Do-it-yourself insulation and upholstery of wooden entrance doors. Transforming doors: options for upholstering wooden and metal panels Methods for upholstering doors with dermantine

Any material wears out; the only difference is the intensity of the process. Even metal doors installed at the entrance to the house, under the influence of precipitation and ultraviolet radiation, gradually lose their attractiveness; and wooden ones are even faster. Upholstering doors with dermantine, with a competent approach, allows you to simultaneously improve the sound and thermal insulation properties. Therefore, this finishing method is often considered as one of the points in the entire range of measures for home insulation.

Features of the choice of materials

Correctly sheathing the sash is not enough to achieve the desired effect. You also need to understand what exactly it is. Dermantin is commonly called differently: leatherette, granitol, eco-, amidis- or vinyl artificial leather. Newest technologies allow the material to be supplied to the market in various modifications, differing in texture, shades and a number of properties. Therefore, dermantin gradually became a generalized term. But door upholstery with leather (natural or its synthetic analogues) is produced using the same technology, with only slight variations, depending on what goals the master is pursuing (just decoration or also insulation), and what the canvas is made of (metal, wood) .

Preparation stage

When choosing a material for upholstery, you need to pay attention to its properties.

Dermantin

Elasticity. High-quality products should have only a slight spring, but not stretch like rubber.
Density. Dermantin too thin for upholstery front door, given the specifics of its use and intensity, it is not advisable to buy. But for interior use it is quite suitable.
Appearance. The presence of at least small stains on the painted material, the slightest stains - a clear sign low-grade goods.
Smell. If it is clearly felt, you don’t have to hope that it will disappear soon. Such leatherette, even if it meets all other criteria, is only suitable for exterior finishing entrance doors. It is definitely not worth using it indoors.

What to consider:

Upholstery material should be purchased with a small margin, about 15% of the calculated value. Firstly, if the measurements are made inaccurately, then you won’t have to worry about how to get out of the situation. Secondly, in the process of upholstering doors with your own hands, strips of dermantine are often used as decorative elements of the door. Therefore, a small reserve will definitely not be superfluous.
When choosing a material, you should take into account the specifics of its use. For example, vinyl and eco-leather are excellent for exterior finishing of entrance doors, as they are characterized by inertness to low temperatures. But the latter has a porous structure, and therefore it is necessary to take into account factors such as humidity at the location where the door is installed. If the determining criterion is the strength of the upholstery, then it is better to give preference to amyliskin.

Insulation

Foam rubber. Pros - big choice in thickness, ease of cutting and laying, low cost. The approximate service life is 10 years. But all insulation characteristics are at the level of average values.

Batting. This insulation will last about 3 times longer. But there are significant disadvantages: it gradually sags, accumulates moisture, and when burning, toxic components and acrid smoke are released.

Izolon (a type of PPE). One of the modern versions of roll insulating materials. It features increased noise absorption and low thermal conductivity. Upholstery wooden doors using such a substrate is one of best options their insulation.

Additional materials

Fastening elements. For wooden panels you need upholstery nails with large heads. The range of products is significant, and you can choose according to the color, texture artificial leather not difficult. Plus - staples for a construction stapler, for insulation. But for plating iron door You will need a special (polymer) glue that is used to fix the heat insulator and dermantine.
Decorative cord (or braid). Options are steel strings or self-prepared strips of upholstery material.
Number plate. If you are finishing the door to your apartment, you will definitely need it.

Step-by-step instruction

Preparation

Dismantling. It will not be possible to sheathe a door with dermantine, moreover, with high quality, insulation, without removing it from its hinges. It is laid on any base or supports that will ensure its stability. For ease of upholstery, it is advisable to lay the door on 4 stools.
Surface cleaning. Depending on the design of the canvas, all fittings, locks, and old trim are removed from it.
External inspection of the base. Minor defects do not matter: dermantine will hide them. But if signs of rot, fungus, or small cracks are found on a wooden door, then the necessary measures should be taken: treat the wood with preparations, seal small cracks with adhesive sealant.

Attaching the insulation

There are different opinions about the advisability of laying it, and most users refer to the specifics of the opening and the side of the canvas. Still, it is advisable to use it, even if it is of small thickness. Any roll thermal insulation material It is characterized by elasticity, and therefore will become an excellent substrate for dermantin or its modification - it will be easier to stretch the fabric, give texture to the entire finish, and the appearance of wrinkles on the upholstery over time is eliminated.
Fixation is carried out with glue or staples, depending on the materials of the sash and the heat insulator.

The specificity of laying the insulation is that there should be a gap of about 10 mm between it and the edges (along the perimeter of the canvas).

Installation of rollers

Whether to do this or not is decided by the master. But if this is a door at the entrance to a house (and an apartment too), it is advisable to secure them. You just need to take into account which way the sash swings open. The most common option is outward.

Outer side of the canvas

Strips of upholstery material are cut in the amount of 3 pieces. Approximate width – 100 mm. Two - for installation on top and bottom of the canvas, one - on the side (longer). On the side where the canopies are located, the bolsters are attached later.
Since they are wrapped when they are formed, the edges of the strips are fixed to the base so that they look outward with the wrong side.
Laying the prepared “bundles” of heat insulation into these upholstery fragments.
All that remains is to fold the edges, form a roller and secure its second edge to the sash.
The side part of the canvas (where the hinges are installed) is insulated differently. Here you will need 5 rollers. Three of them are laid along its length so that there is an opening at the locations of the canopies. Everything else is identical, except for a nuance. Where they are installed, small rollers are attached, but not on the door itself, but on the jamb, so as not to interfere with the free movement of the sash.

All that remains is to cover the door with dermantine over the entire area, a pre-prepared piece or individual fragments.

Inner side of the canvas

The methods for fixing the rollers are the same. Only the places where they are attached change.

The door is only at the bottom, at a distance of 10 - 15 mm from the floor level (or its covering - carpet, carpet, etc.).
Block - the specifics of fastening depend on its structural part. On top, the roller should slightly cover the gap between the jamb and the sash (a 5 mm spacing is enough). The same applies to castles. But on the side of the canopies, the insulating roller is installed exactly flush with the plane of the canvas, so as not to become an obstacle during the process of opening/closing it.

What to consider:

When decorating a door with rolled material, its edges (along the perimeter) are rolled up. This will increase the tensile strength of the sheathing at the points of fastening with nails.
Since the rollers are being installed, it is advisable to wrap the dermantine on them a little, that is, make a slight overlap.
Fixation starts from the top. First, 2 outer hardware, after which the correct installation of the upholstery material is checked. For minor distortions this is easy to fix. Next, the canvas is attached to the side (inner).
The sheathing ends by pulling the leatherette down and to the side. After removing air from under it, a rigid fixation is made on the second side and bottom.

Upholstery decoration

Option decoration, scheme, necessary supplies- entirely at the discretion of the master. Numerous examples can easily complement your own imagination.

It remains to add that in addition to the possibility of restoring the canvas, bringing its appearance in accordance with new finishing premises (facade), upholstering the door with dermantine yourself gives good savings not only on heating, but also on the work itself. Experts charge an average of 1,600±200 rubles for it, depending on the size. And this does not include the cost of materials. Decorative design of the canvas, insulation, installation of rollers and the like are paid at a separate rate. So it makes sense to do it yourself.

One of the popular and effective ways presentable design of the entrance - door upholstery with special materials. Their correct selection allows you to get absolutely new image“faces” of a house or apartment. The event is not so difficult to master on your own. Sheathing is carried out not only to restore old doors, but also to change the design style of even new wooden and metal doors.

Why do door upholstery work?

The upholstery of entrance doors has a multifunctional meaning:

Changing the appearance not only in color, but in texture and even shape. Upholstery makes it possible to perform three-dimensional drawings and decorations. You can make a real masterpiece out of a simple or old door.
Insulation - materials with a low thermal conductivity coefficient are used for cladding. Moreover, both soft and sheet heat-insulating materials are applicable.
Sound insulation, because the materials used have excellent sound absorption characteristics. If necessary, specialized sound insulation can be applied.
Vibration and noise insulation. Metal and wooden doors without upholstery strongly resonate from any clap in the entrance and vibrate when closing, which is very annoying. Upholstery allows you to get rid of such manifestations. The material applied to the canvas perfectly absorbs vibrations and noise.

Layer-by-layer combination of sound insulation, insulation and decor allows you to get the maximum effect.

Features of door upholstery

Door trim is performed using many technologies, and a number of important features can be identified:

Solid door cladding is made with both hard (MDF, plywood, veneer) and elastic materials (various vinyl films). Distinctive feature is to maintain a solid surface with main goal decoration, as well as insulation.
Soft cladding is distinguished by the use of only elastic and sealing materials, which makes it possible not only to provide insulation and sound insulation, but also to create an original three-dimensional door design.
The upholstery of a wooden door is somewhat different from the finish of a metal door. This is due to the peculiarity of the fastening, because it is impossible to drive a decorative furniture nail into the metal. Special screws are used or the canvas is glued with durable glue with high adhesive ability.
Selection of materials, their required amount is based on a comprehensive idea, taking into account that the applied layers of materials slightly increase the shelter area. It is recommended that before performing door trim, you must carefully study the technology, roughly break down its stages, and even draw up a step-by-step map. This will allow you to get rid of rework, damage to materials and, as a result, will make it easier to achieve the desired result.
Nails for door upholstery are selected special ones with a head as large as a button. The assortment usually includes hardware with decorative stamping and painting in gold, copper, black, white, which should also be taken into account when developing the design of the updated door leaf.

To carry out the event you will need a set of carpentry, measuring instruments, super strong glue “Liquid Nails”.

Features of upholstery door materials

Door upholstery is made from two similar materials, although they are often confused and called leatherette or dermantine:

The very first leatherette was dermantin, which is a woven base coated with nitrocellulose. The material has retained its popularity to this day due to its fairly high resistance to ultraviolet radiation. Re-upholstering the door with dermantine is allowed even with outside with direct access to the street. The material is resistant to chemical and biological influences, and also retains its properties at high temperature changes.
Vinyl leather is a modern material that is competitive in quality and price. He is practically not inferior to his technical characteristics expensive upholstery materials. This is a sheet multilayer material with a layer of polyvinyl chloride, which is also resistant to chemical and biological influences. Depending on the quality, it reveals signs of aging and cracking when exposed to active ultraviolet radiation. It is recommended that vinyl leather door upholstery should not be exposed to prolonged exposure to sunlight.

When selecting and purchasing, it is advisable to clarify precisely the characteristics of the material, and not its variety.

Dermantin by old technology practically not produced, and all leatherettes are very similar in production method with differences chemical composition polymer and base, which is the basis for the difference in price category and technical characteristics:

the surface can be glossy or matte, perfectly smooth, with a different and even porous texture;
the surface can imitate various skins of animals and reptiles;
the basis of leatherette can be completely different from knitted and felt to polymer foam;
upholstery is characterized by its coefficient of thermal expansion, elasticity, stretchability and resistance to chemicals;
dermantine for door upholstery does not require special care and can be easily cleaned using ordinary laundry soap, but active solvents can negatively affect the polymer and leave traces of exposure.

Features of self-upholstery of doors with leatherette

When preparing to independently upholster doors, you have to independently choose both the material, insulation, and decorative elements.

Features of the selection of upholstery materials

Please note:

For soft, voluminous upholstery, an elastic and “springy” material is advisable, then sagging and unwanted folds will not be detected during temperature fluctuations. For flat, rigid cladding, it is advisable to select a material with a lower coefficient of shrinkage and elasticity. This will ensure a tight fit of the leatherette during temperature changes, which means that the fastening will be less disrupted.
Upholstery of wooden doors for reliable fastening of dermantin requires quite frequent fixation points. Only nails with a special head (about 1 cm in diameter) can be used. In cases of hidden fixation methods, it is permissible to use mounting brackets. The fixation step is selected based on the tension force of the leatherette, the amount of lining and the design format - from 2 to 7 cm.
To beautifully and accurately cover a door with dermantine, you need to choose the right materials, position them accurately and fix them correctly. It is recommended to use only polymeric materials as lining material. They do not lose their properties over time and do not support the development of any biological forms. Popular and suitable are sheet foam rubber or padding polyester. The layer thickness is selected from 2 to 5 cm, and multi-layering is allowed.
To strengthen the fixation and form an original pattern, tapes or twine made of a similar polymer are used, as well as a cable made of stainless metal. It is quite possible to make reinforcing tapes yourself using long cuts with a hem at the edge.
Simple drawings are formed by geometric shapes in strict compliance with the recommended step-by-step technology. Creating a pattern can be done using tapes, cords, only nails or a combination of methods.

To create very complex designs, some craftsmen use a special furniture technology of layer-by-layer curly laying of material.

The lower layers are laid in segments, forming mounds of the pattern, and on top a single “enveloping blanket” is created with material with a thickness of about 1 cm.

Technological features of door trim

Stages of work:

It is very difficult to perform all actions when the door is hanging. Therefore, to simplify and accurately form the pattern, the door leaf is dismantled and laid on chairs and stools.

Video instruction for upholstering a wooden door

Door trim is done according to various reasons. Among the main ones are insulation of wooden or metal entrance structure, as well as the creation of a new decorative coating. It should be noted that all the work can be done independently, but to obtain a truly high-quality result, you need to make every effort and accuracy. If everything is done correctly, the result will be a coating that will not only protect against the penetration of cold from the outside, but will also provide an excellent visual appearance.

It all starts with what needs to be decided: how to cover the front door. The most acceptable option is the use of leatherette. Many people mistakenly believe that this material has a lot of disadvantages. Yes, they exist and the problem is that such a product is very difficult to restore; in addition, dermantine promotes the spread of fire. But this material has many more advantages:

It is not susceptible to microorganisms that can contribute to the formation of mold and rot.
Has excellent resistance to moisture. That is, water does not penetrate into the inner layer, which does not lead to undesirable consequences.
Has good durability. With proper care, the service life is tens of years. Even now you can find versions of metal doors that were covered several decades ago. However, they still have not lost their appearance.
No damage during use household chemicals, washes well.
Withstands low temperatures. This makes it possible to use finishing material with outside. Naturally, you should give preference to quality options.

On a note! Leatherette is a type of artificial leather. Such products are positioned as an excellent substitute for natural options.

To choose a truly high-quality product, you should pay attention to a number of parameters. Namely:

Wear resistance, which should be at least 30 - 35 thousand cycles.
Flexibility. Artificial leather should stretch, but there should be no cracks or creases.
Imitation natural material should be as plausible as possible.

There are many low-quality fakes on the market that lose their appearance in a very short time.

When choosing dermantine for upholstery, you should take into account many nuances that determine the quality of this material.

Preparatory work

Do-it-yourself cladding of entrance doors requires a complex preparatory activities. They are as follows:

A schematic drawing is prepared if it is planned to give the structure a more presentable appearance.
A list of materials that will be used in the work is being compiled:
- Leatherette. You should select the product in special stores, where there is a large selection of textures and colors. Please note that these products are purchased with a reserve.
- Insulation, which is used for additional sound and heat insulation. To do this, you can choose felt, foam rubber or padding polyester. The thickness varies between 1 – 2 cm. It will depend on the pattern being created (stretch). In order to obtain beautiful sealing beads, it is advisable to give preference to insulation that has a round, elongated shape.
- Glue and decorative nails necessary for fixation. The second option is selected depending on the type of hat, which will play the role of a visual element.

It’s hard to imagine how to sheathe the front door without the right tools. Therefore, the necessary set is prepared:

A hammer with a small head but a comfortable handle for hammering nails.
Professional or semi-professional stapler. A set of brackets (8-10 mm) is purchased separately for it. This tool allows for preliminary and additional fixation.
A stationery knife or good scissors - for cutting out.
A screwdriver or a set of screwdrivers that will help dismantle and mount handles, as well as other elements.
Pliers to remove old trim or warped nails.

Before finishing the front door with dermantine, a number of preparatory procedures are performed:

The doorway is freed from unnecessary parts - handles, locks, peepholes, chains. It is much better to carry out the work if the canvas is not removed from the hinges. In the absence of proper experience, all measurements and cuttings are carried out with great care.
If you plan to refinish a door that already has a decorative coating, then it must first be removed.
It often happens, especially with iron parts, that they are susceptible to rust. It should be cleaned off.

On a note! All elements must be thoroughly cleaned to remove any damage. Wooden elements may have cracks and chips, they are covered with special putty.

Finishing activities

Door trim with dermantine is done on both sides: internal and external. Technologically, these two processes have some differences. There is also a distinction between the work that is done when upholstering wooden and metal doors.

Working with wooden structures from the inside

All work begins with determining the pattern of opening the door - to an apartment or entrance (to the street in a private house). The correct choice of size and location of the sealing rollers depends on this.

Often wooden panels open inward. Therefore, this option should be considered.

The technology is as follows:

Installation of dermantine is carried out according to the following scheme:

Fixation starts from the top. Small area tucked under the insulation, decorative carnations are made along the edge.
On a note! The initial installation is very difficult. For this, a stapler is used, the staples of which are hammered in several places.
The evenness of the installation is checked. Make sure there are no distortions.
Next, the carnations are punched along the left and then along the right side. All work is carried out carefully - by constantly tensioning the fabric. Wrinkles should not be allowed to appear.
The bottom part is nailed last.

Dermantine fastening

At the end, marks are made for cutting holes for handles and eyes.

The door trim is considered complete. But only direct coverage is obtained. To obtain a drawing, markings are performed. Points are marked on the canvas, which are located at equal intervals. Nails are hammered into them. It is important to consider that the process starts from the center, eliminating strong tension on the leatherette.

Working with wooden structures outside

From the street or entrance side, work is performed as follows:

The door closes. One centimeter retreat from the edge of the canvas.
On a note! If the door does not have the necessary sound insulation, then a sticker of one or two layers of material should be provided. It is very convenient when the first layer has a self-adhesive side, the second is attached to brackets.
An insulating roller is fixed at the bottom. For this, a piece of leatherette is used, in which a piece of foam rubber is wrapped. It should be positioned slightly higher than the bottom edge of the canvas. Displacement must be avoided, otherwise it will cling to the threshold. Many masters believe that this is an unnecessary element, so it is advisable to proceed from a specific situation.
The fabric is covered with insulation from the top, and then goes down from both sides. It is important to consider that the material should not sag. If this is allowed, then further actions will be of poor quality.
At the last stage, the wooden door is covered with leatherette. It is fixed along the folded edges. If it is necessary to obtain a pattern, the entire surface is broken through.

On a note! Many craftsmen believe that it is at the final stage that the lower roller is formed. It is formed by folding leatherette with a lining of cut foam rubber. That is, the roller turns out to be solid. Be sure to check that it does not cling to the threshold.

The upholstery is considered complete when the rollers are installed around the perimeter of the box itself.

Working with a metal door - interior finishing

The situation is a little more complicated when it comes to how to sheathe an iron door. The methods of cladding outside and inside also differ.

Currently, many manufacturers are trying to interior decoration entrance door was done in production. For this, decorative inserts made of MDF are used. But it happens that cheaper options do not have such elements, then it becomes necessary to cover the doors with dermantine yourself.

The work is carried out according to a certain scheme:

This video will help you understand the intricacies of the process:

If required, a drawing is created. To make it more beautiful, you can use leftover faux leather. The technology is that one edge is nailed into Right place, then the strip is stretched and fixed in place again in the right area. The result is a coating that has a more pronounced texture.

Working with a metal door - external finishing

If it is necessary to sheathe the entrance metal door from the outside, then a thin lining is used.

The order of work is as follows:

Sintepon or foam rubber is cut to a size that should be eight to ten millimeters smaller than the door leaf. The leatherette is also cut off immediately. Its fabric should be equal to the size of the insulation plus 6-7 cm.
The insulation is attached using glue, which is evenly applied around the entire perimeter of the iron door. You need to wait a while for the material to adhere well. If this is not done, then further work may be of poor quality. The finished area must have a smooth surface.
Now a layer of leatherette is laid. It is evenly distributed over the entire surface. The edges are folded over the edge of the door panels. The bent area must be fixed; for this, glue is used, which has a quick setting.

If you do everything carefully, the front door trim will turn out to be very respectable. At the end you should carefully install everything additional elements(handles, locks).

Some details

Currently, dermatin is understood as the whole complex materials. Therefore, if you need to purchase, you should take into account that there are types of coatings that can successfully replace it:

Eco leather. The product is made of fabric with a polyurethane coating. This option is not suitable for rooms with high humidity.
Vinyl leather. Its composition is very similar to natural leather. This variety has many excellent decorative solutions that are suitable for different situations.
Amidiskin. An excellent solution for decorating a door with your own hands, because the material has good elasticity. You should avoid purchasing cheap varieties.

There are many options for how to sheathe a door most effectively. All of them are described in the following article. However, dermantine upholstery, which was featured on the front door of almost every Soviet house, has not lost its popularity to this day. And all because this is one of the few ways to finish a door leaf that is easy to do with your own hands. Naturally, the main parameter will be accuracy and strict adherence to all stages.

Sooner or later there comes a time when the front door loses its presentable appearance during operation. Of course, you can replace it with a new one, but if the structure itself is still strong and reliable, it’s better to get by cosmetic repairs, especially since covering the door with finishing material will cost much less.

If you follow the technology, sheathing the doors yourself will not be difficult. Let's consider the features of finishing wooden and metal doors, as well as the nuances of choosing materials for them.

Choosing material

The range of finishing materials for doors is large and they all have their pros and cons. In order not to get confused and choose the right one, we suggest you familiarize yourself with brief characteristics the most popular of them.

Vinyl leather

Vinyl leather is an economical alternative to genuine leather

This material is one of the varieties of artificial leather. It is a film applied on top of some fibrous web. The basis for vinyl artificial leather can be paper, knitwear or other fabric, which is usually impregnated with special polymer compounds to increase strength.

The material can have different colors and textures; moreover, it has an affordable price and is practical to use. Therefore, vinyl leather cladding is a good substitute for natural, very expensive material.

Lining

Lining is slats made of wood, MDF or plastic, equipped with special grooves that make it easy to assemble them into a single sheet. It is suitable for finishing both wooden and metal structures, but installing it on the latter is much more difficult.

For the outer part of the door, it is preferable to use a material that is resistant to external influences, for example, larch. More a budget option- plastic, which also withstands moisture and is not subject to corrosion and rotting. But you need to take into account that such panels can fade in the sun, so covering doors with plastic clapboard will be unprofitable if they are often exposed to direct sunlight.

Lining made of wooden slats

Faux leather

Leatherette – artificial material, repeating the structure of natural leather. In addition to its attractive appearance, it has other advantages:

strength;
efficiency;
easy care.

The disadvantage is sensitivity to temperature changes and high humidity, which leads to cracking and thereby shortens the service life of the coating.

Leatherette

The name of this material comes from Greek word“derma”, which means skin. In construction terminology, leatherette is usually called imitation leather. Surely many have heard about him. But why is this material so popular?

Prevalence of dermatin for different finishing works explains his positive qualities, such as:

Leatherette is also easy to process and install, which allows you to carry out work even without special skills. An additional advantage of this coating is vapor permeability, which means that the door under the skin will be able to “breathe”, which means that the wood underneath will not become damp and moldy.

Genuine Leather

A door upholstered in genuine leather looks luxurious and emphasizes the wealth of the owners, which is valued in some circles of society. The following also speaks in favor of leather covering:

durability of the material;
good sound insulation;
additional protection against heat leakage.

Leather is the epitome of luxury

But the price of such upholstery will be many times higher than that of various substitutes. Another nuance that should be taken into account is the need for careful skin care using special means to maintain its elasticity.

PVC film

PVC film, which usually has a self-adhesive backing, is a very practical and inexpensive material. Upper layer This coating can imitate various textures: stone, wood, velor, metal, etc. This film is sold in rolls and is a good way to renew the surface of metal or plastic door. Its main advantages:

low maintenance requirements;
low price;
simple installation;
moisture resistance;
no damage during installation on the surface to be glued.

True, there are several disadvantages - the inability to hide serious defects in the door leaf and a relatively short service life.

PVC film allows you to imitate any material

The listed materials are most often used for upholstery and among them there will certainly be a solution suitable for your home. Certainly, final choice depends on your preferences, financial capabilities, condition of the door and the material from which it is made. Considering that correct installation coating is no less important than the correctly selected material; below we will consider several methods of covering metal and wooden doors using the example of lining and leatherette.

Leatherette upholstery

So, how to cover a door with leatherette with your own hands? The process has some differences for wooden and metal structures, but the preparation stage and the necessary tools are almost identical in both cases.

Preparation for upholstery

Door dismantling

To install the coating yourself, you will need the following tools:

sharp stationery knife and large scissors;
industrial stapler;
hammer;
pliers;
screwdriver;
brush.

Before starting work, you will need to remove all fittings from the door (peephole, handles, lock). Then the structure is removed from the hinges and inspected for any defects; if any are found, they must be eliminated.

Next, the leatherette needs to be cut to the size of the door, making an allowance of 10-15 cm on all sides. In addition, you cannot do without cushioning material, which will give the upholstery the required volume. If the door is not located inside the dressing room, but goes out onto the street, then it is advisable to take care of its insulation. The following materials can perform this function:

isolon tape – has a long service life (about 70 years), is effective, but quite expensive;
foam rubber - can last about 15 years and has average heat retention properties;
batting – service life is 30 years, has good performance, but makes the door structure somewhat heavier.

Wooden door trim

Securing material around the perimeter

The upholstery process begins with laying insulation, cut to the size of the structure, on the prepared door leaf. The material must be secured using a construction stapler or nails; before doing this, you should lubricate the surface of the door with glue for a more durable fixation.

Next comes the crucial stage of attaching the upholstery. To do this, it is better to use special decorative nails, matched to the color of leatherette or the rest of the door fittings. The upholstery fabric is laid in such a way that the overlap on all sides is the same. Then the edges are folded inward, ensuring that the fabric is evenly folded and tensioned. Now all that remains is to fix the leatherette with nails at equal intervals around the perimeter of the door leaf.

Once the fabric is securely attached, you can add a pattern to the cover using decorative tape and upholstery nails. Ready-made schemes The patterns are given below, but you can also invent something new, focusing on your taste and imagination.

Scheme decorative fastening leatherette

Metal door trim

Upholstering a metal door is done a little differently, but the process is even simpler than with wood. After all, you won’t have to nail leatherette to the metal, and this part of the work is the most labor-intensive.
After preparing the canvas, which is identical to that described above, the door is removed from its hinges and placed in a horizontal position. The insulation is attached to the metal using glue, taking care to lay it correctly the first time to avoid further displacement.

Then the leatherette itself (part of the material with an overlap) is attached to the ends of the door, lubricated with glue. It is better to start from the top, then fix the material from the side of the hinges and the lock, and complete the installation with the bottom end. It is important to avoid wrinkles and distortions.

After the glue has dried, use a sharp utility knife to remove excess material and reinstall the fittings. Cutting holes for door handles, lock, etc., do not forget that the slots should be smaller than the dimensions of the fittings. Otherwise, the holes may become noticeable and spoil the appearance of the structure. At this point the work is completed, and your front door not only looks updated, but also provides additional saving warmth in the house.

Finished design

Door trim with clapboard

Another way to inexpensively and tastefully update a door structure is to make doors from clapboard with your own hands. Where to start? For wooden panels, the following advice is relevant: if finishing material was stored outside your home, but will be used for internal lining, then a few hours before the start of work it is worth bringing it inside the room where finishing is planned. This will allow the wood to adapt to humidity and temperature.

Wooden door

To cover a wooden door you will need the following materials and tools:

panels made of selected material;
measuring instruments (tape tape, level);
pencil;
suitable cutting tool;
screwdriver;
plane and sandpaper;
screws or nails;
varnish and brushes.

Standard lining

The preparatory work is similar to that performed when covering with leatherette. The door leaf will also need to be dismantled, cleaned and the fittings removed. Then you need to decide on the direction of the cladding - it will be horizontal or vertical.

The lining begins to be installed from the bottom edge of the door, checking the accuracy of its location with a level. It is better to fasten the material with special finishing nails, which will stand out less against the background of the coating, but you can also use self-tapping screws.

Panels can be mounted in different ways

During installation, the panels are fastened tightly, inserting each subsequent one into the connector of the previous one, and the sides are covered with special corners. After completing the main work, the lining can be opened with varnish. Then, after waiting for it to dry completely, the fittings are installed on the door, and the structure itself is returned to its place.

Metal door with clapboard trim

Metal doors covered with clapboard will be a little more difficult to make due to the strength of the metal. To attach the panels, you will have to build a wooden frame attached to door design, and then install the finishing material on it.

To make a frame you need:

bars or slats made of wood;
drill and screwdriver;
self-tapping screws;
saw;
pencil and tape measure.

Frame installation

The slats need to be adjusted to the dimensions of the door (length and width). Then drill holes in them to match the diameter of the screws, attach the frame components to the surface of the door and apply marks to the metal through these holes. In designated places metal structure will also need to be drilled.

Next, the frame elements are attached to the door leaf with self-tapping screws. The resulting structure can perform another function - serve as a basis for laying insulation. If you want to reduce heat loss, the selected thermal insulation material is placed between the frame slats.

The next stage of work is finishing. The panels are installed identically to the method described for a wooden door and using similar materials.

Panels from lining – good decision for finishing and simultaneous insulation of the door

Decorating a door is a fascinating and creative process, but a responsible one. However, if you have a desire to try yourself in this matter, do not hesitate. A serious approach and a little training before starting finishing work will allow you to turn your ideas into reality, and the resulting result will be a reason to be proud.

When you start talking about upholstering entrance doors with dermantin (it would be more correct to say leatherette, but this is the case when erroneous spelling and pronunciation prevailed over the correct one), then you can hear in response that this is a solution from the last century, the material is ugly and impractical. But this can only be stated by those who do not know that manufacturers building materials have developed and introduced to the market a whole line of dermantin fabrics with a beautiful texture to match the skin of various color shades.

As a result, new upholstery materials are gaining more and more popularity every year - do-it-yourself door upholstery with dermantine has become fashionable again. This is due to the beautiful appearance of the doors, wear resistance and low cost materials.

General description of new leatherette fabrics

The classic definition of leatherette says that it is a rolled material based on woven fabric made from cotton thread, on the surface of which a layer of colored nitrocellulose is applied. Material manufacturers took into account previous shortcomings and decided to replace the woven base with a porous polyvinyl chloride film.

The surface began to be covered with polyester, polyurethane or a mixture of leather fibers and latex crumbs. In the first two cases, the new dermantins were called eco-leather, and in latest version, using a mixture – recycled leather.

As a result, practically new materials were obtained, which differ:

elasticity;
wear resistance;
breathability;
strength;
affordable price.

Tactile sensations make it practically impossible to distinguish synthetic materials from well-crafted natural leather. But the main aesthetic advantage of the new leatherettes is the ability to be painted in any color and create a beautiful surface texture. The price of the canvas depends on the components and ranges from 500 to 1500 rubles/m2.

Pros and cons of dermantine

Consumer properties of new roll materials for covering entrance doors and other household purposes, they even surpass natural leather in a number of indicators. Among them, experts include:

affordability for most consumers;
resistance to moisture, microorganisms and decay;
very high tensile and tensile strength;
wear resistance and durability;
operation in the temperature range from -40°C to +60°C;
service life - at least 20 years;
high heat and sound insulation qualities;
immunity to solar ultraviolet radiation;
a wide variety of textures with a wide range of colors;
easy maintenance and the ability to use chemically active detergents.

There are only two disadvantages, but they are quite significant:

impossibility of repair in case of mechanical damage or cuts - a complete re-upholstery of the entire covering will be required;
All types of new dermantins are capable of maintaining fire and belong to the G2 flammability group.

These disadvantages are not critical and, given a large number of advantages may be considered insignificant.

Materials and tools for upholstering doors with dermantine

If you follow the work order exactly, prepare all necessary tool and use quality materials, then any man can properly upholster a door with dermantine on his own. For upholstery you will need the following:

rolled leatherette;
insulation in the form of thin sheet foam rubber or isolon;
decorative nails for wooden doors, and self-tapping screws for metal doors;

polymer glue and brush for one-time use;
thin braided brass wire or decorative polymer cord;
tape measure, ruler and pencil;
hammer;
furniture stapler;
sharp knife and scissors.

For metal upholstery, you will need a screwdriver, without which it is impossible to tighten the screws.

Door trim instructions

The full scope of work on covering the front door with dermantine includes the following stages:

preparatory activities;
production and fastening of the roller;
surface upholstery;
decoration;
finishing works.

The total duration, even for a non-professional, usually does not exceed 8 hours.

Preparatory stage

Before upholstering the door with dermantine, perform preparatory work, which includes:

dismantling locks, handles and peepholes;
removing the door leaf from its hinges and placing it on a stand;
audit of the condition of the box and repair if necessary;
deletion old upholstery if available;
inspecting the door for its integrity and checking its geometry;
cleaning and degreasing the door leaf on both sides;
painting or coating with a protective composition;
cutting insulation to fit the door;
cutting leatherette with an overlap of 100-150 mm;
development of a patterned decor scheme;
laying leatherette and securing it;
production of rollers.

Rollers are called dermantine tubes with insulation located along the edge, which cover the gap between the canvas and the box, and also serve decorative element. Depending on the direction of opening, doors can be fixed to the frame or door leaf.

Manufacturing and installation of the roller

The number of rollers depends on the type of door hinges installed. With an open design, 6 tubes are required, and for a hidden design, 4 are enough. The fact is that the external hinges are not covered with this decor.

To make a roller, strips of dermantine 100-150 mm wide are required. They can be taken from the scraps that remain after cutting the main material. The length of the roller should take into account the possibility of a slight overlap to form beautiful angles.

Nail or screw the prepared strips with self-tapping screws along the edge of the door or door leaf with the front side facing away from you. Place the insulation on the strip, cover it with dermantine and connect the seam using a quick-drying polymer glue.

Insulation.

As a result, the fixed roller should protrude beyond the edge of the door leaf or frame by no more than 30 mm.

Classic upholstery technology

This is the easiest way to cover a door with dermantine yourself. The design of the canvas can be wooden or metal. This factor implies significant differences in performance.

To finish a wooden door leaf:

place insulation between the padded rollers and secure it with a stapler or glue it;
Tuck the leatherette fabric around the edges and spread it on the surface so that it goes under the rollers;
secure the leatherette with decorative nails along one long side, at a distance of 5-7 mm from the edge of the roller, with a fastening step of 100-120 mm;
after that, at the same distances, hammer nails along the top and bottom sides, and then along the remaining edge.

In the laid and secured canvas, cut holes for the elements of locks and fittings. Installation locations are easily determined by touch. The surface decoration process will be discussed later.

When covering a metal sheet: It is impossible to hammer nails and therefore special self-tapping screws are used, which are screwed in with a screwdriver or a low-speed drill. Moreover, they are twisted at the points marked on a pre-drawn diagram of the wire clamping decor.

Marking.

Button fastening.

But first the insulation, and on top of it the leatherette, is temporarily fixed with glue. The decorating process completes the work and secures the canvas completely.

Carriage upholstery method

The idea of carriage technology is that insulation and dermantine upholstery are fixed on a sheet of plywood at least 10 mm thick and exactly the same size as the door leaf.

Holes are drilled in the plywood sheet in accordance with the intended surface decor pattern. Usually this is a continuous division into diamonds or squares, although other finishing options are allowed.

Marking.

After this, insulation is glued to the surface of the plywood sheet, in which, using a special crown for soft materials, recesses are also selected that correspond to the markings of the holes in wooden sheet.

Cutting holes.

The dermantine fabric is secured (sewn) step by step with brass wire or cord, which is passed through on both sides and attracts the upholstery to the plywood sheet without nails. The plywood sheet itself is fixed using long self-tapping screws screwed onto the back side of the door leaf.

Upholstery decor options

In most cases, decor is provided on the surface of doors covered with dermantine. There are a huge variety of decoration options and the choice depends only on your taste and imagination. The only thing to consider is that wire, cord or simply decorative nails provide additional fastening of the canvas to the surface. Below are some options for such finishes.

To complete the decoration, markings are made, along the points of which nails are driven 1/3 of the way. After this, a wire or cord is pulled over them, the nails are driven to the end, creating a relief pattern due to the tension of the cord.

What else can you do to upholster your front doors?

When answering the question of how to upholster a door instead of dermantine, among the popular materials you can indicate:

vinyl leather - vinyl-based composition;
genuine leather;
special upholstery fabrics, similar to materials for finishing passenger car interiors.

Metal doors are often finished with plastic and wood panels. However, it should be noted that all these materials are much more expensive than leatherette.

Further use of the upholstery

The upholstery surface, covered with polyester, polyurethane or a mixture of leather fibers with latex crumbs, is easy to clean with soap solution. It is allowed to use chemicals detergents. However, to avoid discoloration, test the cleaning solution on a scrap of upholstery material first.

If abrasion appears and the color of the material changes, these places can be easily touched up. The most important thing is to guess accurately color shade. To do this, contact a specialized workshop and bring there a sample from the remaining and saved scraps.

Modern leatherette is a strong and durable material that usually does not require additional care other than cleaning it from dust and dirt.