During the installation of the front door there is a need to finish the opening. Closing the slopes is required both outside the doorway and inside.
The requirement to install slopes on the front door is due to the following reasons:
- for decorative sealing of door attachment points;
- to provide additional sound and heat insulation of the entrance group;
- to form a smooth aesthetic transition from the door leaf to the interior decoration of the hallway;
- to mask the box mounting elements;
- to eliminate minor defects (cracks, chips) that appeared during the installation of the door.
Pros and cons of finishing slopes
Finishing door slopes can be made with various materials. To choose the appropriate option, you need to consider the positive and negative qualities of each of them.
Laminate flooring. A non-standard solution for finishing slopes is a laminate.
The advantages of this solution include:
- laminate construction strength;
- A wide selection of colors and textures. It is easy to pick up material that fits into the overall design of the hallway;
- the laminate retains heat well;
- ease of cleaning the surface of the laminate from contamination.
The minuses include:
- weak soundproofing characteristics;
- the laminate loses its strength characteristics with increased humidity and sudden changes in temperature;
- limited term of operation, no more than 15 years.
Stucco. Plastering door slopes is a traditional method of solving this problem that has been used for centuries. The positive aspects of using plaster:
- low cost;
- increased structural strength of the slope, compared with other methods of finishing the opening;
- the plaster layer is a heater;
- plaster does not change its characteristics with high humidity and temperature changes;
- service life not less than 30 years;
- easy to clean.
The negative aspects of using plaster:
- when performing work, a large amount of dust and dirt is formed;
- to get an acceptable result, you need experience in working as a plasterer;
- facing slopes with plaster takes a lot of time;
- Finishing can be started only after the final set of strength of the solution (after 28 days);
- limited options for finishing (painting, wallpapering).
Decorative plasters can be used as the finishing layer, but the cost of this material is quite high.
Clapboard. If the sealing of slopes is carried out using lining, only one positive point is revealed - the beauty of a natural tree. The rest of the lining shows only negative results:
- the structure of the material fits heavily into the overall design of the hallway;
- this material is not suitable for sealing small slopes;
- thin lining hardly tolerates moisture changes;
- when installing the lining, it must be impregnated with antiseptic and fire fighting agents;
- the high cost of class A lining, which is recommended for interior decoration.
Given the high cost of the material, comparable to solid wood or natural stone, it is not recommended to use a lining for sealing slopes.
The stone. With the advent of a large number of finishing materials made of natural stone, it became possible to use it to design the entrance group. On the slopes, not only inexpensive sandstone tiles are installed, but also noble marble and granite.
Stone decoration has the following advantages:
- for the installation of panels requires minimal surface preparation;
- the technology of laying natural stone does not cause difficulties even for beginner finishers;
- natural texture goes well with any interior decoration;
- the stone does not change shape when temperature and humidity change;
- natural stone is not subject to burning;
- the stone does not emit harmful fumes;
- surfaces finished with stone have high strength;
- the service life is practically unlimited.
Natural stone also has disadvantages:
- high price;
- stone processing requires special tools and experience.
PVC panels. Any beginner finisher can install slopes on the front door with their own hands using PVC panels, but ease of installation and low cost are the only advantages of this material.
Disadvantages of plastic panels:
- choosing the right texture from PVC panels for massive metal doors is not easy;
- plastic panels do not have sufficient strength, often deformed during rough handling.
MDF panels. In modern apartments, you can often find extensions made of MDF panels. This material has the following positive characteristics:
- MDF panels withstand medium impact;
- manufacturers offer many color options for this material;
- for installation of panels it is not necessary to have a lot of experience, one person can do the work;
- MDF panels protect the interior from noise and retain heat very well.
There are also negative features of the panel trim:
- at cost MDF is ahead of many materials, second only to natural stone and wood;
- the surface of the MD is easily damaged by sharp objects;
- difficulties arise with the removal of contaminants;
- MDF panel is afraid of high humidity.
A tree. Properly crafted natural wood looks great in any interior. Advantages of wooden trim slopes:
- long term of operation;
- strength, minor damage is easily eliminated by putty;
- wood is an excellent insulation;
- natural, pure material;
- easy installation.
The disadvantages of wooden trim slopes:
- high cost of material.
Drywall. It’s easier and more practical to close up the slopes with drywall. This material has the following advantages:
- low cost of material;
- high heat and sound insulation properties;
- installation does not cause difficulties for beginner finishers;
- using drywall, you can close the slopes of any configuration;
- long service life.
Disadvantages of drywall:
- hygroscopicity, even waterproof products;
- GKL must be covered with a finish;
- GCR poorly withstand shock loads.
DIY Slope Finishing Instructions
Finishing the slopes of the front door from the inside, depending on the used finishing material, is made using various technologies. About them - below.
Plastering
Before finishing the slopes of the front door inside the apartment with plaster, you will need to purchase the following materials and tools:
- cement-sand mixture;
- primer for concrete;
- perforated corner;
- material for finishing (paint, wallpaper);
- plaster spatula;
- rule
- capacity for solution preparation;
- one and a half.
The work on finishing slopes with stucco mixture is carried out according to the following step-by-step algorithm:
- The surface is cleaned from dirt, excess mounting foam and fragments of old plaster.
- The prepared surface is impregnated with a primer twice.
- Perforated corners are attached to the corners of the slopes on the putty, which, in addition to reinforcing the corner, serve as a guiding beacon for plastering.
- At the door frame, a metal profile is installed on the screws. This is the second guide, the lighthouse.
- The door leaf and the box are covered with foil.
- The first layer is applied on the surface - spray, 1-2 mm thick. The spray solution is prepared in a ratio of 1 to 1.
- The next layer (soil) is applied after the first has dried. Its thickness should not exceed 30 mm.
- The final alignment is done with a 2 mm thick coating layer.
- After drying, the plastered surface is leveled with a trowel.
- To finish the slopes with paint or wallpaper, they begin after the plaster has completely dried, after 28 days.
You can read more about the plastering process in this article.
Laminate flooring
Laminate is intended for the organization of flooring, but, in some cases, the craftsmen decide to use it for finishing slopes. To properly mask slopes with a laminate, you will need:
- laminate boards;
- polyurethane foam;
- primer for concrete;
- hacksaw;
- yardstick;
- primer brush.
Instructions for installing the laminate for finishing slopes:
- The base for the installation of the laminate is leveled using plaster mortar.
- The leveled surface is impregnated with a primer twice. The second layer is applied only after the first has dried.
- The material is cut to size.
- The mounting foam is applied to the surface of the lamella, after which it is fixed on the base.
- Subsequent boards are installed in the same way, but with the mandatory locking of the lock.
You can peek in more detail about fastening of a laminate on walls in this material.
Pvc panels
Usually, special profiles are used to finish surfaces with PVC panels, but for slopes it is recommended to apply gluing of panels to a prepared base. For this finishing option you will need:
- PVC panels;
- adhesive composition;
- primer for concrete;
- sandpaper;
- hacksaw with a small tooth;
- primer brush;
- capacity for the preparation of the adhesive composition.
We will analyze the process of installing PVC panels step by step:
- The surface intended for finishing is leveled with putty or plaster mixes.
- The material is trimmed to size. For installation at the panel, a spike is cut.
- The surface is primed with primer for concrete. The plastic on the back side is recommended to lightly process with fine grain sandpaper.
- A continuous line of adhesive is applied around the perimeter of the panel. In the middle of the panel glue is applied with a wavy line.
- The panel is pressed to the base for a few seconds and removed. Thus, the base is impregnated with glue.
- The final fixation of the panel is possible after 5 minutes, after the final impregnation with adhesive base.
About wall decoration with PVC panels, we previously wrote here.
MDF panels
When working with MDF panels, it is necessary to arrange a wooden frame. To complete the work, you will need:
- MDF panels;
- wooden block, section 25x25 mm;
- wood primer;
- dowel screws for fixing the bars to the base;
- self-tapping screws for attaching panels;
- hacksaw;
- hammer drill;
- screwdriver.
Installation of MDF panels is performed in the following order:
- The bars are cut to size and primed.
- Using the dowel of the self-tapping screws, the bars are attached to the base. When mounting slopes, two vertical bars are enough.
- If the fastening will be done on the adhesive, you will need to install additional horizontal bars.
- The slopes are insulated. Between the bars of the crate they lay mineral wool insulation.
- The MDF panel is cut to size.
- Using screws, the panel is attached to the frame.
Drywall
The most common way to decorate slopes is to install drywall. To perform the work, it is necessary to prepare:
- drywall, 12 mm thick;
- metal profile for the frame;
- putty;
- adhesive, if you plan to install without a frame;
- finishing finishing material (paint, wallpaper);
- self-tapping screws for fastening GKL;
- dowel screws for mounting the profile;
- primer for concrete;
- level;
- hammer drill;
- screwdriver or screwdriver.
The sequence of work with drywall:
- The base is cleaned of dirt and dust. If necessary, align.
- The surface is primed twice.
- A sheet of drywall is cut to the size of the slope.
- If the drywall is attached to the adhesive, the glue is applied in heaps on the surface of the sheet. The sheet is applied to the base and pressed, achieving the required position, controlling the process level. The installed sheet must be secured with a stop.
- If the drywall is mounted on self-tapping screws, a frame from a metal profile is preliminarily prepared.
- GKL is attached to the frame using self-tapping screws.
- After full fixation of all elements, putty joints are made with sizing of seams with serpyanka.
- For finishing, the surface of the drywall slopes is completely putty.
More technology is outlined here.
Clapboard
To install the lining from the lining, you need to make a frame from a bar. To complete the work, you will need:
- lining;
- a bar with a section of 25x25 mm;
- wood screws for attaching lining;
- dowel screws for fixing the bars to the base;
- electric drill;
- screwdriver;
- hammer drill.
A detailed plan for the installation of lining for finishing slopes:
- The bars are fixed to the base, forming a crate for attaching the lining. For slopes, usually three vertical bars are enough.
- Before fixing the lining with screws to the frame, holes are drilled in the mounting points on the boards, with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the screws.
- After installing all the boards, the attachment points are masked with putty on wood.
We already wrote about clapboard trim in this material.