Suppose you decide to make a steel door with your own hands or want to buy one, but the upholstery of metal doors in the store leaves much to be desired. Don’t be upset, sheathing a metal door yourself is not so difficult, and then we will tell you in detail how to sheathe the front door and slopes to it on both sides, with all the pros and cons of the options that exist today.
The upholstery of the metal entrance door speaks of the status of the owner of the house.
For those DIYers who want to surprise their loved ones with a high-quality steel door made at home with their own hands, there is a good step-by-step instruction with a detailed video, detailed photos and explanations, you can find it “here”.
Why do manufacturers rarely produce entrance doors with high-quality exterior finishes?
As you might guess, it's all about the financial side of the issue. Companies producing this type of product focus primarily on the mass buyer, and he, as a rule, is very financially constrained. So manufacturers have to reduce the cost of the production process as much as possible in order to optimize the costs allocated for production.
In our realities, a person who decides to buy an iron door, in order to get a beautiful appearance, needs to do what is called “bring it to mind,” that is, finish it with his own hands. Due to the fact that the Russian finishing materials market is ready to offer the end buyer a wide range of diverse solutions, it seems that there should be no problems with choosing the appropriate option. So, let's look at the most popular types of finishing materials for iron doors today.
Upholstery of metal doors - a detailed analysis of the most popular options
Suppose you decide to make a steel door with your own hands or want to buy one, but the upholstery of metal doors in the store leaves much to be desired.
Don’t be upset, sheathing a metal door yourself is not so difficult, and then we will tell you in detail how to sheathe the front door and slopes to it on both sides, with all the pros and cons of the options that exist today. The upholstery of the metal entrance door speaks of the status of the owner of the house.
For those DIYers who want to surprise their loved ones with a high-quality steel door made at home with their own hands, there is a good step-by-step instruction with a detailed video, detailed photos and explanations, you can find it “here”.
Powder coating of the external surface of the entrance door
Spraying of a special powder composition onto the outside of the door is carried out only in workshop conditions, using a high-thermal oven for this purpose. In order for the spraying to be carried out in compliance with all necessary standards, the door blank, the surface of which is previously coated with a special powder, is placed in an oven heated to four hundred degrees Celsius.
Under the influence of such an environment, the powder melts. After maintaining a certain time interval, the door blank is removed and forcedly cooled. At the end of this procedure, the applied powder coating acquires a characteristic strength, which in its properties is higher than the strength of other coating mixtures.
Which paint to choose for a metal door: types and characteristics of paints
It is generally accepted that metal doors treated with powder using the technology described above are able to withstand the onslaught of great force, even with the use of mechanical force.
The order of cladding
Door cladding involves performing a number of procedures that allow you to obtain the best quality.
Preparation
It all starts with the canvas being removed from its hinges. This ensures convenience when performing all actions. Of course, this procedure is completely optional: if you have confidence in your own abilities, the work is done by weight.
It is important to clean the surface of all protruding parts - handles, locks, linings, eyes. Much attention is paid to the condition of the base coating - any defects need to be corrected. Finishing a metal door with your own hands requires the use of corrosion removal and complete degreasing. It’s more difficult with wooden products - the material often dries out, which forces you to putty.
On a note! Special work occurs when the door is trimmed from the inside. The most labor-intensive process is with metal sheets, which require creating an internal frame of beams and laying insulation. If this is not required, then preparations are made for laying the base coating.
The most suitable option for self-finishing is the use of MDF overlays
Installation
The selected material is laid according to existing methods. For example, the installation of MDF overlays is considered the simplest. They are fixed with a special glue, which is applied evenly around the entire perimeter. For additional fastening, self-tapping screws are used, the holes for which are drilled out so that the screw head is completely submerged.
Thus, finishing metal doors with your own hands and decorating wooden structures is not the most difficult process, which requires the correct selection of materials and extreme care. It is much better to spend more time, but get a beautiful and high-quality surface.
Vinyl leather: exterior and interior trim
Vinyl leather is the most popular coating for an iron door.
Finishing the outer part of an iron door with vinyl leather is still the most popular way to beautifully and inexpensively decorate the entrance to an apartment. The advantages that this material has make its use the best in terms of price/quality ratio, here are its advantages:
- excellent level of thermal and noise insulation;
- wide range of available color palettes;
- long service life;
- low cost.
What material to choose for decorative finishing of the entrance door and opening
However, with all its advantages, this material has one significant drawback - it breaks even when touched with not the sharpest objects. For example, it’s easy to damage it with a bunch of keys.
Required Tools
After selecting the material, consider the subtleties of its processing. For example, for natural wood panels you will need antiseptic impregnation, varnish or other protective coating. Necessary tools for paneling or slabs:
- a screwdriver if self-tapping screws are used;
- hammer if nails are used;
- screws, nails;
- cross-shaped bits for a screwdriver;
- drill for metal with a diameter of 3.10 mm;
- anti-corrosion primer;
- clamps;
- degreaser (white spirit);
- medium-grain sandpaper;
- tape measure, square;
- brush, roller (for painting);
- marker, construction pencil.
If products are fixed with an adhesive base, then epoxy glue or liquid nails are recommended. If you need to cut parts, you will need scissors or a hacksaw. To dismantle the fittings, you need a screwdriver and pliers.
Laminate
The use of laminate for finishing an iron door on the outside is currently not yet widespread. But this material has many positive qualities: it is resistant to impacts (only not from sharp objects), its palette has many available colors, plus its care is distinguished by its simplicity. Laminate flooring does not need to be cleaned - its smooth surface can be quickly and effectively removed with a damp cloth. However, it is not predisposed to operation in conditions of significant humidity.
So, in this article we examined the possibilities of modern door finishing materials presented on the Russian market. To finally decide on how to decorate an iron entrance door, it is enough to choose one of the above material options. Meanwhile, the option of using finishing, which includes the possibility of using several materials at once, also has the right to life.
How to choose an iron entrance door: design features, types of locks
Some features
Decorating the front door with your own hands has some features, taking into account which will help you complete the work correctly. The basis of such processes is to obtain aesthetic appeal, although we should not forget about protective functions. It's no secret that the outer coating faces various mechanical influences, and therefore must successfully withstand them.
On a note! The cladding allows for additional thermal insulation. For such an event, a variety of insulation materials that are presented on the modern market are perfect. It is important to consider that the material must be laid from the inside. This option is considered more productive.
Any external door cladding cannot fully replace internal insulation; it acts only as an auxiliary link
to highlight the wall in the kitchen near the table
There are nuances that will help you correctly decide on the type of cladding:
Advice! This option requires caution, because the coating is located in the most accessible place. To avoid troubles, the underside of the mirror is covered with a special film that will prevent splinters from forming if the surface is damaged.
The method of fastening the material used for decoration is also of great importance, because the coating should be as durable as possible.
Sheathing materials
The choice is determined by the purpose of the work - preventing heat loss, protecting against loud sounds from outside, sealing cracks around the perimeter of the door frame or changing the appearance of the door leaf. The front door can be covered from the outside, from the inside, or from both sides.
Lining and MDF panels
Wooden lining will add elegance to the door leaf. The texture of wood, emphasized by paints and varnishes, forging, carving, decorative metal and polyurethane moldings. The wooden upholstery of the entrance doors, decorated with rows of beads and rivets, will add sophistication to the interior.
MDF panels are easy to process:
Decorating the front door with plastic clapboard will not improve the appearance of the door, but it is inexpensive, durable and practical.
Plywood
Plywood externally imitates solid wood. This material, treated with special compounds, is durable, resistant to moisture and tolerates temperature changes well.
The outer cladding of entrance doors should be made of shipboard (aviation) plywood:
The film of bakelite resin covering the outer surfaces can make work difficult: if it is necessary to stick stickers on the surface of decorative elements, the places where the glue is applied must be sanded.
Laminate
Glued-pressed wood fiber boards are initially designed to withstand loads. Their surface is easily and without consequences cleaned of dirt, resistant to damage - not afraid of the claws of even large dogs. With proper selection of panels, tongue-and-groove joints create the illusion of a monolithic coating.
From the outside, only an apartment door can be covered with laminate, since this material is intended for interior decoration and is not resistant to humidity, cold, and sudden temperature changes typical of outdoor conditions.
Leatherette
Decorative upholstery with cotton fabric with a layer of nitrocellulose is recommended for interior work: in a house, in an apartment, in an entrance. Leatherette is not afraid of moisture, but is sensitive to ultraviolet rays - it changes color and becomes harder. This material has already been discontinued.
Faux leather
For door upholstery, materials with a base impregnated with polymers are used: vinyl, PVC leather, vinylis. Faux leather is durable and practical. The specific smell inherent in it disappears within 1-2 weeks.
Artificial leather differs from leatherette:
Leatherette allows air to pass through, so wooden doors covered with it do not become moldy, and steel doors do not rust - excess moisture is removed through the pores of the artificial leather.
Conclusion
Choosing upholstery for metal doors is a responsible matter, because it largely indicates the status of the owner. When making a decision, carefully weigh all the pros and especially cons of the materials described above and let your door be the most beautiful in the area.
Choosing the finish of metal doors is a responsible matter.
Source
Wood veneer
Wood veneer on the front door
Decorating the door with veneer is done by stacking wooden planks in such a way that a pattern is created on the surface of the door. To protect against dust and dirt, wooden components are varnished. To prevent the material from losing its original color, a colorless varnish is selected for application.
Currently, the exterior finishing of an iron door with veneer is in second place in popularity, after finishing with vinyl leather, which will be discussed below.
Proper preparation is half the success in work
Decorating a door with your own hands is a whole complex of stages, and according to the overwhelming majority of experts, initial preparation is considered perhaps the most important part of the work.
As a rule, the owners decide to decorate the old doors of the house in an original way; brave people who are ready to decorate a brand new home door beyond recognition are rare, because a new thing often looks good.
Let's start with the simplest thing, namely, what needs to be done before decorating the front door? In this case we are talking about the street, front part of the door leaf. According to statistics, more than 70% of owners prefer to install metal doors at the entrance.
The easiest way is to paint the outer part of a metal door with a stencil.
Steel structures can be decorated from the outside in only two ways: painting and cladding with wood or MDF. In both cases, you need to try to remove the old paint, sand the base and degrease it.
There are three ways to remove paint from a steel sheet:
You should not try to heat up old paint with a blowtorch or gas torch; firstly, you may cause a fire, and secondly, at this temperature the metal may be partially deformed, and burns will appear on the wood.
Potholes and chips in an old MDF or chipboard board are cleaned with a wire brush and covered with putty, in this case the composition is taken for exterior woodwork, and when the putty has completely hardened, the surface is sanded with emery and covered with primer.
Continuous application of putty using a spatula.
Preparing an old wooden door is not much different from preparing the same chipboard. The first step is to remove the top layer of old paint or varnish. In addition to the three cleaning methods listed above, you can also take a sharp steel scraper and try to clean the paint with it, which is physically difficult, but quite possible.
The installation sites for the lock must be prepared especially carefully.
When you have managed to get rid of the old finish, you need to clean out and slightly widen the visible cracks with a knife or chisel. Next, pick up a sanding machine with medium sandpaper and sand the surface.
It is impossible to level the surface with sandpaper alone, so before decorating the old door, all serious defects need to be puttyed, dried and sanded again with a machine, but now with fine sandpaper.
Acrylic putty is one of the best compounds for leveling wooden doors.
Then you brush off the dust and cover the wood with acrylic or latex primer. In principle, you can grind it by hand, but it is time-consuming and difficult.
Ways to decorate and decorate a door
No matter how high-quality and reliable the entrance doors are, over time they wear out, fade or get scratched. The wood dries out, the varnish becomes cloudy, and the paint chips. Metal doors may also need updating. The need to update an old apartment door can be used to create your own original style. Approach the issue creatively, then you won’t have to think about replacing the door structure. The following methods will allow you to decorate your front door.
Coloring
The easiest way to refresh the canvas without making major changes in the design of your home is to repaint it in a new color. For lovers of minimalism, a single-color fill is suitable; a more complex artistic solution would be to highlight individual parts in different shades.
In small rooms it is better to choose lighter shades. Painting the door in bright, rich shades – green, yellow, red, blue – will allow you to turn the door into an independent accent in a laconic monochrome interior.
The work is carried out using acrylic dye - the composition is environmentally friendly, does not smell, and is easy to work with. This is a suitable option for residential premises, harmless to health.
Before painting, it is necessary to prepare the base, since the dye is applied in a thin layer, in which all defects remain visible. The canvas is sanded and primed, large cracks and chips are sealed with sealant. The paint should be applied in even stripes, moving the roller from left to right or from top to bottom.
Textured structures are painted in parts - first the inserts, then the central elements and side parts. To maintain a fresh finish, the finish is finished with a matte/glossy varnish.
An original painting technique is to splash the dye over the surface in random spots. This decor immediately creates a creative atmosphere in the house of an art studio. The work is done with hard brushes or old toothbrushes.
Wallpapering
Wallpapering will help you avoid painting work and decorate the door leaf with your own hands. The method is popular for decorating interior doors, but can also be used to decorate the entrance area from the inside. If there is high humidity in the room, liquid wallpaper is used; in other cases, traditional paper or non-woven wallpaper is suitable.
Before gluing, the old coating is removed for better adhesion of the material to the canvas. Heating with a hair dryer and using a spatula will help remove the old paint. Any defects present are repaired with putty, and the surface is sanded with fine sandpaper.
When choosing wallpaper, consider the decoration of the walls in the hallway. The original version is a combination of several collections, photo wallpaper. Applying the glue evenly over the entire base will help avoid bubbles. After gluing, the wallpaper is leveled with a roller; while it is drying, there should be no drafts in the apartment.
Decorating with fabric
The method is similar to wallpapering, but looks more original due to the texture. A great idea would be to use unnecessary but beautiful fabric scraps to make the surface look like a patchwork quilt. This solution harmonizes perfectly with ethnic styles, country, Provence or boho.
To fix the fabric, glue and special furniture staples are used. The advantage of such fasteners is the ease of removal for installing a new coating. Beads, lace, braid, fringe and other decorative little things will help to decorate and complement the decor.
Leather upholstery
Covering the door with leather and its substitutes is a more expensive alternative to fabric trim used in classic noble interiors, such as the English style. This decor always looks luxurious and expensive, reminiscent of the English style. The upholstery material is not necessarily genuine leather - manufacturers offer many functional, environmentally friendly and affordable artificial substitutes. Entrance doors with vinyl leatherette finishing →
The material is attached with glue or special rivets, which evenly fix the canvas or form elegant patterns. Such a door will be an excellent complement to industrial styles - grunge and loft.
- Metal entrance door with noise protection laminated panel VLD 011
- Door with vinyl leatherette finish inside and outside in vestibule VVD 001
- Soundproofed steel door with vinyl leatherette finish inside and outside VVD 002
- Steel door with vinyl leatherette finish with sound insulation VVD 003
- Apartment entrance door made of vinyl leatherette, economy class VVD 009
- Soundproof entrance door with vinyl leatherette finish for apartment VVD 011
Craquelure
The unusual name hides the familiar aging effect, which involves the formation of cracks on the surface of the mesh. The technique is often used in industrial and vintage interiors. To create the characteristic cracking, a special varnish or dye is used - despite the worn appearance, the coating is strong and durable.
Craquelure is performed in one or two stages, depending on the number of selected layers. You can use a play of contrast, but apply a new layer only after the previous one has dried. Craquelure is suitable for decorating wooden and any other doors.
Stickers and stenciling
Coloring the canvas will help you easily transform boring plain doors. For those who do not know how to draw, but want to get a beautiful result, using stencils is suitable. Choose a simple geometric or floral motif from a photo, print it out and trace it along the contours or transfer it to the door. Painting such a picture will not be difficult even for a novice designer.
Stickers and decals are a fashionable and colorful tool for decorating doors. In interiors decorated in a restrained style, laconic patterns or dark silhouettes will look harmonious. An alternative option for pop art is colorful posters, bright stickers, and clippings.
Decoupage
Affordable and simple technology allows you to transform not only old doors, but also facades and furniture. To perform it, you do not need any special skills or special tools; you use improvised means - paper napkins, glue. Decoupage is a complex application.
The decor is performed on a perfectly smooth, pre-polished and grease-free surface. The canvas, free of decor, can be painted with acrylic dye for contrast. The drawings are glued to an aqueous solution of PVA glue, and the finishing is done with transparent furniture varnish.
Surface aging
Artificial aging does not worsen, but rather renews the condition of old doors. The process is carried out using numerous techniques: from mechanical processing to the use of special coatings and paints.
The most “rough” aging
, characteristic of country or loft style, is achieved by brushing wooden doors made of oak, ash or coniferous trees. Use a stiff wire brush to remove soft wood fibers. This allows you to make the relief of the array more expressive. This treatment is not suitable for all types of wood.
Fine abrasions
in the style of shabby chic or Provence are obtained using a paraffin layer. The door leaf is covered with a bright dye and then rubbed with a thick layer of wax/paraffin. The top layer is a coating that contrasts with the first, in light or pastel colors, which after application is sanded with sandpaper. In certain areas, the wax is removed, revealing the underlying painted layer.
Another popular aging technique is the dry brush method. Take a little dye onto a dry synthetic flat-type brush with dense bristles and brush it over the base. The absence of continuous lines and strokes will result in a scratched, discontinuous layer.
Mosaic drawings
Mosaic techniques for decorating interiors and doors are distinguished by their uniqueness and aesthetic appearance while being easy to implement. You can either lay out the drawing yourself or purchase a ready-made composition.
The pattern is formed from ceramics, glass, acrylic, shells, stones and other available materials. The main thing is to create a sketch in advance and think through the location of each detail.
Mirror composition
Mirror door inserts are considered one of the functional methods of decoration. This design is ideal for small spaces, as reflective elements will help visually increase the volume. The door itself may well become a replacement for a wall mirror or a wardrobe panel. Entrance doors with mirror →
Ordinary mirrors and their fragments are not suitable for decorating the canvas; they are replaced with reflective acrylic panels. Their main advantage is ease of processing and a large selection of shades. Shards of an ordinary mirror can be used to make a mosaic.
- Entrance door to apartment VFZD 001
- Entrance door with mirror VFZD 003
- Entrance door with mirror VFZD 006
- Entrance door with mirror VFZD 005
- Entrance door with mirror VFZD 018
- Entrance door with mirror VFZD 020
Stained glass
Stained glass inserts are a classic way to decorate window and door openings. This technique was used in temples, palaces and houses of rich people - only the technique and filigree of execution differed. In the modern version, stained glass windows are made in one of three ways: ordering an individual pattern based on a private sketch, using ready-made inserts, or painting the glass yourself. Entrance doors with stained glass →
The drawing is applied with translucent acrylic dyes on glass. A contour is created separately, simulating the insertion of metal connecting the elements in natural stained glass. It is necessary to paint the surface horizontally so that the paint does not flow down.
- Entrance door with stained glass DSV 009
- Entrance door with stained glass DSV 007
- Entrance door with stained glass DSV 008
- Entrance door with stained glass DSV 004
- Entrance door with stained glass DSV 001
- Entrance door with stained glass DSV 003
Molding
Molding can be used to transform the simplest-looking and budget door design, making it an elegant and luxurious element of a classic interior. These are ready-made elements that imitate bas-relief, stucco and other decorative inserts.
To make the simplest compositions, polystyrene foam and polyurethane are used - ready-made solutions are glued or fixed with liquid nails. To obtain a beautiful “aged” door, the surface is additionally coated with paint, the details are highlighted with a contrasting shade or gilding.
