The most durable and high-quality door is metal. Its inner side is part of the interior of a house or apartment, and therefore must fit into the overall style; For these purposes, interior finishing of the metal entrance door may be required. High-quality interior finishing performs the following essential functions:
- thermal insulation;
- sound insulation;
- tightness;
- aesthetics.
The door can be decorated with massive handles, high-quality locks, peepholes and other fittings. They also use special hanging decorative elements that allow you to stylize the finish in antique, high-tech, Italian or Mediterranean style.
Basic rules for door cladding
First you need to figure out what types of metal doors there are. The best ones are made of steel; they provide maximum protection. Most often, steel structures are hollow inside, which reduces their weight. There are also composite structures in which metal parts are combined with wood. High-quality doors of this type are also quite reliable. The third type is aluminum. Despite the aesthetic appearance, the metal of such doors can be thin.
If funds allow, it is best to give preference to a steel entrance door. And if you want to choose the best quality products, pay attention to the following parameters:
- the door must be made of metal sheets of sufficient thickness;
- it must have stiffeners;
- the design may include special pins that limit the possibility of removal from the hinges;
- internal insulation;
- seals around the perimeter of the structure;
- several locks of different types;
- peephole with a wide viewing angle.
The finishing of a metal entrance door must be carried out taking into account the following rules.
- It is necessary to ensure sufficient insulation, since in severe frosts the metal structure can freeze so much that frost appears on the inside. Therefore, the inside of the structure is finished with wood, leather and other insulating materials.
- The threshold and slopes must be finished in a high-quality manner without gaps, cracks or damage.
- If the finishing is made of wood, special treatment of this material is required to protect the surface from moisture and fungus. When finishing with other materials, care should also be taken to protect them.
- It should be possible to easily remove the structure and then put it back in place, for example, to replace the lock.
How to finish a door
The front door can be made of different materials, which can be painted, upholstered or sheathed. Each method has its pros and cons. Finishing begins after installing the product along with the door frame in the opening.
Painting
The entrance door can be painted with latex, water-based or oil-based paint. The color of the painting material is selected so that it is the same as the wall decoration or contrasts with it. Before applying the paint, the surfaces are well prepared, after which the coating is applied in two layers.
The features of this finishing option are simplicity, high speed and relatively low cost of paint. No special tools are required to apply the material; you can use just one brush.
The disadvantages include the impossibility of sound and heat insulation.
Upholstery
Thick fabric, leatherette or genuine leather are suitable as upholstery material for the entrance door from the inside. Additional elements will require a special thread and carnations. Upholstery of canvas with modern leatherette looks expensive, brings warmth and comfort to the room, and protects well from noise and cold.
The most affordable material is leatherette, which is characterized not only by a low price, but also by the following advantages:
- abrasion resistance;
- durability;
- ease of care;
- wide choice of color shades.
Despite all the advantages, the material also has disadvantages:
- flammability;
- easy to damage with a sharp object;
- impossibility of high-quality restoration of the coating.
Sheathing
To ensure that the front door is finished with high quality, lining, PVC panels, and chipboard are used. Decorating the canvas with such materials has practically no disadvantages. A similar finish can be used for lining doors made of both wood and metal. As a result, good heat and sound insulation is ensured and the service life of the door is increased. Such materials have a wide variety of textures and colors to suit any interior design.
Expensive way
The interior decoration should look impressive and have good resistance to mechanical stress. Therefore, natural wood is considered the best finishing option.
Solid wood
It is best to use solid wood, and for luxurious decoration you can choose precious wood: rosewood, yew, mahogany. Oak panels are of particular quality. This finishing of metal entrance doors will last for decades.
A less expensive option would be to finish with plain wood panels. In this case, the wood must be treated with protective agents to avoid drying out due to temperature changes. This finish can be varnished and decorated with decorative elements. This is also a beautiful and durable option.
Budget method
If you weren't planning on spending a significant amount of money on your front door, there are many budget-friendly finishing options. They are easy to use, and if necessary, this coating is easy to replace. In addition to materials imitating wood, leather, dermantin, and powder coating can be used for the exterior decoration of a metal door. All these options give room to the imagination and allow the finish to blend most elegantly into the surrounding interior.
Lining
Among the most common options if you want a door with wood cladding is lining. In addition, the finishing process is not too complicated, you can do it yourself, and finishing with clapboard yourself will significantly reduce the cost of repairs. To do this, you will need working tools that are found in every home - a hacksaw and a screwdriver.
If you are endowed with creative abilities, then you can lay the lining not in a straight line, but diagonally, or alternate the direction, creating interesting patterns.
Laminate
Laminated fibreboard, commonly referred to simply as laminate. It looks neat and is inexpensive. You can choose the color and style depending on the furniture with which the hallway is furnished. If there is laminate on the floor, you can also do everything in the same style.
Dermantin
Doors were often decorated with dermantin during the Soviet era. This is a fairly durable material that holds the insulation well, but it is powerless against sharp objects. If the upholstery of a metal entrance door is made of dermantine, it is better to avoid damage. Spot repairs are not enough; the insulation will come out and the entire finish will have to be replaced.
Faux leather
This is a plastic material that allows you to create a beautiful surface. A wide variety of colors, spectacular appearance, ease of cleaning - all these are undoubted advantages. With such cladding, metal entrance doors acquire good sound insulation, and in combination with finishing with insulation, this effect is enhanced. To clean, just wipe the coating with a damp cloth. In addition, this finishing option is financially beneficial.
Decoration Materials
Nowadays, the range of entrance doors to apartments is impressive.
Nowadays, many people choose metal doors for their homes. There is nothing surprising in such a choice, because such a design can be called comfortable and durable. There are also many design options here, and the color can be any. Some people make doors to order, while others do this work themselves.
Now let's look at the situation in more detail:
In general, how to decorate a metal door is not such a difficult question. On the market today you will find plenty of materials for such work. In addition, nowadays there are enough specialists who are ready to offer help and their services - due to this, the work can be significantly simplified.
Apartment decoration: doors should be beautiful - there’s no way around it
- A simple example: an iron door can have a wood finish, and wooden structures are often decorated with marble. That is, you will not only make the door in the apartment more beautiful - you will also be able to mislead your neighbors about the original building materials;
- Also, this feature allows you to translate into reality the most unusual ideas related to arranging the interior of your home;
- Do not forget that the finishing material for doors should not only have an attractive appearance, strength, frost resistance, moisture resistance and other important parameters are also important here. You want your new door to remain in its original form for as long as possible?
What to choose for interior decoration?
The interior decoration of doors is important in the interior of the hallway
Apartment decoration - doors: this is exactly what we are talking about in the article. Let's figure out what material you should choose for lining your door from the inside.
It is important to approach the selection carefully - the material should not only be bright and beautiful, but also of high quality. It should also fit the overall design of the hallway
Try to consider the following:
- When your hallway has doors leading from other rooms, it is best to make the entrance doors in the same color as theirs. This is a very aesthetic technique - the entrance door will definitely not stand out against the background of other doors;
- In the case where the area of the hallway of the room is small, the inner surface of the entrance doors can be made mirrored. This is ideal for situations where there are no small children living in the house. Otherwise, there is a high risk of injury;
- If you are planning to insulate your doors, the sheathing should be done from the inside. It is unlikely that it will last long outside, especially if the door has access to the landing.
What can you choose? There are many options:
- Many people choose wood;
- A leather substitute is often used for door trim;
- The use of plastic panels cannot be ruled out;
- Self-adhesive film is popular;
- Remember also about paint and other options.
What to choose for exterior door decoration?
The importance of exterior cladding cannot be underestimated
When finishing the inside of the doors, you can be guided by how the interior doors are decorated. What can we say about the outside? She will definitely experience serious stress. It is the external side that is inextricably linked with temperature changes, fluctuations in humidity levels, and the hooligan actions of various intruders.
That is, you must take into account all these features when finishing apartments, namely, covering the doors. The outside of the front door needs to be finished correctly.
Self-cladding is often performed using the following materials:
- MDF panels are often used;
- A popular material is PVC film;
- Lining is used actively, like veneer;
- Many people choose laminate flooring.
You can easily find similar materials at your nearest hardware store; working with them is not at all difficult. In general, almost all of them are reliable and durable.
Your front door might look like this
Vinyl leather is a material that is very common today and is used for lining entrance doors. It's not that expensive; To improve the level of sound insulation, it is also customary to place a layer of foam rubber between the leatherette and the metal door - this also provides additional insulation; MDF panels also have excellent characteristics. They imitate natural wood well, contribute to sound insulation and thermal insulation of your entrance doors; If we consider prices, then a lot depends on the specific manufacturer. Don’t forget about the quality of the material - this is a very important factor.
Cost may vary; It is very important that you choose the right material that is best suited for your doors.
Other options
In both composite and iron structures, upholstery fabric and wood are not the only materials that can be used to upholster a metal entrance door. There are several other options that are used somewhat less frequently in practice, but allow for beautiful and neat finishing.
Wood veneer
Veneer is thin slices of wood that are removed using a planer. The cut can be very thin - just a few millimeters. Thanks to this, veneer can be laid out in a pattern and even formed into a mosaic. If you lay elements overlapping, you can design three-dimensional parts. The veneered structure should be treated with care, avoid exposure to moisture and direct sunlight.
Veneer can be made from natural wood or MDF. Depending on this, you can determine its durability - natural wood will last longer.
If you are planning to purchase wood veneer, it is better to choose an adhesive-based product. It is laid on the prepared surface, forming a pattern, and then fixed with a hot iron or other method according to the instructions.
Powder coating
Powder coating is a special paint that is applied to a metal surface using a spray gun. The paint contains protective polymers, which protects the metal from rust, as well as chips, scratches and other damage. This coating is universal and inexpensive; you can choose any color that fits into the interior of the room. In this case, the insulation is installed inside the structure. Powder-coated metal doors are well suited for minimalist interiors and high-tech finishes.
Specifics of finishing
The specific operating technology is determined by several factors:
- a wooden or steel door is made;
- features of the material chosen for cladding;
- the need for additional insulation of the sash.
But basically all the methods are similar and are performed according to a single algorithm.
- Dismantling the old cladding (if any).
- Visual inspection, identification of defects and their elimination. For example, it is better to replace the insert in a paneled door with a cheap sample made of thin plywood than to leave a damaged one in place, hoping that it will be hidden by the cladding. It won’t be visible, but what about heat loss through such an opening?
- Before covering a wooden door, it is treated with special preparations (fire retardants, antiseptics). To increase durability, depending on local conditions, the canvas may need to be treated with primer, or even applied with cheap water-repellent paint.
- Determining the layout of the facing material (slabs, sheets) and measuring the linear parameters of the sash. Based on these data, samples are cut into separate fragments. The same applies to insulation (isolon, foam rubber, thin polystyrene foam, etc.).
- Attaching the thermal insulation layer. When applied to a wooden door, one of the practiced schemes involves arranging rollers around the perimeter of the door leaf. How expedient this is is up to the master to decide, since there are other methods for leveling the gaps between the sash and the frame. For example, gluing fiberboard strips to the end of the canvas, reinstalling hinges, installing decorative corners, and so on. Given the variety of choice of cladding materials, the option with rollers is outdated. In addition, it is in these areas of the door that the wear of the trim is most intense.
- Fastening of facing material. Regardless of whether this is done with glue or staples, nails, the work begins with the top part. After fixing the leaf along the width of the door, its orientation is checked, the absence of displacements and distortions along the entire length of the leaf. Next is stretching it and securing it on the sides. The bottom comes last.
What to consider:
- For a metal entrance door, you should choose trim that is fixed by gluing. It is not advisable to drill steel, since in the future the idea may come to change the external design of the canvas. And empty holes in it are ways for cold to penetrate.
- Do not forget about the maintainability of the cladding. This applies not only to its material, but also to its insulation. For example, if it is mineral wool, then it will need to be replaced regularly. The reason is that this insulator accumulates moisture. In addition, it gradually sags, which is reflected in the level of heat loss.
It turns out that door trim is one of the best options for its reconstruction, which can be combined with insulation of the opening. In addition, any of the practiced techniques is completely doable independently, without outside help. And if the canvas has become dilapidated, do not rush to buy a new one - putting it in order, giving it a different look is not at all difficult, and it will cost much less.
Tools and materials for preparation
Internal finishing of a metal entrance door will require the use of the following available tools, which can also be used for external finishing:
- prepared panel or other elements (lining, veneer) that you will attach to a metal base;
- screwdriver for fastening work;
- primer for metal, if the surface has not yet been treated;
- fastening elements;
- fittings that are installed after all work is completed - door handles, peepholes, locks and decor.
In addition, keep in mind that some finishing options require complete dismantling of the door to perform the necessary work. This applies, for example, to laminate finishing and front panels.
The procedure for finishing the entrance group
If the surface is not prepared for work, you must first thoroughly clean the metal with sandpaper, then degrease the surface with a solvent and coat it with a good metal primer. Now there are primers that can be used to cover rust, but it is still recommended to first carry out the metal cleaning procedure. The primer will serve as the basis for the coating and protect the metal from corrosion and other harmful influences. This preparation must be completed before installing any coating you choose.
Once you have decided on the choice of finishing material, you can begin installation. There are two ways to attach facing materials:
- fastening on the inside of the door leaf;
- screwing or gluing materials to the front surface of the canvas.
Panels made of solid wood, MDF, as well as panels made of other materials are fastened using self-tapping screws. The screws are covered with covers on top.
If you are installing lining, laminate or other typesetting material, you first need to prepare a frame of wooden slats, which will be attached to the canvas using self-tapping screws. Insulation is placed in the cavity, and clapboard or other material is installed on top, attaching it to the frame.
When facing with artificial leather or dermantine, the panels are covered with the desired material and then mounted on a metal surface.
Do not forget that when finishing wooden and metal doors it is necessary to install a threshold, form slopes, and install seals for thermal insulation. To form slopes, the easiest way is to use drywall followed by plastering, and fill the voids with mineral wool. Polyurethane foam is often used for these purposes, but there is a danger that it will burst into voids and the slopes will deform over time.
If you do the finishing with clapboard yourself, then the slopes can also be finished with clapboard, it looks impressive.
In addition, there is the option of forming slopes for the front door using plastic panels. This is the cheapest and easiest method to implement, and the plastic panels are easy to clean. Such panels look harmonious in combination with powder-coated doors.
Finishing materials for door slopes
When installing a door, its slopes also need additional finishing, especially if the door was not installed in the old frame, but was completely replaced. Finishing door slopes is not always among the responsibilities of installers installing doors. Often you need to order it separately or do it yourself. The following materials are used for finishing slopes:
- Special additions that can be matched to the doors or made in contrast with them. The most convenient for installation are telescopic extensions with a special groove for installing an L-shaped casing.
- MDF panels, laminate or plasterboard, for which the construction of a frame is required when installing slopes. There are certain difficulties when masking cut ends and fitting parts to each other. Decorative corners of various types are used for these purposes.
- Plastering and painting. The slopes are leveled using cement mortar, puttied and painted to match the walls.
- Tiles, decorative stone and mosaic for finishing are used to increase the strength of the slopes, while it is desirable that the material is also combined with the interior in the hallway.
Metal painting
If you plan to paint the surface, choose a quality paint. Aerosol acrylic paints are well suited for such purposes. They are durable when applied to a metal surface and have anti-corrosion properties. They are often used when painting doors that are used in difficult conditions. An undoubted advantage is the large selection of shades.