Finishing the doorway of the front door: algorithm of actions

Many people choose to install their front door themselves. This allows you to save money on the services of a specialist. The installation of door blocks is carried out in a number of stages. One of the important and final points is the design of the slopes. There are different options for how the entrance door slopes can be finished. In most cases, the work is easy to do yourself. But for this it is important to have an idea of ​​what the entrance door slopes are, what function they perform for the entrance block, and to know the advantages and disadvantages of each design option. Then finishing the doorway of the front door will be successful even for those who are installing doors for the first time and do not have special skills in performing such work.

Materials for standard finishing

Finishing a doorway without a door involves the use of materials with various technological features. This could be a PVC panel. It is ranked among the most popular. It has good characteristics and is affordable. Often, such a panel is installed with glue for installation. It can be used for cladding slopes, but it is advisable to finish the remaining parts of the doorway with other materials.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Preliminary surface preparation. It is not necessary to remove all irregularities, but it is advisable to repair all serious defects.
2. Each section is measured for detailed detailing.
3. The panels are cut into elements. Docking of fragments should be avoided.
4. Liquid nails are used for installation. They do a good job of fixing. The reverse side of the material must be pre-treated with sandpaper, this will ensure better penetration of the adhesive.
5. Installation of parts is carried out in a certain order. They are secured with masking tape to ensure secure fixation.

The structure is left for some time to prevent the elements from moving. After this, the shortcomings are eliminated. If you cover them with plastic corners, as happens when covering windows, you may get a not entirely attractive effect. It is better to cover these areas with putty. After this, subsequent finishing is allowed. Wallpapering or painting is suitable for this. There are plastic trims that go well with PVC panels, but cutting them is very labor-intensive. To do this, you need to adjust the elements at right angles.

It is best to replace PVC with MDF panels. Finishing openings with such material can be perfectly combined with other products. If it is necessary to veneer structures using this method, you will have to resort to lamination to prevent the formation of visible joints.

Plastic panels

Stores sell ready-made sets of plastic panels designed specifically for decorating doorways. These can be rectangular, semi-arched and arched models, designed for specific sizes. Platbands can be painted white or have a textured pattern simulating wood, stone, etc.

Photo: decorating a doorway with plastic panels

The finished kit includes the following parts:

• platband Installed from the outside of the opening to the wall. Consists of three elements - one top and two side strips. If the opening is made in the shape of an arch, its upper part will be arched. When finishing without installing a door leaf, the kit includes two trims for each side of the opening;
• additional plank. An element installed on the walls of the opening along its thickness, completely covering them. Separate configurations are available for arched finishes.

Advantages of plastic panels:

• ease of self-installation of all elements;
• sufficient resistance to mechanical factors during careful operation;
• ease of use - the material does not collect dust and takes its original appearance after washing with a clean cloth;
• masking of engineering systems - cables, wires. Some sets have a hole for communications in the internal space of the platband, located at the level of the baseboard;
• aesthetics, price.

Plastic panels are attached to the working surfaces of doorways with “liquid” nails or locking mechanisms with specially designed guides, which are included in the finishing kit.

Application of stucco

Today, stucco molding made from polyurethane has found application. Unlike gypsum options, it is light in weight. It can be installed without using additional accessories. It can also be processed further: it can be painted in various colors.

There is a special scheme according to which you can decorate a doorway with your own hands using the specified material:

1. The adhesive composition and a set of necessary parts are kept in the room where installation will be carried out for 24 hours. Due to this, it will be possible to achieve a kind of adaptation of the elements to the existing microclimate.
2. Used areas must be coated with primer. It is better to take compounds that have an enhanced penetrating effect. We must remember that the stucco molding is glued first. Only after this can you proceed to general finishing work.
3. The surface of the products is treated with sandpaper, after which glue is applied to them. It is distributed evenly along the wrong side. Apply the stucco molding to a certain area and press it properly. To prevent the components from slipping, small screws are screwed under them.
4. If excess glue appears, it is removed in a timely manner. If you cannot do this right away, you can use acetone.
5. The joining of elements is an important step. You can do it at a right angle or trim at an angle of 45 degrees.

Joints appear after cladding. They can be hidden using putty, which is rubbed with sandpaper after drying. The finishing between rooms requires a special approach, because it is necessary to provide for the placement of parts on both sides.

Decorating a doorway with stucco is most suitable for rooms with high ceilings. If you have to work with small rooms, it is better to think through the position of the elements in advance . If you do not pay enough attention to this, the room will be overloaded and the interior will lose its attractiveness.

How to get rid of large cracks?

When installing doors, gaps often form. They can be almost invisible. It is important to seal large gaps to improve the aesthetics of the doorway. To seal slopes after installing the front door from the inside, gypsum putty or polyurethane foam is often used. The selected product is used to fill the gap, and the remains are cut off after drying. Polyurethane foam is most often used. It is sold in special containers and is easily blown into the slot. Polyurethane foam takes a long time to harden. It all depends on its quantity and the level of humidity in the room. But polyurethane foam provides high-quality sealing of seams and good sealing.

Fake diamond

The use of artificial stone is a good solution that helps create a modern and stylish design. Compared to similar products, this option is more preferable. This is explained by the fact that it is available in a wide range of decorative designs. Let's say clinker tiles can be used, including for cladding these structures, but their choice is limited.

The use of decorative stone has a number of advantages. Here are the key advantages of the material:

• excellent appearance, giving the interior solidity;
• possibility of combination with other finishing materials;
• ability to withstand any mechanical stress;
• long service life. Artificial stone is durable, and therefore can retain all its characteristics for decades.

For finishing, you need to choose an artificial stone that is small in size and has a relief surface. Deeper textures will look somewhat cumbersome. Cladding is carried out using various technologies. Most often, installation is done in a way that allows you to arrange uneven edges. Today, special elements have been developed that are able to cope with the function of the corner pad. They are very convenient and allow you to do without trimming.

How to decorate a front door doorway using decorative stone? The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. After the areas where the artificial stone will be glued have been selected, markings are carried out. To eliminate errors as much as possible, it is better to lay out all the necessary stones on the floor in a given order in advance.
2. Treat the walls with a deep-penetrating primer. This promotes better adhesion of materials. Allow the areas to dry thoroughly.
3. For fixation, use special tile adhesive or liquid nails. The latter option is suitable for cases where the surface is perfectly flat.
4. The composition is applied to the back side of the elements. Any excess must be removed.
5. The stone is laid in ways that make it possible to form a seam or make do with a monolithic surface devoid of joints.
6. The parts are placed in their places and pressed. It is important to ensure good grip.
7. If joints appear, they must be rubbed. The color of the mixture should be monochromatic or contrasting.

Doorway shapes

Finishing openings between rooms without a door is complicated not only by the choice of material used, but also by what shape this very opening will be.

The solution to this issue will affect the harmony of the transition between rooms, the lighting of the rooms, the combination of styles in the interior and the practicality of movement.

Rectangular

A common option is rectangular. Such an opening remains immediately after dismantling the door frame and it has its advantages:

• suitable for all finishing materials;
• no additional structures are required;
• clearly delineates two living spaces, for example, a balcony and a kitchen, while visually expanding both;
• Great for modern interior design styles.

A wide rectangular opening allows the slopes to be used as niches for interior items

Arched

The arch has an interesting ability: in rooms with low ceilings, it visually raises them, and in cases with high ceilings, on the contrary, it lowers them. Moreover, the wider the arch-shaped opening, the lower the ceiling appears.

Many people prefer this option for its softness and lack of sharp corners, which makes transitions between rooms more invisible. The arch fits perfectly when exiting the hall; if it is wide enough, the movement between rooms will be imperceptible.

The absence of massive doorway decor emphasizes the beauty and complexity of the rest of the interior

A nice addition are ready-made solutions - arched extensions, prepared for installation in doorways.

Extensions and developed edging of the opening emphasize the complex shape of the opening, placing a visual emphasis on it

Trapezoidal

This form is used very rarely, due to the fact that in small areas such a solution has the opposite effect: the room does not expand, and the ceiling visually lowers. Especially in cases where the upper horizontal part of the trapezoid is too narrow. It may seem that when decorating the opening they wanted to make an arch, but did not have enough strength and skills.

Such an opening looks good when it matches the shape of the room located behind it, as in this picture

The polygon will fit well into the passage where double-leaf interior doors were planned or installed. Using drywall, you can easily and effortlessly turn a rectangular opening into a smooth trapezoid by securing it at the corners of the opening.

Asymmetric

A doorway that embodies the fantasies of the owners of a living space is an asymmetrical shape. Designers love it for its ability to bring the most amazing solutions to life. The opening ceases to be the boundary of two rooms, it turns into a decoration of the apartment, into an element that attracts the eye and emphasizes the given style.

An asymmetrical opening is the highlight of any interior

However, there are nuances here that many people forget about and encounter difficulties during the work process:

• you cannot undertake the expansion of the opening without creating a project where all the possibilities of load-bearing walls and ceilings will be taken into account;
• sharp corners and sharp shapes have a negative psychological impact on others; it is necessary to minimize the presence of irritating factors so that ennobled openings serve as an advantage and not a disadvantage.

Using plaster

Now this method has noticeably decreased in popularity. Although 10 years ago this method was considered the most accessible. In fact, many people underestimate plaster. Although she still has her shortcomings. For example, it involves significant labor costs during application, especially if a person lacks experience. You cannot do without dirt by resorting to plastering of surfaces. But it is still difficult to find another composition that would be so ideally combined with other materials.

Algorithm of actions when using plaster:

1. Prepare the required amount of mixture. There should be enough solution to last for half an hour of work.
2. The mixture is poured onto the surface and leveled using a construction rule or a wide spatula.
3. If necessary, beacons and perforated profile guides are installed.
4. If the mortar layer exceeds 1.5 cm, a reinforcing mesh must be laid.

The finished surface needs to be painted. But it’s better if the plaster plays the role of the starting composition. It is advisable to use textured or decorative putty as a finishing touch; it is applied in a certain order. This results in a coating with good decorative properties. Such a doorway can become a real interior decoration.

The easiest way

The easiest way to seal a door slope is to use “L”-shaped additional strips. They are usually made from MDF. All that is required in this case is to cut to the required depth and make a 45° cut correctly and clearly. Then you need to coat the end part with liquid nails, apply mounting foam to the inside and press everything against the wall.

The easiest way to design a slope is to use “L”-shaped panels

And, as always, there are “buts”, and serious ones at that. First, these platbands are expensive. Secondly, they are only available in large cities and in specialized retail outlets. Third, there are usually only a few colors in stock, all others are supplied to order. Therefore, other methods of cladding MDF door slopes are often used.

Arrangement of the arch

The arch transforms the interior. But you can arrange such a structure yourself only if you have some experience. There are arches that are standard in size. They are ready to install and only require careful installation.

The easiest way to make arches is made from plasterboard. The work is carried out as follows:

1. A frame is installed on both sides. It is fixed on the vertical and upper horizontal posts. In the first case, it can have a size almost equal to the end of the rounding.
2. GCR parts are fixed to the frame. Arcs are cut out on them in advance using ready-made stencils.
3. Additional lathing is performed in the plane of the resulting structure. It is necessary to secure an arched element made of plasterboard.
4. The final finishing is performed using putty. Various materials are suitable for decorative cladding.

You can use more noble materials to make an arch, but this will require more skill.

Trapezoidal opening

The shape of the opening in the form of a trapezoid is rarely found in city apartments. It is more suitable for large living spaces, where it will neatly fit into the interior in combination with the selected design.

If you plan to make a trapezoidal door space in an apartment where the ceilings are not too high, it is important not to leave the upper horizontal section of the trapezoid too narrow. This form will not only visually make the room smaller by lowering the ceiling, but will also make the interior heavier, spoiling the overall impression of it.

Photo: trapezoidal doorway

The lack of smooth outlines in the opening makes the living space uncomfortable, even despite the general style of its design. Therefore, if an opening without a door leaf is installed in an apartment, the trapezoid shape should be abandoned.

Other design methods

It is permissible to use other methods to design doorways. They consist of using screens or decorative curtains. This method is considered accessible and simple; among other things, it does not require complex work.

Various options are allowed:

• Fabric curtain. They can be an excellent addition to any interior. The composition is placed so that it does not create disharmony with other interior elements and is combined with the window decoration.
• Bamboo curtains. If the room is made in eco-style, this option will come in handy.
• Curtains in the form of threads. Such products are used when they want to give a room an unusual look.

How to finish slopes after installing an iron door

After completing the installation of the door, it is extremely important to properly caulk or sew up the jamb to hide the concrete, brick, and other finishing materials. It is possible to arrange the entrance to the house in several ways, using all kinds of building materials.

Drywall

A common, labor-intensive way to design door slopes. First, the gypsum board needs to be built in, then puttyed, carefully painted with a water-based paint composition or covered with wallpaper. As a result, the surface of the jamb will be smooth and attractive.

Artificial or natural stone

A luxurious option that plays a decorative role. It is considered expensive (if it is a natural material). The latter is extremely durable, environmentally friendly, and resistant to external influences. Artificially created stones are made from gypsum, are relatively cheap, and have multiple disadvantages.

Tile

Tile slopes are durable, easy to maintain, resistant to moisture, and do not scratch. However, it is unusual to look at them: such material is more often found in the kitchen and bathroom. In addition, laying mosaics takes a lot of time. Today it is not in trend, therefore it is not popular.

Extras

More suitable for a corridor in which there are many doors (entrance iron, interior wooden). Then the door leaves and slopes can be decorated with the same material. Extensions are easy to install, but they are more expensive than MDF and laminate.

How to do the work yourself and what is needed for this?

Facing Tools:

• PVC - glue or construction staples, knife or scissors for trimming, panels, sandpaper, decorative plastic corners or strips;
• eco-veneer - iron, film, sandpaper, nitro varnish, solvent, weight for the press;
• laminate - screwdriver, screws, strips, decorative corners, buttons, primer, putty;
• painting - paint and varnish composition, primer, putty, sandpaper, brushes, roller, even supports;
• MDF panels - screws, screwdriver, corners, putty and primer mixtures.

Finishing with various building materials has general instructions:

1. preparation of the base;
2. applying putty, primer;
3. grouting a new layer;
4. cladding;
5. checking the canvas for ease of opening and closing.

Do-it-yourself finishing is a process in which you can show your imagination and feel like a professional. But it also requires accuracy, diligence, and patience. If you follow the instructions and recommendations, you can turn an ordinary door into a work of art.