Do-it-yourself door trim: master himself

Familiarity with the house and its inhabitants begins with the front door. Sometimes, even without entering the apartment, it is very likely to determine who lives in it and how. Therefore, the question of how to trim the front door can not be considered secondary.

Materials for facing the front door

By the appearance of the entrance door, it is not always possible to determine what it is made of, since due to the variety of modern finishing materials the metal door may look like a wooden, and the wooden look marble. This makes it possible to implement any ideas related to interior design.

But facing the front door in addition to external attractiveness and compliance with the tastes of the owner must be distinguished by increased strength and durability. What materials are considered the most suitable for finishing?

Materials for interior decoration

Since someone in their own apartment is unlikely to deliberately spoil the door, the choice of material for its decoration should focus on its aesthetic characteristics: color, texture, matching the design of the hallway.

• If in the hallway doors of other roomsit would be logical to finish the front door from the inside so that it does not differ from the interior one (see Interior doors in the interior: we choose by ourselves).
• If the hallway area is very small, the inner surface of the entrance door can be made a mirror (see. Mirror opposite the entrance door). Of course, provided that there are no hyperactive children in the house.

• If it is necessary to warm the front door, then it is also better to do the upholstery of its insulation from the inside, since outside such decoration will not last long, especially if the door goes to the common stairwell.

In short, there are no restrictions on the choice of finishing materials for the side of the entrance door that faces the apartment.

It may be:

• tree
• leatherette / genuine leather
• MDF
• plastic panels
• paint
• self-adhesive film, etc.

Materials for exterior decoration

The outer side of the entrance door is under much greater load. Moreover, these are not only frequent fluctuations of humidity and temperature, but also deliberate wrecking actions by inadequate citizens.

Accordingly, to solve the problem of how to trim the front door from the outside, you need to take into account these moments. For metal doors, the most anti-vandal finish is powder coating - a special coating that is heated and forms a strong polymer film that is resistant to mechanical damage (see How to open the front door without a key).

Today is gaining popularity and decoration of the entrance door with a stone. Rather, an acrylic alloy with a natural stone composite, which also has a high wear resistance.

For reference. The only thing that is afraid of such coverage - the effects of caustic chemicals.

Unfortunately, these types of finishes cannot be done without special equipment at home.

But there are many materials with which you can clad the door yourself:

• laminate
• MDF panels
• veneer
• linen
• PVC film.

Materials for finishing slopes

After installation, the door needs additional finishing and slopes, especially if the door was placed not in the old box, but changed completely.

It is not always the finishing of the front door jambs that is the responsibility of the installers, it is often necessary to order it separately or do it yourself (see How to make the slopes of the front door). What materials can be used for this?

• Special dobor. They can pick up the tone of the door or make a contrast. The most convenient way to install telescopic dobor with a special groove for installing the L-shaped casing.

• Ламинат, MDF panels, гипсокартон. Для монтажа откосов из подобных материалов необходимо устройство каркаса. Некоторые сложности могут возникать с подгонкой деталей друг к другу и маскировкой обрезанных торцов.Для этого используют различные декоративные уголки.
• Plaster and paint. The slopes can be leveled with cement mortar, puttied and painted to match the walls. 
• Decorative stone, tile, mosaic. Finishing the door jamb with these materials is used to increase the strength of the slopes, but it is desirable that it be combined with the interior of the hallway.

How to independently trim the front door

Laminate finish

So:

1. Remove the door from the hinges and lay on a horizontal surface. Remove all protruding fittings - handles, eyes, patch locks.
2. Along the perimeter of the door leaf fasten wooden slats, tinted in the appropriate color. They can be nailed on the wooden door with finishing nails, on the metal one - glued onto liquid nails.
3. Separately assemble the shield of laminated panels, tightly connecting them end-to-end.
4. Carefully measure the distances between the slats, transfer the dimensions to the laminate and use the jigsaw to cut off the extreme panels in length and width.
5. Apply glue to the door, wait for the time indicated in the instructions and transfer the shield prepared and cut to size. Squeeze it with a load and leave to dry.

1. The finishing of the entrance doors is completed by fitting the fittings into place.

Отделка veneerом

To finish, choose a veneer, on the reverse side of which an adhesive base is applied, covered with a protective paper layer:

1. На снятую с петель дверь сначала уложите полоски veneerа «на сухую», подгоняя их по рисунку. Пронумеруйте полоски, чтобы не путаться.

1.  Сначала оклейте торцы двери, чтобы впоследствии перекрыть торец veneerа и сделать его незаметным.
2. Lay the strips alternately on the door leaf, and, gradually removing the protective layer from the back side, iron them through the paper with a hot iron.
3. Особое внимание уделяйте стыкам. Если между полосками veneerа осталась щель, их можно вновь разогреть утюгом, приподнять шпателем и переклеить.

Совет. Облицовка входных дверей veneerом должна производиться от середины к краям. Проведите на полотне центральную вертикальную линию и начинайте клеить veneer от неё вправо и влево.