How to insulate the front door: insulating a metal door

The market for modern finishing materials offers a variety of entrance doors that differ in the quality of their finish, their burglary resistance index, as well as their heat and sound insulation properties. Not every apartment owner can afford to purchase an expensive door that meets all the requirements for it. In such cases, the consumer orders a metal sheet and carries out the insulation with his own hands, in order to avoid heat loss during the operation of a residential or public premises.

Insulated entrance door to a private house

Why do you need to insulate your front door?

Insulation of the front door is carried out with the involvement of a specialized organization, or with your own hands, if any of the following situations occur:

Low thermal characteristics of the fencing fabric of the structure, lack of insulation between the elements of external and internal finishing.
The presence of gaps between the door leaf and the supporting frame of the frame, due to poor-quality sealing of the vestibule.
Formation of condensation or ice on the inner surface of the door leaf due to temperature differences in the winter season.

Freezing of the front door

When installing additional insulation, the heat transfer resistance of the structural element increases several times, which contributes to a significant improvement in energy efficiency indicators.

When do you need to insulate wooden doors?

Entrance door structures are a kind of shield that helps protect against a large number of external influences. Therefore, the products themselves must have maximum strength and reliability. Special characteristics are also important, guaranteeing protection from frost and heat, foreign odors and noise.

According to advice from experts, insulation is relevant under the following circumstances:

The design was originally purchased without insulation, simply as free-standing doors.
The old insulation of the selected type was installed poorly or was worn out during operation.
The wooden door has lost its attractive appearance, even if it was installed correctly.

It is recommended to replace old insulation materials when more modern materials with improved characteristics appear. Doing the work yourself allows you to save maximum money.

Materials for insulating the entrance door

When installing insulation for the entrance door to an apartment, residential building or public space, experts recommend the use of the following effective insulating materials:

Ribbed rigid cardboard is the most economical material. An air layer is formed in the voids between the bends, which enhances the heat-saving properties. The cellulose product is resistant to moisture and is installed exclusively inside the door leaf.

Insulating the door leaf with cardboard

Foam rubber filler - used both as an independent insulating material and in the form of a sealing tape. It has been used in repair and finishing work since Soviet times, and has proven itself as a reliable, effective, durable and cheap means of increasing the energy efficiency of a room.

The device of the foam rubber seal

Isolon is a more modern material that has the same functional qualities as foam rubber. It has improved water-repellent properties and a more expensive retail price.

Insulation with isolon

Foamed polystyrene foam is widely used in construction and installation industries as an effective insulation material. It can be mounted both on the outside of the door and inside the leaf. The only drawback is the flammability of polystyrene foam, which significantly limits its range of applications.

Polystyrene insulation

Mineral wool is a porous insulation made from natural stone fibers. Withstands temperatures up to 1000 °C, is easy to install, compresses and lasts for several decades. The material must be protected from moisture, as it is easily saturated with water and loses its thermal properties.

Insulation with mineral wool

Elastomeric materials serve more for sealing than for insulation. At the same time, the porous structure of the synthetic substance effectively protects the room not only from the penetration of cold, but also from the propagation of sound waves.
Batting is a cotton material that is often used when upholstering the front door with leatherette. Protects the door leaf from heat loss. Over time, it settles under its own weight and is easily saturated with water.

Insulation with batting

In addition to the listed traditional materials, foamed chemical semi-liquid compounds are also used in practice, which are injected into the internal cavity of the door leaf, filling every bend, which ensures reliable insulation.

Common Mistakes

Let's briefly talk about what not to do and how to avoid being a victim of failure:

Foam insulation. When choosing a material for sealing the joint between the door and the frame, abandon the idea of foam rubber parts. The reason lies in the fact that this filler quickly breaks down and loses its properties. And if the “guard” is used frequently, the insulation will need to be replaced after a couple of months of winter.

Foaming the box. Polyurethane foam, like nothing else, is suitable for insulating hard-to-reach places, including door frames. But do not overdo it when applying liquid to the surface!

If this is your first time touching a can, remember that the foam significantly increases in volume after sealing.

In this case, the insulation will end up in all possible places: from wallpaper to the insides of mechanical locks. Otherwise, you will have to deal not only with insulation, but also with parallel repairs.

That's all! Now, you can independently check in practice how to insulate a door with your own hands, and create comfort in your home and family budget.

Ways to insulate the front door

Depending on the nature of freezing and where cold bridges form, several of the most popular methods of insulating the front door differ. The most popular methods used by craftsmen in practice are described in detail below.

Along the perimeter of the opening

The most common place where the door leaf is blown through is the area where it adjoins the frame. Such problems arise due to loose connections or deformation of structural elements. To insulate the entrance door around the perimeter, the following methods are used:

Foam tapes - quickly glued and available in different sizes. The products are short-lived and require replacement annually, as the material is destroyed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation and a humid environment.
Tubular polymer hollow seals are characterized by increased durability. To any external influences of an aggressive environment, they are easily glued with adhesives. They are often produced in a self-adhesive version and equipped with a protective film. The cross-sectional dimensions are selected depending on the size of the gap in the entrance door ledge.

Tubular seal device

Rubber seals are the most expensive and durable material. Natural resins do not release toxins when heated, and the polymer remains elastic and does not crack even in severe frosts. Popular for private residential buildings, when installing an entrance door bordering the street space.
PVC tape is a modern insulating porous material that is widely used in houses and apartments. It has different widths, depending on the size, location of fixation and thickness of the gap.

PVC tape sticker

When installing insulating material around the perimeter of the front door, you should follow a simple algorithm:

The contact surface is cleaned of dust and dirt until a smooth plane without foreign solid particles is achieved. If necessary, the part is polished.
Next, the surface must be degreased using acetone or alcohol-containing liquids.
If there is no factory glue on the seal, a liquid adhesive compound is applied to the back side of the straightened element, evenly distributed over the entire length and thickness of the product.

Sticker of a seal that prevents blowing

The sticker should be applied from top to bottom, without tension, with careful smoothing of the tape along its entire length.

After applying the insulating tape, you should once again smooth the material over the surface of the door with slight pressure. It should be noted that some adhesive compositions require a certain time for polymerization. The door can only be used after the glue has completely dried.

Insulation work should be carried out before the onset of cold weather, since, at subzero temperatures, the glue may not dry, and the effectiveness of the seal disappears after just a few days.

We insulate the door leaf

Now we are ready to begin the most interesting question: how to insulate a wooden door with your own hands? This means, get ready, you will have to knock down the entire door. To make it easier to remember the action plan, read the preparation instructions below:

Remove all the fabric from the loops. You should eliminate all unevenness and deflections of the box to make sure there are no sources of cold. It is best to replace all old mechanical parts with new ones before installation.

Cutting out components. If you already know the dimensions of the “wood guard,” then cut out the exact parameters for the insulation. Attach them to the panel using a stapler or glue, depending on the composition of the padding.

Cover the wooden canvas with leatherette and start fixing it from the middle. If desired, leave the upholstery with an allowance of 1-2 cm for hems and decorations. And here, as fasteners, your decorative nails with a round hat will come in handy, which will add style to our “creation.” You can create a wide variety of patterns and designs with fishing line - just let your imagination run wild!

Carefully iron the finished fabric to remove wrinkles and irregularities. If the weight of the door has increased noticeably since the start of work, then install an additional hinge between the two main ones. Security will never be unnecessary.

Video on how to insulate a wooden door

Entire door trim

With normal sealing of the door leaf around the perimeter, freezing can occur along the entire plane of the enclosing element. This situation occurs when the insulation inside the fabric is insufficiently effective, or when it is completely absent. In such cases, the door surface is completely insulated using the following algorithm:

The door leaf is removed from the supporting frame.
The product is placed on a flat horizontal surface.

Removing the front door

Typically, a door consists of two layers of sheet metal or one layer and an MDF panel. One of the elements is removed to provide access to the interior of the canvas.
Insulation is laid in the internal space - polystyrene foam or mineral wool, which is pre-cut to size. It should be noted that basalt materials have a high degree of elasticity, and they should be cut to a slightly larger size than the landing size.
All joints between sheets of insulation are treated with polyurethane foam from a container.
The top panel of the door is fixed in its previous position using self-tapping screws or rivets.

Laying mineral wool into the canvas

The canvas is hung back on the frame, and the master tests its performance.

When insulating a wooden door, it is necessary to install insulation on either side of the door - external or internal. Insulating the structure from the cold side is considered the most effective. When installing a soft insulating layer, it is also necessary to provide a finishing coating made of polymer film, genuine leather, MDF or leatherette.

Preparing doors for trim

The work is carried out in stages, it is better to write a plan on paper and carry out all the actions according to it, this will help to avoid mistakes.
First you need to prepare the door. To make it easier to work with, the wooden door leaf is removed from its hinges using a nail puller. To do this, the canvas is pryed at the bottom, and it comes off its hinges on its own. If the awnings are rusty, they are lubricated with oil, and then they begin to remove the door, this is done so that the metal element does not break off. Then gradually turn the hinge, without sudden movements, and remove the door leaf.

When the doors are removed, all additional elements are removed from them, that is, eyes, handles, locks, and hinges. If the door is covered with another material, it must be removed so that access to the wooden material is open. The canvas needs to be placed in a convenient place so that it is comfortable to walk around it while fully performing the work.

Insulation of door thresholds

All entrance doors are installed with thresholds, as this element plays an important role in ensuring safety and insulating properties. Most often, for entrance doors, this structural element is made of the same materials as the door leaf. The manufacturer does not always provide additional insulation for this element, and the homeowner is forced to do this work independently:

If there is a gap between the threshold and the floor. The element is dismantled and liquid insulation is poured under it using a mounting gun. Upon completion of the procedure, the threshold is set in place, and after polymerization of the substance, its excess is cut off with a knife.

Insulation of thresholds

Polyurethane foam or other liquid insulation can also be installed inside a hollow profile. To do this, you need to drill a small hole about 8 - 10 mm in diameter, where the diffuser of the foam cylinder is directed.
A more complex, but technologically advanced operation is to lay a heating cable in the body of the threshold. To do this, you will need to make an electrical connection to the power line, as well as install a thermostat on the wall. When carrying out such drastic measures, you should immediately lay a heating element around the entire perimeter of the box.

Installation of a heating cable in a door frame

When the threshold is insulated, freezing of the front door is eliminated, as well as the accumulation of ice, which interferes with the normal operation of the element in a private house in winter.

Insulation materials

To insulate doors, ordinary cotton wool is often used. This material has been used for a long time, but it has significant drawbacks. It absorbs moisture, which creates ideal conditions for the proliferation of microorganisms. In addition, wool can move under the sheathing, which leads to the formation of uneven surfaces.

Foam rubber

Therefore, instead of cotton wool, it is better to use another popular insulation material - foam rubber. It is practical and easy to use. Foam rubber is well attached to the surface with glue or nails. Its disadvantage is that after a year it begins to crumble under the influence of moisture.

Izolon

The next common material is isolon. It costs more than foam rubber, but has better heat-protective properties. Its main advantage is that it is possible to obtain good thermal insulation performance using a material of minimal thickness.

Fillers

In addition to the above materials, silicone fillers and mineral insulation are used. Silicone fillers are resistant to external influences, but do not provide the required level of sound insulation. Mineral insulation is the most functional, environmentally friendly and safe for health.

Installation of a duplicate entrance door

This solution was actively used by consumers at the end of the last century, when the technology for manufacturing entrance doors had not yet been perfected. Today, this technique is used less frequently and exclusively for economy class steel doors. There are two basic options for installing a duplicate door leaf:

Using one box. This option is rarely used, since the second door is usually made of wood, and the outer door is made of metal, which requires different frame materials.

If both panels are made from similar materials, then this solution significantly reduces the cost of the design, and installation is carried out in one stage.

The solution of installing two wooden doors is actively used in Finland to fill openings in energy-efficient private houses.

Wooden double door

Using two differentiated frames - this technique is usually used if a second door is installed in an apartment or private house with the old door already installed. In such situations, the metal product is mounted in alignment with the outer edge of the wall structure so as not to interfere with the normal functioning of the previously installed door.

Duplicate doors in the apartment

When combining wooden and metal entrance doors for one opening, the maximum energy efficiency of a living space is achieved, since not only the materials of each of the panels, but also the air gap between them participate in the resistance to heat transfer.

Self-installation of the seal

Insulating the door using various types of moldings is considered the simplest option. Actually, we do not touch the doors themselves, only the cracks around the perimeter are closed. The main material here is a self-adhesive cord; it can be made of porous materials or rubber.

If the door is wooden, then the seal is glued to the groove of the frame. In the case when the door block is made of metal, the insulating molding is glued to the door. Now let's figure out how to properly glue molding to a wooden structure.
First, the box is cleaned of the old seal, all nails are pulled out, and the surface of the groove is lightly sanded.
Then you need to wipe the base from dust.
The protective film is removed from the molding and the tape is glued from top to bottom along the very edge of the door frame.
Horizontal seals are glued overlapping onto vertical strips.
At the end, you need to cut the overlap of the two tapes at 45º and remove the excess.

Step-by-step instructions for installing a seal on a wooden door

Gluing the sealing tape to the edge of the metal door leaf is carried out in a similar way, but here, instead of light grinding, the surface of the metal must first be degreased with an alcohol-containing solution, for example, white spirit or cologne.

Before covering the perimeter of a metal door with sealing tape, it is advisable to degrease the base

Advice! There is now an inexpensive door sealing kit on sale that uses self-adhesive foam tape. Theoretically, there is nothing wrong with it, but the foam rubber takes 3 to 4 months, so this set is enough for a maximum of a season.

If polymer porous moldings can last up to 5 years, then self-adhesive foam tape wears out completely within a season

Expert recommendations for insulating your front door

Not every beginner understands how to properly insulate the front door and achieve the expected result. When installing insulating materials, many home craftsmen make a number of serious mistakes. To prevent this from happening, experts recommend following some simple rules:

When examining the door before insulation, it is necessary to identify all cold bridges, since even the slightest freezing will cause a decrease in the temperature in the room.

Cold bridges on the front door

When installing insulation, a combined method should be used - compaction along the contour and installation of heat-insulating mats over the entire surface of the sheet.
If the door leaf has been in use for many years and has undergone severe physical wear and tear, the best solution would be to replace such a product with a new one.

Replacing the front door

When installing a duplicate door, it is important to monitor the tightness of the air space between the two opening filling elements. In such cases, the effect of double glazing will be obtained, which will significantly increase energy efficiency.

Installation of a duplicate entrance door

Insulation should be carried out exclusively with high-quality materials that have low thermal conductivity, do not give sediment or are not subject to rotting during operation.

Things to consider

From the point of view of effective thermal insulation, the quality and price of the purchased door are not the main success factor. If there are violations associated with cold bridges, no amount of fabric replacement will help. Just as in the case of a wooden door, you need to completely solve the problem of blowing cold in the area between the frame and the leaf.

Please note that much of the success depends on good heat treatment of the through gaps. Pay attention to which side of the canvas you are installing the mineral wool on. If you place the filler outside, then all the condensation will evaporate outside, and not into the room. This way you will protect yourself from excessive humidity and dampness.

How to avoid freezing your front door

If a consumer purchases a new entrance door, he should take care of its thermal insulation properties in advance. To do this, you need to take into account the following nuances when purchasing a product at a retail outlet, as well as during installation:

The canvas must be straight, free from defects and bends that will affect the presence of cracks in the future.
For installation, you should invite professionals with specialized tools who guarantee the results of their work.

Entrance door installation by professionals

You should purchase products only from well-known manufacturers who have been supplying their products to the domestic market for a long time and have many positive reviews from satisfied customers.
When choosing frames and handles for doors, you should buy products that have a thermal break with plastic inserts, which significantly reduces the risk of cold transfer.

Door profile with thermal break

Most well-known manufacturers conduct multi-stage testing of their products before launching into mass production.

Door handle with thermal break

Each test is carried out by external laboratories with a certificate of conformity, which indicates the characteristics of the canvas, box and other elements of the enclosing structure.

Door after insulation in the interior

Table of thermal insulation properties of materials

Material	Density in kg/m3	Minimum layer, cm	Thermal conductivity	Hygroscopicity
Roll	Glass wool	75-175	10-15	G	B
Minvata	35-125	10-15	G	B
Stitched mats	75-150	10-15	G	B
Plastif	50-60	2	G	D
Izover, URSA	35-125	10-15	G	B
Penofol	60-70	5	G	IN
Expanded polystyrene	30-40	10	D	IN
Polyurethane foam	30-60	10	D	IN
Plate-sheet	Styrofoam	35-50	10	D	IN
Mipora	25-40	10	D	IN
From mineral wool and glass wool	75-250	10-15	G	B
Woody-fibrous	250	1.5-3	B	A

Legend:

A - Very high.
B - High.
B - Average.
G - Low.
D - Very low.

Today, several methods of insulation are possible. You can:

secure the seal to the box;
upholster the canvas with insulation;
seal the opening using rollers.

Let's take a closer look at each of the options.

Where and how to use insulation with foil?!

We have previously told you about how to properly use this insulation; you can find out more about this here

Briefly about the main thing

Insulating the front door is a responsible process, the main goal of which is to increase the energy efficiency of the premises of an apartment or private residential building. To ensure the highest possible thermal insulation properties, experts recommend installing a seal around the perimeter of the door leaf, as well as heat-insulating materials inside the door, after disassembling the metal frame by removing the sheet material.

Disassembling the door leaf

If it is necessary to achieve artificial heating of the threshold in a private house, a heating cable with a thermostat should be provided. Insulation can be done with your own hands, but it is better to entrust such work to professionals who provide a long-term guarantee on the result of their work.

Tool

It is impossible to get the job done without the right set of tools. To create insulated wooden entrance doors you will need:

Tape measure and pencil;
Stationery knife;
Hacksaw;
Hammer;
Screwdriver;
A flat rod or metal meter;
Mounting tool or nail puller;
Construction stapler.

It is necessary to prepare tools and lining material.
If necessary, this set can be expanded, but for most operations it will be quite sufficient. It should be noted that a hacksaw can easily be replaced with an electric jigsaw. This tool allows you to get the job done with the same quality, but much faster. And if there is no screwdriver in the house, then you can take a simple drill. The main thing is that it has a reverse, which will allow you to unscrew any self-tapping screw or screw if necessary.

In addition to the tools, it is necessary to prepare the covering material. For most door panels, it will be enough to use leatherette, which has an attractive appearance. This material has good characteristics and wear resistance, so the canvas will not need to be repaired for a long time.

And if you like to do everything with your own hands, then we recommend you instructions on how to make a wooden entrance door.

Features of door installation and operation

Installation of an insulated wooden entrance door into a wall opening is carried out in the same sequence as any other. You can cope with this task yourself, but first you need to prepare the tools and materials:

perforator;
Bulgarian;
electric drill;
hammer;
knife;
roulette;
building level;
screwdriver or set of screwdrivers;
anchor bolts;
polyurethane foam;
wooden wedges.

The door installation process consists of the following steps:

Preparing the doorway - if there is an old door hanging, then it along with the frame must be dismantled. After this, the opening is cleaned of old plaster and polyurethane foam. If voids have formed, they are sealed with cement mortar. Using a grinder and a hammer drill, the protruding parts of the opening are removed.
Installation of the frame - the door frame is installed in the prepared opening and, using wooden wedges, is leveled in the horizontal and vertical directions.
Installation check - the building level checks the correct installation of the box. The size of the diagonals must be controlled: they must be equal.
Fixing the box - holes are drilled in the box with an electric drill, through which it is attached to the opening with anchor bolts.
Installation of the door leaf - the door is hung on the hinges, its free movement is checked. For an insulated entrance door, three hinges are used.
Sealing the structure - the gap between the box and the wall is filled with polyurethane foam, while the canvas must be in a closed state. Then platbands are attached around the box.

Features of operation

When buying an entrance door, it is important to pay attention to what materials it is made of and how high quality it is. And if the door is installed correctly, then during its operation it remains to adhere to the following recommendations:

protect from rain and direct sunlight by installing a canopy over it;
monitor the integrity of the surface. If damage occurs, restoration work must be carried out immediately. If the damage is serious, you will have to turn to restorers, but even this will be cheaper than buying a new door;
properly care for the door: periodically wipe off dust, stains and other contaminants (depending on the type of door covering). This can be done in several ways: with a 10% alcohol solution;
water;
soap solution.

Do not use chemicals or abrasives for cleaning;

You can restore the appearance of a wooden surface with a special polish or wax pencil. They eliminate minor scratches and add shine;

Heating devices should not be placed near the door, as this will lead to drying out and cracking of the wood.

Metal constructions

Steel input blocks have a high heat transfer coefficient. This is a kind of “bridge” through which cold from the street enters the room (even when the door is sealed: the leaf is tightly adjacent to the opening).

To insulate a door yourself, it is better to use a standard kit (it includes the necessary tools and consumables): such a kit will help even someone who is just a novice master to cope with this work with ease. Most blocks designed for entry doorways have a hollow design. To reduce the heat transfer coefficient of such door systems, they are insulated.

The operation is performed as follows:

Remove the steel sash from its hinges.
Door handles, locking mechanisms and adjusting fittings are removed from the canvas.
Beams (10x10 mm) are screwed along the perimeter of the inner part of the structure.
Thermal insulation material is laid (it can be mineral wool, felt or polystyrene foam).
Using special nails, the upholstery is attached to the beams.
The fittings are installed on the sash.
The canvas is hung on hinges.

Insulation of the door frame

Insulation of an iron entrance door should begin with parts of the frame. If the box is made from a corner, then insulation can only be carried out in places where the box adjoins the door opening. In this case, the gaps are filled with foam, and excess insulation is cut off with a construction knife. If the box is made of a rectangular or square pipe, the insulation is placed inside the profile.

The better to insulate

To insulate the door frame, use foam or bulk insulation (sawdust, expanded clay).

Polyurethane foam is used to eliminate gaps between the frame and the doorway, as well as to fill the cavities of the frame parts made from the profile.

Bulk insulation is used only for profiled frames. The profile is filled through a technological hole drilled in the upper part of the box. The diameter of the hole should allow the largest fractions of filler to pass through.

This method has a significant drawback: it is impossible to ensure that the entire interior of the box is filled with bulk materials. As a result of uneven filling, voids are formed that freeze. Therefore, the use of bulk insulation can only be in production conditions, when assembling the box in the workshop.

Materials and tools

To insulate the box you will need the following tools and materials:

electronic drill;
alloy drills with a diameter equal to the diameter of the nozzle of a cylinder with polyurethane foam;
polyurethane foam;
construction knife.

{Instructions} for insulation

To fill the door frame with foam, you will need to prepare technological holes with a pitch of 500 mm. Through these holes, the interior of the profile is filled with polyurethane foam. Excess foam coming out through the holes must be removed with a construction knife.

The gaps between the door frame and the door opening are cleaned of old insulation, moistened and filled with polyurethane foam. Excess foam is removed using a construction knife, after which the contact area between the box and the wall is masked with putty.

Insulation of wooden window openings

Often, wooden windows are used to construct an attic. Not all owners nowadays want to replace wooden openings with plastic windows. Such windows have their negative sides, so a good solution would be to install wooden frames with plastic double-glazed windows, but their cost will be very high.

Insulating simple windows will be much cheaper and easier, you just have to find out how to do it. To effectively insulate window openings in wooden windows, you must first find out where the weak points are.

Then you can select the appropriate material and start working. The insulation procedure can be carried out using different methods. This is where aged newspapers can come in handy to create a form of heat insulator. You may also need foam rubber insulation, using it you can achieve a tight seal to the frame.

Sealing with rollers

The upholstery of a country house door from the outside must be completed by installing special rollers. To make them, you will need to cut 4 strips 10 cm wide. The length of 2 strips is equal to the width of the wooden panel with an allowance of 10 cm. The other 2 parts are cut according to the height measurement, not forgetting to leave the same allowance (10 cm).

It is necessary to cut strips from foam rubber or other filler, the length of which corresponds to the length of the leatherette parts, and the width is 2-3 cm less. You can insulate wooden entrance doors with rollers both before and after installing the paneling.

Installation

Place the previously prepared leatherette parts along the edge of the door: long strips in height and short strips in width. Laying is done inside out so that the edge of the strip is at a distance of 1-2 cm from the edge of the wooden base. Fastening can be done with staples of a construction stapler or small nails with an enlarged head (upholstery nails). The fastening pitch is 10-15 cm along the entire perimeter of the canvas.

For better thermal insulation of doors, a strip of insulating material should be laid on a nailed strip of leatherette, 1 cm away from the edge. Bend the roller lengthwise in half so that the insulation is inside the upholstery. Tuck in all free edges and secure the edge of the roller to the wooden panel with decorative nails.

The fastener also performs a finishing function. Nails can be driven in at random intervals and even close to each other, but you need to ensure that they are evenly placed. The installation is completed by fastening the previously removed fittings: you need to cut holes for the handles, and fasten the locking plates over the upholstery.