Do-it-yourself MDF door slopes: finishing the front door

MDF is one of the most popular materials used for finishing. Such panels look very representative and also suit any style. Very often used for finishing doorways. Let's take a closer look at how to make slopes for the front door with your own hands from MDF.

MDF slopes are a popular option for finishing a doorway

Features of the material

To complete the design of the doorway, a prerequisite is the creation of smooth and neat slopes. Often, owners decide to do everything themselves. A wide variety of materials are used for these purposes; MDF is one of the popular options.

MDF slopes can be used for entrance doors in almost any interior. This material has a number of positive qualities:

Strength. Resists moderate impacts and most damage.
Decorative. It looks great and adds an atmosphere of comfort and style.
Variety of coatings. May differ in color and type of top layer: veneer, eco-veneer, PVC, etc.
Ease of installation. Easy to process and install with your own hands, even for a beginner.
Imitation wood. The coating basically imitates wood texture and may look like an expensive species.
Soundproofing. Provides additional protection from outside noise.

The main advantages of MDF panels are their strength and ease of installation.

It should be taken into account that under unfavorable operating conditions, in particular high humidity, as well as when using low-quality material, MDF can peel off over time, swell and delaminate. Also, the coating does not withstand strong impacts and contact with sharp objects.

How to cover the outside of a street door?

Moreover, you need to understand that not every material can be used to process the external or internal part of the structure.

To update a box located from the street with your own hands, you can use:

Steel sheets. Their structure can be smooth or embossed with an imitation of an interesting pattern. Good sheets of steel will protect the room from drafts entering the room, but they must have a backing made of polymer or cork.
Viniplast. It may consist of fiberboard or PVC. This material is not resistant to sunlight, and therefore it must be coated with a special varnish with an ultraviolet filter.

Insulation of the opening and preparation

The first thing to start with is preparing the opening itself. It's very easy to do it yourself. First you need to free the opening from all unnecessary things, in particular, from the remains of construction waste. If you are afraid of staining or damaging the new door, you can leave a protective film on it or remove the door completely while the work is being carried out.

First of all, remove dust and seal all cracks with foam or sealant. Then you need to take care of applying an antiseptic impregnation or primer. To further insulate the opening from the cold and noise from outside the apartment, a layer of insulation should be laid along the slopes. The following are most often used as such a substrate:

mineral wool;
isolon;
padding polyester;
polyurethane foam;
foamed polystyrene.

Proper finishing of the entrance door slopes requires a layer of insulation

An excellent option is spraying insulation, but this is a very expensive undertaking. To facilitate further cladding and final insulation of gaps, it is recommended to plaster the slopes. A small layer will be enough; it is not necessary to create a perfectly flat surface. Special corner profiles are installed in the corners; this will not only facilitate the leveling task, but will also strengthen such a vulnerable part of the slopes.

Installation of slopes using the adhesive method

If preference is given to the glue method, then you should familiarize yourself with the tips for installing the front door and MDF slopes. Work algorithm:

First of all, for the glue method, you need to plaster the slopes.
It is recommended to treat the prepared surface with a primer. After priming, the surface must be waited until completely dry.
Install beacon profiles according to level. To install profiles on slopes, apply a solution and level the beacons in all directions. Give the solution time to set.
The solution is applied to the slopes and leveled along the beacons with a spatula. After the manipulations, the slopes should be left for 2 days until the solution completely sets.
The inside of the part is coated with glue and pressed to the surface.
When all the elements are installed, the resulting joints are sealed or covered with overlays.

Marking and cutting

No less important stage in the process of finishing door slopes than preparation and installation itself is cutting the necessary fragments. In order to take measurements as accurately as possible, one tape measure will not be enough. Use a square and templates to create unique patterns.

You need to start with the bar that you plan to secure first. This is usually the top panel. Please note that in most cases the edges of the slopes are not evenly cut, but run slightly at an angle. All this should be displayed on MDF. Subsequent elements must be applied after installing the initial panel. That is why the process of marking and cutting is combined with installation.

Cutting MDF panels should start from the top strip

You can cut MDF using a hacksaw or saw, but the best option is a jigsaw. Thanks to its cutting element, it is possible to obtain a perfect cut without chips or burrs. Plus, you won't have to put in any effort.

When working with sidewalls, be sure to take into account the presence of a threshold. This is an important point as it can significantly affect the height of the side bars.

Buy MDF overlay in Moscow and the Moscow region

To make an entrance metal or armored door aesthetically attractive and harmonize with the interior design, many office owners and company representatives use door trims. has been providing its services in the door lining manufacturing market in Moscow and the Moscow region for more than 17 years, providing its customers with unsurpassed quality products at affordable prices. Our designers are always aware of all the new fashion trends in the production of MDF overlays. An individual approach, as well as the constant expansion of the range of samples, allow us to provide our clients with the widest variety of ready-made design solutions. Huge production capacity and the use of modern, high-tech equipment allow us to complete even the most complex orders without significant time delays.

You can always order the production of a door lining of any shape and size by calling our managers.

A technician’s visit to take measurements in Moscow and the Moscow region costs 1,000 rubles (free of charge when concluding an agreement to replace the door trim).

Installation of panels

In order to install door slopes into the opening with your own hands, you need to complete several stages of work:

First you need to decide on the mounting method. If the panels do not have a locking connection, the easiest way is to secure them to the frame. As the latter, you can use aluminum profiles or wooden planks, which is more preferable.
Determine the level at which the trim will be placed. In this case, it is important to take into account the thickness of the panels themselves, since if the material protrudes excessively in the opening, the movement of the door leaf may be difficult.
The frame is fixed to the wall using bolts. You will also need a drill for this. From the inside, you can attach the strip to the door frame itself. There is also an alternative to a wooden frame - special guides that are installed at the corners of the opening. This option is suitable for installing L-shaped panels.
After the frame is fixed, MDF panels are applied to it and all excess is cut off. You can first secure the top crossbar and then proceed to the sides, or do the opposite. MDF can be glued to wooden planks using liquid nails or nailed. In the latter case, small nails without heads are used.

Examples of finishing entrance door slopes with MDF panels

In order to eliminate drafts, additionally insulate slopes and provide stronger adhesion, polyurethane foam is used. It is important not to smear the MDF during the foaming process, as it will not be easy to clean.

Installation technology

MDF panels for metal doors are mounted using a fairly simple technology:

To do the job most efficiently, you should remove the canvas. This method will allow you to avoid distortions that may appear if you try to carry out the process by weight. All protruding elements are removed from the part. Before starting finishing work, it is necessary to remove the door leaf from the hinges
The canvas is laid on a flat and stable surface.
It all starts with sanding all areas well. It is necessary to remove old paint and possible traces of corrosion. Next comes cleaning and degreasing.

Now you should prepare the panel itself. On the reverse side, it is wiped well to eliminate any contamination that could lead to peeling. Next, a special adhesive is applied to the door base. It is selected taking into account the materials used. It is distributed in waves, and all edges must be well coated. The choice of glue should be approached very carefully, otherwise all the work may be in vain. For greater convenience, the location of all door connectors is marked in advance. The panel is laid on the surface. They carefully align it and begin to press it

It is important to ensure that the MDF lies clearly in its place. To get the job done faster, clamps are used. Holes are drilled around the perimeter, the distance between which should be ten to eleven centimeters

They will allow for additional fixation with self-tapping screws. If additional screws were used, then further work is carried out immediately. They consist in drilling out places for handles and locks. MDF panel for the door - installed.

It is necessary to take into account that a significant problem may arise - the handles do not fall into place. This will mean that the thickness of the overlays is chosen incorrectly. But it happens that it is impossible to find another one. Then the holes for the handles are milled, which are recessed into the panel.

Final finishing

After the mounting foam has dried and the glue has set, you can begin the final finishing. First of all, it is necessary to cut off all protruding areas of foam along the edges. This is best done with a painting knife. To prevent the foam from collapsing under the influence of the external environment, it must be carefully puttied. To avoid smearing the new slopes, cover them with masking tape.

The final stage of installation of slopes is the installation of platbands

To give the doorway an ideal appearance, platbands are installed on top of the sealed cracks on the slopes. The last stage is masking the connection points. If you used nails, then you need to use a special mastic to match the finish or furniture stickers.

Thus, it is possible to install slopes for entrance doors made of MDF or other similar materials without much effort. Anyone can do everything with their own hands, since available materials and the simplest technologies are used for the work.

Installation technology

MDF panels for metal doors are mounted using a fairly simple technology:

The interior of a house will not have a complete look without modern doors - beautiful, comfortable and reliable. And in order for the door to be opened conveniently, the doorway slopes must be correctly installed and finished with high quality. In addition, a fully finished slope can be attached to the door frame. In this case, you will not have to spend time on finishing work.

Video lessons on the topic

Vinyl leather for door upholstery is sold both by the meter and in sets. In some sets, the method of fastening may be different: they have plastic profiles that are attached around the perimeter of the door leaf. These profiles have a fixation system similar to that used in suspended ceilings.

The following video shows the process using roll material.

How to insulate and upholster the front door. The second type of bead formation technique is that it is nailed last.

Painting instead of tape

If you are not satisfied with white masking tape or it does not fit into the interior of the room, then the lining of the slopes can be painted, but before installing the boards and strips, they must be carefully sanded and applied to the color of interest.

Wood, unlike metals and plastic, absorbs paint strongly, so it must be painted in several layers until an even, smooth coating is formed. Each subsequent layer is applied after the previous ones have dried.

However, there is a varied range of colors of masking tapes and you can choose the appropriate option. Then you won’t have to waste time painting the window trim.

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Why is this necessary?

It is necessary to trim the slopes of the doorway. First of all, to create an aesthetic appearance, because when removing the old box, the slopes were probably damaged. The next reason is the need to hide the installation process. The polyurethane foam doesn't look the best.

The designed slope must meet certain criteria:

no condensation formation;
aesthetic appearance;
improving door thermal insulation;
resistance to temperature changes;
easy care and washing without loss of appearance.

This is interesting: Finishing a doorway with extensions and platbands: we study in detail

Conclusion

To finish a door using MDF panels, you need to select the right panels in style and color. It is important to take into account the interior of the rooms that are in contact with this doorway.

It is necessary to achieve harmony between the door leaf and the opening, as well as their integrity. You need to try so that the heads of the screws do not protrude. They must be covered with special covers.

MDF panels, due to their combination of many advantages, variety of colors and stylistic solutions, and low cost, are considered the best solution for decorating door slopes.

How to make a replacement?

Panels are attached to the row in various ways. Some models use an adhesive compound (foam, liquid nails, glue), and the overlay is fixed to the frame or stiffeners. Often MDF sheets are screwed onto self-tapping screws. The third method of fixation is through grooves and additional fastening with moldings (lock and end).

If the panel was fixed by grooves and side strips, then it is replaced in the following sequence:

First you need to dismantle the inner panel. First remove the seal, then unscrew the fasteners at the end and near the lock.
Remove the locking device and dismantle the strips.
Remove the old panel and put a new trim in its place.
Return the lock to its place, secure the bolts and screws.
Replace the end strip in the same way.
Remove the outer panel, first loosening the fixing screws. Unscrew the armor plate.
Make suitable holes in the new overlay, using the old panel as a guide. Place the cover into the grooves.
Reinstall the moldings and armor plate, then the handle.

After all these steps, you should check the functioning of the locks and handles. To better fix the outer panel so that it fits well into the grooves, you should gently tap the milk on the placed board. This must be done from the opposite edge.

Which type should I choose?

The choice may be influenced by the technical characteristics of the material, its appearance and the complexity of installing a slope made from it.

There are two types:

Plastering . The plaster coating itself is quite durable, but we must take into account that a new house can settle, in which case the plaster can crack and fall off, in addition, it does not protect against the cold very well.

The installation process will require a significant amount of time, above-zero outside temperatures and good ventilation, otherwise the compositions will not “set.”

Remember that plaster can pollute the room. The advantages of plaster coating are low cost and the possibility of periodic renewal.

From sheet materials (plasterboard, MDF, plastic). Installing such slopes on windows with your own hands is much faster than plastering ones; they can also be installed at sub-zero temperatures.

Drywall is a fairly economical material; it can be repainted depending on changes in the interior. When installing it, you need to be especially careful so as not to damage the window.

Coating options

The general name “tile” can hide materials that are very different in properties and appearance. Among them are the most frequently used ones. At the same time, some types of material of this type will be more suitable for such decor, while others - less, since the complexity of processing some options will exceed the advantages that finishing with decorative tiles provides.

Tile. Its main advantage over other types is that the choice of similar material in construction markets is huge. At the same time, the tile can be easily cleaned of dirt and when using waterproof grout, the coating is not afraid of water. However, decorating such surfaces with ceramic tiles will require you to know how to cut them, since many components will have to be adjusted to size.
In almost every case, trimming of another type of tile – porcelain stoneware – will be required. The components of the coating, as a rule, are larger than necessary in size and almost all elements will need to be cut. Therefore, finishing with such tiles is suitable mainly for wide door slopes, where a minimum of parts will need to be cut.
The design of doors and windows with brick tiles looks beautiful. If the interior is decorated in a style that involves the presence of brick surfaces, then such decoration of a window or doorway will be very appropriate.
Mosaic. Stylish and beautiful material. It is suitable for those who do not yet have skills in processing ceramics or porcelain stoneware, since due to the small size of the individual components, cutting almost never needs to be done. This tiling of slopes looks good in the bathroom.
The most rare option is finishing slopes with clinker tiles. It is most often used for exterior decoration and is excellent for this. Some types of exterior home design involve framing windows and doors with brick or stone, and clinker is an excellent choice in this case.

Window frame

Next, you need to measure the four sides of the window and cut four boards 1 cm thick according to the resulting dimensions. But you need to measure like this: for example, measure the width of the window sill and add the size of the board width to the obtained data, if the width of the window sill is one meter and the width of the material is 10 cm, then The total length of the cut board will be 120 cm.

Before gluing, sand the boards and then attach them with glue to the wall along the window borders. The frame must be installed flush with the slopes. To form 90 degree framing angles, you must use a square.

Basic properties

MDF refers to tile wood materials that have the following properties.

Which include:

Increased strength of slabs;
High-quality surface of the panels, which is achieved thanks to special processing during manufacturing;
Low level of hygroscopicity and non-corrosion;
Environmental friendliness and safety of the material for humans;
High sound insulation properties;
Affordable price and wide selection of colors.

Non-standard solutions

In addition to the above standard methods using popular materials, you can use more original options that will highlight the interior, decorate the front door and surprise your friends:

Artificial stone is a non-standard finishing of slopes. The main advantage is resistance to mechanical stress (if it is not a plaster model, it is fragile). Not a cheap option, requires the participation of a specialist.

Tile. A type such as clinker (imitation brick or stone) is suitable.
Plastic panels are an affordable but unreliable finish.
Decorative plaster – in terms of aesthetics and durability, it has no equal. But you will need to work hard to find a good specialist in this field, because this work requires a creative approach and professionalism.

Materials can be combined if their properties are similar (sandwich panel parts + stone, laminate + tile and others).

General information

Advantages and disadvantages of MDF

Installing a doorway is a rather labor-intensive process in which accuracy is important. However, this work can be done with your own hands.

The following advantages of this material are highlighted:

Affordability;
ease of installation;
aesthetics;
the material has good density, which contributes to additional heat and sound insulation;
environmentally friendly and safe material. Can be used for finishing both external and interior doors;
Large range of colors;
Resistant to rotting and mold deposits;
are durable. The panels are not able to deform and swell;
suitable for finishing doorways of any thickness.

Unfortunately, there are disadvantages here too. Firstly, this is not resistant to strong mechanical impact, but it is quite resistant to moderate impact. Once damaged, the panel cannot be repaired. Also, the material is not able to withstand high humidity.

DIY slope installation

Any work begins with preparation. It is necessary to remove all contamination from the surface to be finished, eliminate and repair all chips and cracks in the walls. If there is such a need, install waterproofing.

Then you need to take measurements and calculate the required amount of materials.

MDF panels come in two types: L-shaped finishing and wall.

The nuances of marking and sawing MDF

In order to most accurately mark the required fragments, it is better to use a square and patterns in addition to a tape measure. You need to start with the top panels. Basically, slopes have uneven edges at a slight angle. This needs to be displayed on MDF. After installing the first panel, apply the following elements. Marking and cutting are carried out during the installation process.

MDF is cut with a hacksaw, saw or jigsaw. The last one produces the most ideal cut without any burrs or chips.

Important: When installing side elements, do not forget about the presence of a threshold, as this will affect the height of the side bar.