installation.
3. MDF can be installed on any surface, regardless of what material it was previously finished with.
4. Low specific gravity.
5. Conventional tools are used during the installation process.
6. This finishing material can be further decorated with various designs or patterns using photo printing.
7. Easily dismantled, allowing for easy replacement.
8. Under this finish, low-current networks and a ventilation air duct can be laid along the wall.

But, like any building material, MDF has its drawbacks that must be taken into account when choosing.

1. Exposure to chemically active substances and water negatively affects appearance.
2. Over time, it may sag or partially move away from the wall.
3. This is a flammable material.

Manufacturing

Glass skinals are sold ready-made and made to order. But the option to order is more relevant and in demand, since you can choose the desired color and pattern.

At home, only protective zones are created from thick glass using self-adhesive film.

Initially, measurements are taken and glass of the required size is cut out. There is no need to squeeze additional glue onto the surface. This is the most common mistake many beginners make. A film is applied to the glass and slowly glued. Using a rag, the pattern is smoothed to avoid the appearance of bubbles under the film.

Glass kitchen skins are made using photo printing. Before printing, measurements are taken from the working area. This is an important aspect, because after tempering the glass, it can no longer be cut.

Next, the design chosen by the person is printed. A photo pattern is glued onto the pre-tempered glass using glue. After this, the skins are considered complete and ready for installation. In order to complement the apron, you can attach glass crafts with your own hands to the front side. But it is worth considering that the glued elements cannot be heavy or massive. Otherwise, they will interfere with the cooking process.

Regardless of what material was used, a self-adhesive film for glass with a pattern or a printed pattern on a special printer, liquid metal nails will be required to attach the mirror surface.

Installation was easy - you just need your hands and liquid nails

Making a protective surface with your own hands requires having the skills and abilities to work with glass. This is a complex and time-consuming process that requires patience and endurance. Initially, the glass is cut and tempered, and only then ornaments and designs are applied to it.

Installing an MDF kitchen apron yourself

Many may think that this process is quite simple. This is actually true, but it is necessary to take into account some nuances that determine the quality of the installation work carried out. Therefore, first of all, you need to accurately calculate everything in order to install an MDF kitchen apron.

This mainly applies to MDF sheets, which will have to be precisely cut to the required dimensions.

• Firstly, the distance from the floor to the apron itself is calculated. Basically, this is the height of the tabletop, and its usual standard size is 85 centimeters.
• Secondly, this is the height of the apron itself, which is determined by the distance from the countertop to the hanging cabinets. This size varies between 55-65 centimeters.
• Thirdly, it is necessary to take into account the fact that a hood is installed above the stove, and the distance from the countertop to it has a standard size of 75 centimeters.
• Fourthly, it is necessary to take into account that three or four sockets will be installed on the wall above the tabletop, for which holes are cut in the sheet.

The length is determined by the length of the working area, which necessarily includes the length of the wall against which all kitchen work furniture is installed. As well as part of the adjacent walls the width of the furniture. All this is clearly shown in the bottom photo.

Apron installation diagram

Preparatory work

If a complete kitchen renovation has been carried out, this means that the wall is completely ready for installing an apron. If the issue is only a replacement, then it is necessary to prepare the wall area.

Old finishing materials, protruding nails, screws, etc. are completely removed, surface defects (cracks, chips and gouges) are repaired, the wall is partially leveled with putty and, after complete drying, treated with an antiseptic solution.

Advice! Be sure to install a mounting strip under the future apron. This can be a regular wooden lath or a metal profile for drywall. It is attached with self-tapping screws to the wall under the lower edge of the apron. A prerequisite is the horizontal position of the profile.

This mounting strip is both a support on which the MDF is installed and a reference point for installation. After installation is complete, this strip can be dismantled.

Installation of an MDF apron

Liquid nails for fastening

Installation of a kitchen apron made of MDF is most often done using liquid nails. This is a convenient option.

First, there is no need to level the walls to the maximum level, because with the help of this type of fastener you can hide small differences in the wall surface.

The second is simplicity. There is no need to drill holes for another type of fastener.

Third is ease of installation.

It is very important to apply the adhesive material correctly here. Definitely around the entire perimeter. But the inner area of ​​the panel can be treated with vertical or horizontal layers, the distance between which is determined by the size of 20-40 centimeters. It all depends on the size of the sheet used in each individual case.

Self-tapping screws for fastening

This type of fastener is used in the frame method of fastening panels. That is, wooden slats measuring 10x40 or 20x40 millimeters are pre-installed on the wall in a horizontal position, which are attached to the wall with dowels. They must be aligned in the same vertical plane.

The installation of the lower and upper slats from the edges of the panels is carried out at a distance of 10 centimeters, while the distance between the slats is 40-45 centimeters.

Attention! The slats, like the wall, must be treated with an antiseptic solution.

Now the panels can be installed, securing them to the frame with self-tapping screws. To ensure that the fastener caps do not stand out, they must be covered with special decorative plugs, which are selected by color.

Preparatory work

Glue installation requires a perfectly flat wall. Installation using a mount or profile is less demanding. But still, height differences of more than 1 cm on the wall are unacceptable.

1. The surface of the area is carefully leveled. If the apron is angular, you need to make sure that the angle between the walls is 90 degrees.
2. Covers for sockets and switches are dismantled. The rosette cups are extended to a length equal to the thickness of the skinal – 6–10 mm. It is preferable to leave this work to a specialist.
3. The width and length of the panels are quite large, especially when the apron is made as a single structure. Care must be taken to remove pieces of furniture from the “path” and, if possible, empty the kitchen. You need to be especially careful when delivering the apron.

Installation was thrown onto the kitchen apron

The wall in the kitchen at the point of contact with the hob and the worktop area is traditionally covered with a decorative kitchen apron.

Since during cooking, splashes of oil and fat fly from the stove in different directions, this decorative element should also perform the function of protecting the wall from contamination. At the same time, the kitchen apron itself must fulfill the requirements that are placed on it. It should be:

1. Heat-resistant - in the hob area it will have to withstand high temperatures.
2. Environmentally friendly - when heated, some materials emit harmful or even toxic substances.
3. Non-porous - oil and grease, as well as other types of contaminants, should accumulate on the surface of the kitchen apron, and when washed and cleaned, they should be easily washed off, leaving no traces of their presence, thereby preventing the development of bacteria and fungi.
4. Beautiful - it should fit perfectly into the furniture set and into the entire kitchen as a whole.

A wonderful decorative element meets all these requirements.

Installation

Do-it-yourself installation of illuminated surfaces is highly undesirable. Builders claim that only professionals should install kitchen skins with lighting, since installation is directly related to construction processes and electricity.

Required materials and tools:

• Screwdrivers.
• Dowels.
• Double-sided tape.
• Metal strips.

1. We unplug the sockets.
2. We fasten two metal strips parallel to each other in a horizontal position.
3. We attach foil to the surface for illumination.
4. Place the wires with LED lamps along the strips between the foil.
5. We bring out the wires through the decorative tiles and “close” them.
6. We “dress” the panel on pre-inserted dowels in the strips.

You can install a protective panel without backlighting yourself. It is enough to level the wall with drywall and glue the surface with liquid nails. For installation, glue is applied to the back of the panel. If you need to wash liquid nails, you will need to use acetone. After installation, a couple of decorative elements or additional pictures can be glued to the front side of the skin. But using glue is not recommended. It is better to use suction cups, they do not leave marks on the panel.

Carefully make the covering for the work area with your own hands

It is difficult to attach the skins alone, so if possible, it is better to take the help of one of your friends or acquaintances. When gluing one edge of the panel, the second must be glued symmetrically, otherwise you will have to tear it off and start all over again.

It is worth remembering that liquid nails do not grab so quickly, so installation of the skin can take a long time.

Glass apron for the kitchen

Sufficient detail about decorative glass protection is written in the website article “Glass thrown onto a kitchen apron.” Glass kitchen skins - this is what this type of finishing is called.

Step 1, preparing the wall

Let's start with the fact that the installation of kitchen skins begins after the furniture set, appliances and fixtures are finished. In general, when all the things necessary in everyday life take their rightful places.

The wall in the planned location for installing the glass splashback in the kitchen should be smooth, dry and without visible damage. If something does not correspond to the parameters described above, bring them to these.

Now you need to decide on the fastening method. Installation of a glass apron can be done in several ways:

1. Direct gluing.
2. Installation on frame.
3. Fastening with special screws with decorative plugs.

The first method of installing the skinal requires ideal evenness of the base - an error of 2 mm is allowed at a distance of 2000 mm. The other methods are not so demanding and will not even require dismantling the old coating if its thickness does not interfere with the installation of the kitchen skin.

Step 2, measuring the space for installing the kitchen apron

This operation is the most important in the entire installation process, since the overall appearance of the kitchen after completion of work depends on it. Therefore, I recommend approaching this event with a high degree of responsibility.

To be more precise, write down the measurement results on the sketch of the future product, this will make it easier for both you and the manufacturer to navigate the manufacturing process.

Take measurements using a tape measure. Transfer each result to paper and do not hesitate to measure one area several times. This way, you will avoid mistakes and waste of money on re-production.

Measure the locations of electrical outlets and all kinds of wall-mounted fixtures with special care. Make a mistake by a few millimeters and all is lost - the shelf, for example, will no longer take its place on the kitchen apron.[adsp-pro-25]

Having determined the dimensions of the glass frame, think about how this or that image will look on your wall.

The manufacturer can offer a lot of options, but you will also have decent still lifes and landscapes in your personal photo album. The only condition for transferring personal images to a kitchen apron is the high resolution of the images.

Step 3, installation of an apron in the kitchen

The first thing you should do, regardless of the method of attaching the apron in the kitchen, is to try on the kitchen apron delivered to you at the installation site. If the holes you ordered on the glass coincide with the corresponding technological holes in the wall, we proceed to the next stage.

For any installation method, without exception, turn off the power from the electrical outlets, remove them from the mounting cups and dismantle them, leaving only the wiring outside.

The principle (once a year and the stick shoots) has not been canceled, so I recommend insulating the exposed wires.

Now the installation for each method will be individual.

Direct gluing

This method is not suitable for all types of images printed on glass. In some cases, the glue may be visible from the outside, and this, as you understand, is not very cool.

In any case, you should consult with the manufacturer whether this or that type of glass can be attached to adhesives.

Apply the glue not to the kitchen aprons, but to individual sections of the wall in small tubercles. Bring the glass sheet to the surface of the wall, pull the electrical wiring out and, pressing lightly, press the kitchen apron to the adhesive.

It is more convenient to lift the glass using special suction cup handles. However, they must be used for any installation method.

Frame installation

This installation method will be appropriate if you plan to make lighting behind the glass surface or end lighting. A separate article on our website, “Installation of a backlit glass apron,” will be devoted to this method. I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the sequence of work in this article.

Sequence

Installing security panels is a complex process. Therefore, before installation and selection of surfaces, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic rules:

1. After tempering, glass cannot be cut. Therefore, pictures for kitchen skins are chosen for a long time. You cannot change them if you wish.
2. Mounts for illuminated skins cannot be drilled. The panel is put on with self-tapping screws, since the glass is destroyed by the drill.
3. The glass apron is installed last. Initially, the room is decorated, furniture is brought in, wall cabinets are hung, the bottom row of furniture is installed, and only then the panel is glued. This sequence is very important. With a pre-installed backsplash, the kitchen may not fit into the parameters. And the already installed set allows you to choose the correct placement of the decorative panel.
4. If you want to replace the old protective zone with a glass apron, you do not need to make preliminary repairs, change the design or remove furniture. The panel is attached to the place of the old apron.

Kitchen apron made of MDF - how to attach

The kitchen apron refers to the area of ​​the kitchen wall between the lower modules and the wall cabinets of the kitchen furniture set. Everyone decorates their aprons in their own way: someone orders ceramic tiles or mosaics of various colors, patterns and sizes from European countries; some people prefer simple painting, some opt for wallpaper, some even use glass as an apron, while others prefer to buy MDF panels and install the apron themselves. Each of the listed options has a right to exist, each is good in its own way. The debate about which apron is better - MDF, plastic, glass or ceramics - does not stop. Judge for yourself: each material has advantages and disadvantages, so everyone weighs their choice based on appearance, cost, care, installation.

Today we will talk in detail about an MDF kitchen apron. Moreover, we will not only tell you what is currently offered on the market, but also list methods for self-installation, that is, how to attach an MDF apron to the wall in the kitchen with your own hands.

Perhaps everyone will agree that repairs always require much more money than originally planned. This is due to the fact that the average person makes repairs at home once every 5-10 years, and there is simply no time to follow new products and trends in the periods between, and there is also no urgent need. And when renovations are already knocking on your door, the thought of how to save at least something is simply driving you crazy. An MDF kitchen apron is just that case!

By choosing MDF as the material for your future kitchen splashback, you can feel like a real professional, get a high-quality product that does not require complex special installation or calling installation specialists, and the average cost is much lower than other possible options. This way, you will save money, but this will not affect the appearance and quality of the result.

MDF is a medium-density fiberboard, which is produced by pressing wood fibers under high temperatures and pressure with the addition of a natural binder - lingin. You can read more about what MDF is here: https://www.mrdoors.ru/blog/mdf-chto-eto-takoe/

The coating for MDF in this case will be a laminate (less commonly PVC film) - plastic that is resistant to mechanical stress, as well as changes in temperature and humidity, which will occur regularly in the kitchen. It is easy to wash and clean, even using chemical and abrasive cleaners. In this case, your apron will remain in the form in which you purchased it. In addition, you can easily transform the interior of your kitchen by replacing one apron with another!

Be prepared for the fact that choosing a color and texture may take a lot of time, because... There are simply countless options! MDF can be matte, glossy, imitate natural wood, ceramic tiles or natural stone.

Many are even interested in a kitchen apron made of MDF with photo printing. We recommend that you be careful in this particular case and think carefully about this option, since you will be looking at the same pattern for many years, and there is hardly one that will satisfy all family members! Over time, the furniture will be supplemented with accessories, kitchen utensils, albeit minimal, but still textiles, and other cute trinkets. And here it is very important not to overdo it! It’s always better to add accents than not know where to put them, don’t you agree?

The latest trends in global furniture fashion dictate not to choose a kitchen apron of the same color and material as the kitchen countertop. Bold combinations of wood-look decors with glossy surfaces look simply enchanting.

60 cm is the distance from the surface of the kitchen countertop to the bottom edge of the row of upper cabinets, which is recommended to be maintained, but between the stove and the hood the distance should be greater - 75-80 cm. MDF sheets, which are sold in stores, have a standard size - 60 * 300 see. It turns out that the joint under the hood cannot be avoided! However, it can be decorated with melamine tape of a suitable color. If you choose a dark color of the panels or a decor that imitates natural wood with a horizontal pattern, then the junction of the MDF panels will be almost invisible!

Quality checking

Once the installation is complete, it's time to do quality control. You should carefully inspect the plane, paying special attention to the areas where the skins meet the furniture. The check should be done after the drying time of liquid nails and other materials has ended.

In the end, if the reliability of fastening the elements has been established, all that remains is to wipe the glass with a special product, which is most often sold with a sprayer.

Material advantages

Glass skins for the kitchen are one of the best materials that can be used for cladding a kitchen apron. Among its main advantages are:

• Easy to clean . The material easily withstands frequent washing. Moreover, during the cleaning process you can use mild abrasives.
• Ease of installation . Installation of glass panels is carried out quickly and without complications. Their installation does not require special skills.

Skinals are easy to clean and install without problems

• High decorative performance . Skinali is not only a variety of colors and bright shades, it is also an opportunity to choose the decor to your liking. You can independently order the design you like and add a touch of individuality to your kitchen decor.
• UV resistance . The pattern on the surface is not at all afraid of exposure to sunlight. The design does not fade in the sun even after several years of use.
• Moisture resistance . Skinals can easily withstand constant exposure to moisture, which is very important for kitchen areas.

You can order a coating with any chosen pattern