Choosing the material and finishing the front door with your own hands

When undertaking any repair work on the front door (replacement or restoration), you need to remember a few things:

• from the outside, the door is the calling card of the owners;
• interior decoration is carried out not for neighbors and guests, but for your loved ones;
• During the repair, issues of insulation, sound insulation and door frame design must be comprehensively addressed.

In order to simultaneously solve the assigned tasks, you need to clearly understand how to decorate the doorway of the entrance door in an apartment or private house.

Let's be clear right away. Finishing the doorway includes the installation of slopes and work to change the design of the door leaf with its parallel insulation. You can read about jambs in the article “Finishing entrance door slopes”, where finishing materials and the technology of their installation are discussed in detail. Therefore, duplicating this material is inappropriate.

Assortment of finishing materials for finishing the front door

Metal door covered with vinyl leather
Upholstery can help change an outdated look or add style and personality to a new door. The exterior design also has a practical function: it increases heat and sound insulation. When choosing a material, its placement is taken into account. The exterior decoration of the front door must be resistant to external factors (frost, moisture, temperature fluctuations, mechanical damage). The interior cladding is carried out in the same style as the interior of the hallway.

Vinyl leather

The material is made from polymers, most often from polyvinyl chloride. It is used in the manufacture of furniture, clothing, and as door upholstery. Vinyl leather is resistant to ultraviolet radiation, low temperature, abrasion and moisture. Soft leatherette successfully imitates its natural counterpart, but costs much less. When choosing an iron door finish, many buyers choose this option. Vinyl leather is attractive due to its variety of shades and textures, ease of care and durability.

Lining

Natural wood has low thermal conductivity, excellent noise absorption and environmental safety. The lining has an attractive texture, is easy to install, and after treatment with an antiseptic it lasts up to 50 years. The universal material is suitable for finishing metal and wooden door leaves from the outside and inside. It is important to buy dry lining, otherwise the lining will become deformed during operation.

Faux leather

Under the general name artificial leather, several types of polymer materials imitate natural leather are combined. Their basis is textile or non-woven fabric. Mixtures are added to the polymer composition to increase frost resistance and strength. At the final stage, the surface is sanded, textured, and painted. The upholstery material is wear-resistant, elastic, and resistant to weather conditions. It retains color intensity for a long time. Disadvantages: fire from an open flame; cheap products have a chemical smell.

Leatherette

A type of cotton-based artificial leather coated with nitrocellulose appeared in the 30s of the 20th century. The inexpensive material has become popular due to its spectacular appearance. Modern technologies make it possible to create products that are indistinguishable from genuine leather. The advantages include wear resistance, vapor permeability, and the ability to repel moisture. Leatherette is offered in a wide range of textures and colors; it will easily fit into any interior. The material is easily damaged by sharp objects, in which case the upholstery will have to be changed.

Genuine leather is rarely used for upholstery and is considered a luxury item. Leather is visually attractive, pleasant to the touch, strong and durable. Manufacturers offer materials with smooth and embossed textures and a wide selection of colors. Among the disadvantages of this option, it is worth noting the high cost, sensitivity to temperature changes and sunlight.

PVC film

A practical, inexpensive material that performs a protective and decorative function. The film has an adhesive layer for fixation on the door leaf. The finish is resistant to temperature fluctuations and can imitate wood, stone, and textiles. PVC film is easy to install, allowing you to quickly and cheaply update the decor of your front door.

MDF panels

Chipboard panels with an outer layer of natural veneer or laminate have an aesthetic appearance and a long service life. A variety of colors and options for simulating various types of wood allows you to find the optimal coating for every taste. The material is safe, does not rot, does not swell from moisture. MDF panels are a practical finish for a metal door; they serve as an additional barrier against heat loss.

Required tools and materials

You can sheathe the door yourself without spending money on paying specialists. Depending on the chosen finishing material, a certain set of tools will be required.

For upholstery with clapboard you need:

• tape measure and pencil;
• level;
• hacksaw or jigsaw;
• sandpaper;
• screwdriver or hammer;
• nails or screws;
• brush;
• varnish

In order to properly sheathe an iron door, you will have to assemble a frame; wooden blocks are purchased for it.

For leatherette upholstery you will need:

• construction knife or scissors;
• roulette;
• stapler;
• hammer;
• brush;
• polymer glue;
• construction and decorative nails;
• insulation.

When preparing the canvas for finishing, it is necessary to degrease it with white spirit or turpentine. Restoration may require sealant and metal corners.

Preparatory work

Before sheathing the entrance doors, they must be removed from their hinges. This will simplify the work of installing the finish and ensure a high-quality result. Preparation is carried out in several stages:

1. The lock, handle and peephole are removed from the canvas.
2. The old casing is removed.
3. The rubber seals are inspected and worn strips are replaced.
4. Visible defects are covered with putty or sealant; the wooden sheet can be tightened by stuffing metal corners.
5. The door is cleaned of dirt, the iron sheet is degreased with white spirit, and the wood panel with turpentine.

If the cladding is lining, the material is brought into the room a day before so that the elements do not become deformed after installation.

How to cover a door with PVC panels

It is better not to use panels for exterior cladding, since the material is not resistant to light or temperature. The advantages of plastic are its cost and light weight. You can assemble the trim without removing the door from its hinges. Plastic can be placed on pre-screwed wooden slats, plywood, starter strips and “liquid nails”. The set of tools for working with plastic is minimal.

For cladding there are square plastic panels (joints are allowed for the inside), PVC in the form of lining, long panels with locking fastenings. There is a large selection of colors, patterns, and even panels with photo printing. They are easy to care for and are not afraid of moisture. Be careful in terms of physical impact, because the plastic can crack even from a strong blow with your hand.

The process of upholstering the front door with your own hands from the outside and inside

Features of installation of finishing depend on the material of the canvas. It is easier to work with wood, but often a metal door is installed at the entrance. Knowing the cladding technology, you can handle the work yourself.

Installation of lining on a wooden door

Options for lamella placement
When choosing how to decorate a wooden door from the inside of your apartment, take into account its combination with the decor of the corridor. At the finishing stage, you can additionally insulate the canvas. One of the universal options is wooden lining. Thanks to its special texture, the material looks respectable and creates a cozy atmosphere. Before starting work, the master needs to choose how the planks will be positioned - horizontally or vertically.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Measure the door leaf, then mark the panels and saw off the parts to the required length.
2. Sand the ends of the planks with sandpaper.
3. Installation begins from the bottom edge of the door. The first plank is laid with special care; the entire structure depends on this. The location is verified by the building level. Fastening is carried out with self-tapping screws or finishing nails.
4. Subsequent elements are connected to each other by a tongue-and-groove locking system. They are attached to the wooden canvas with nails.
5. The final stage is to open the surface with varnish, which will add shine and serve as protection against moisture.

Installation of the removed parts and installation of the door into the opening is carried out after the varnish layer has dried.

Steel door

To install the lining, the door is removed from its hinges.
Attaching wooden planks to metal is much more difficult than to wood. When facing such a canvas, a frame construction technique is used.

• After the preparatory work, the canvas is measured.
• The bars of the required length are cut to size. Holes are drilled in them according to the diameter of the screws.
• The blanks are applied to a metal surface for marking.
• Holes for fasteners are drilled in the right places and the frame is fixed to the door. During installation, you can perform insulation by placing foam rubber, isolon or batting between the sheathing and the canvas. The materials are glued to the iron.
• The lining is stuffed onto slats in accordance with the selected pattern. The finished finish is opened with varnish.

Installation of the cladding is carried out in the same way from the inside and outside, the insulation is placed on one side.

Installation of leatherette on a wooden door

It is fashionable to put a layer of insulation under leatherette.
Another common finishing method is to cover the canvas with artificial leather. In addition to upholstery fabric, insulation will be required. Several varieties are used:

• foam;
• batting;
• felt;
• isolon.

To protect against drafts, a roller of insulation covered with leatherette is nailed around the perimeter of the door. You will need pieces of leatherette 10-15 cm wide; the padding is made from rolled up remnants of thermal insulation material or you can buy special strands. On the outside of the door, the rollers are attached to the trim, on the inside - to the door frame.

Sequence of work:

• Measure the door and cut off the leatherette with an allowance of 15 cm on each side.
• From scraps of leatherette and insulation, roll 4 rolls - 2 for the top and bottom, 2 for the sides of the handle and hinges. The strips are nailed so that there is a protruding edge of 3 cm.
• Insulation is placed between the rollers, and the material is secured with a stapler.
• Leatherette is mounted from above, with the folded edges inward, the upholstery should partially overlap the bolsters.
• The canvas is stretched and secured with decorative nails, starting from the upper corners, then along the perimeter. The fastening step is 5-10 cm. Cut the necessary holes: for a lock, a handle, a peephole.

You can trim artificial leather with decorative nails. They come in silver and golden colors or are covered with leatherette to match the trim. Also, decorative braid or fishing line is required to secure the pattern.

How to sheathe a metal door with leatherette

Iron fabric can be decorated with a pattern of furniture buttons. The location of the elements is preliminarily indicated in the drawing.

• Leatherette and insulation are cut to the size of the door.
• The thermal insulation material is fixed with polymer glue.
• The location of the buttons is marked on the insulation.
• Leatherette is placed on top, onto which the markings made are transferred.
• The ends of the door are well coated with glue, and the upholstery is attached to them. Fixation begins from the top edge, the material is well stretched. There should be no folds or distortions.
• After the glue has dried, the fittings are sewn on and holes for the lock and handle are cut out. Insulation beads are glued on top of the upholstery.

It is not necessary to cover the door with a textured pattern; smoothly stretched leatherette looks stylish and attractive.

Finishing the front door is a creative process that requires accuracy and adherence to technology. High-quality work done with your own hands will become a source of pride for many years.

How to cover a door with clapboard, solid wood

Repairing the trim of a damaged front door can be done with clapboard. This is an environmentally friendly material. It can be painted in any color or varnished.

The lining is combined with the overall style of the house. It is easier to attach individual planks if you have to work alone. The lining is made of wood, so it attaches directly to the door without any backing. You can also lay insulation under this material. Important: modern self-adhesive insulation materials are heavy. In combination with a rather heavy wooden paneling, not every door can withstand such a load.

That is why it is rarely used to replace the front door trim made of steel with solid wood. Suitable only for very strong doors with reinforced hinges, armored. Covering a metal door with clapboard is suitable for a private home.

Solid wood is rarely used for steel doors due to the heavy weight of the wood. You can take a piece of an old wooden door. It can be pre-coated with colored varnish, impregnation, or painted. The array will have to be fastened only on the canvas removed from its hinges. In addition to self-tapping screws, you can use forged elements. Additional sound insulation for such a door will not be needed, but light insulation will not hurt, at least with the help of lightweight foam panels for the inner lining.

• 
  Popular cottage villages in the Leningrad region

• Strength trainer
• Entrepreneur Alexey Borisovich told how to increase sales