When performing repairs in an apartment, the question often arises of the need to replace old interior doors, the appearance of which does not fit into the overall updated interior. However, buying new products is very expensive. The best way out of the situation is to repair the interior doors. This article presents a selection of interesting ideas, the implementation of which will allow you to update an old product at minimal cost.
Repairing door leaves will cost less than buying new ones
Content
- 1 Repair of interior doors: the benefits of restoration
- 2 Restoration of interior doors depending on the material of manufacture
- 3 Preparation for the repair of wooden doors
- 4 Restoration options for interior wooden doors
- 5 How to renew veneer doors and extend the life of the coating
- 6 Do-it-yourself restoration of interior doors: video
Repair of interior doors: the benefits of restoration
When carrying out repair work, many are faced with the need to replace interior doors, which have lost their aesthetic appearance over time. Scratches, scuffs and other minor defects appeared on their surface. However, if the products retain their functionality, they can be refurbished.
For greater convenience during the restoration process, it is recommended to remove the doors from the hinges
New interior doors made of wood, veneer, and especially glass, are of high cost. Only products made of MDF can be purchased inexpensively, which do not differ in durability and special attractiveness. Do-it-yourself door restoration will significantly save money, while receiving exclusive canvases that will attract attention, becoming the central element of the room.
Renovation of interior doors is especially preferable when it comes to antique pieces, with unique patterns and textures, artistic or historical value, which are real antiques.
It is also better to opt for the repair of old doors when their replacement can lead to a violation of the integrity of the opening or cladding of wall structures. There will be a need to fill in the cracks formed, plaster, restore the finish around the door frame. Restoration is also justified when the canvas has a non-standard size and design. Replacing it will become not only costly, but also a laborious process.
Restoration of interior doors depending on the material of manufacture
The restoration of old interior doors can be carried out in various ways, which are selected based on the material of manufacture of the door leaf.
Sometimes sanding and varnishing is enough to renovate an old door.
Interior doors of the last century were made mainly of natural solid wood. Products could be supplemented with glass or mirror inserts. Later they began to use polymer decor. The restoration of wooden canvases begins with the removal of old paint or varnish with further painting or lamination of the surface.
Products made of beech or oak have a graceful natural texture with expressive patterns, so it is enough to clean them and open them with varnish.
Most modern doors are made of fiberboard. Old paint is removed from them with a building hair dryer, and sanding is carried out using fine sandpaper so as not to disturb the fine structure of the surface. Such doors can be finished with decorative elements or tiles, changing the surface relief.
If the door is covered with an innovative veneer that peels off over time, giving an unkempt appearance to the surface, you should use wood glue to restore it.
After the restoration of the door, new locks and handles are selected
Important! When using wood glue, observe the temperature and humidity level specified in the instructions. Violation of the operating conditions can lead to swelling or peeling of the veneer.
The restoration of old interior doors made of metal with their own hands is carried out by replacing fittings, locks, handles, painting the surface with paint and decorating the canvas with elements from various materials.
Helpful advice! The correct completion of the restoration of the interior door, regardless of the material of manufacture, must be accompanied by the installation of high-quality handles, locks and accessories, which determines the further period of operation of the product.
Preparation for the repair of wooden doors
At the initial stage of repair and restoration of wooden doors, the old finish (paint, varnish, film or veneer) is removed, the bare natural or artificial surface is prepared with the elimination of flaws, leveling and grinding of the canvas. You can do the work yourself or use the services of specialists at affordable prices. Door restoration can cost from 800 to 3 thousand rubles. depending on the complexity of the work.
The process of removing old paint from a door using a building hair dryer
Old paintwork can be removed with a hot air gun or special chemical paint removers. In the first case, the tool heats up the hard finish to a temperature of 600 ° C, after which it is easily cleaned with a spatula.
The chemical composition softens the paint, which is removed with a rag. The cleaned surface is sanded with a grinder or sandpaper by hand.
If there are visible damages on the surface, they should be repaired with a special wood filler of the appropriate shade or hot furniture wax. Small scratches are masked with a wax pencil.
Helpful advice! You can fill up a hole in a wooden door with a putty consisting of wood dust or varnish, which will merge with the general surface, without standing out against its background.
Cracks and scratches on the surface of the door leaf are sealed with a special putty of a suitable shade
After completing all the repair work, the final surface grinding is carried out, which is thoroughly cleaned of dust with a damp cloth. After complete drying, the canvas is completely ready for decorative finishing.
Restoration options for interior wooden doors
There are many ideas for restoring wooden doors.The price for services is determined by the condition of the canvas and the complexity of the decoration process. The methods can be grouped into three categories:
- Coloring using modern techniques for applying liquid coatings to the surface.
- Pasting with textured materials in the form of veneer, film, wallpaper, fabric.
- The use of decorative elements from various materials.
Helpful advice! When restoring a door leaf, several methods can be used simultaneously, harmoniously combining them with each other. The main thing is that the chosen option fits into the interior design concept of the room.
Overhaul of an old wooden door
The simplest and cheapest way to restore a wooden door is to paint the surface. If you want to preserve the natural structure and pattern of a canvas made of natural solid wood, you can use a stain of the desired shade, which has antiseptic and moisture-repellent properties. After that, the canvas is covered with colorless varnish. Stain may not be used at all. To do this, it is enough to cover the door with tinted varnish.
If the canvases have putty defects or are faced with hardboard or MDF, in this case the old doors are painted. The surface should be pre-treated with a special primer.
Polyurethane, alkyd and acrylic paints are suitable for painting doors. The first two options have a strong smell, but they dry quite quickly. Acrylic enamels are produced practically odorless. Such paints are distinguished by a rich palette of shades. After the acrylic agent dries, the canvas is opened with a special furniture varnish in 2-3 layers.
How to paint an old door: popular techniques
A wooden surface can not only be painted in a solid color. It will be possible to give it uniqueness thanks to one of the modern techniques.
The fastest and cheapest way to renovate an old door is to paint
Artistic painting is very popular. A pattern is applied to the previously painted surface using brushes, a sponge or a spray can. To do this, you need to have artistic talent or resort to the help of a specialist. Surfaces painted with multi-layer strokes or glaze technique look original. You can apply an interesting pattern using a stencil.
For an interior in a retro style, the doors can be restored antique. For this, artistic effects are created in the form of patina, craquelure, prodir, scuffs or cracks, using special compositions for painting wooden doors. The price of work on this technology will cost from 1500 rubles.
To get the effect of artificial aging of the surface, you can use ordinary paint of a lighter shade than the base. It is applied to the surface, and then with a soft sponge, gentle soaks are performed, which gives the base a spotty appearance. You can also achieve an unusual texture of the canvas with a hard brush, a gauze edge, a rough side of a sponge and other elements.
Helpful advice! An ordinary door can be turned into a canvas, slate board, or you can create another unusual texture for it using special paints and varnishes.
Examples of door renovation using staining
Pasting the surface with various materials
An old unpresentable door can be restored with natural veneer. For this, not only wooden products are suitable, but also cheaper canvases from pressed sawdust. This technique will give the expensive prestigious look to the structure. This option is most suitable for blind canvases without decorative glass inserts and panel elements.
The door is glued with veneer in the following sequence:
- the canvas is removed from the hinges and laid on a horizontal surface;
- fixation of the material is carried out from the center towards the edges of the product. With the help of special glue, small areas are lubricated, then to them
- veneer is pressed;
- the glued surface is rolled with a roller;
- with the help of a hot air gun, the web is heated and rolled again, which will ensure a reliable connection between the surface and the finish.
Important! After complete drying, the veneered surface is covered with a layer of varnish or wax.
Veneer sheets can be used to quickly and inexpensively renovate old doors and furniture
Do-it-yourself restoration of a wooden interior door can be done using a self-adhesive film. Today, specialized stores offer a wide range of materials in different shades and textures. A special place is occupied by films with imitation of various types of natural wood. The main advantage of the material is its low cost in comparison with veneer. The process of pasting the surface with a film is simple, and the canvas, as a result, acquires a presentable appearance.
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Surface lamination is performed as follows:
- using a sharp construction knife, a film sheet of the required size is cut;
- from the seamy side, the protective layer is removed by 2-3 cm, exposing the adhesive surface, which is carefully applied to the canvas and smoothed with a rubber spatula or cloth;
- then the sequential removal of small protective strips on the seamy side is carried out, with the simultaneous application of the film to the surface and smoothing it without tension;
- the material is trimmed at the corners and the edges are folded over. If several parts of the film are used, they are overlapped.
Pasting the old canvas with adhesive film
How to restore a door using wallpaper, vinyl and fabric
A common and simple way to restore old doors is to wallpaper the surface. To do this, you can use the same option that was used for wall decoration. In this case, it will be possible to disguise the door, "dissolving" it in space. The use of wallpaper with a different color palette and pattern will make the interior doors stand out from the general background.
Photo wallpaper or a piece of vinyl with photo printing look original and unusual. The material is glued to a dry, clean surface using high-quality PVA glue.
Interior doors decorated with wallpaper and moldings look noble and presentable. For this, vinyl or non-woven products are selected, which can have a uniform surface of pastel or saturated color, or contain a discreet pattern.
A fragment of the required size is glued to the door surface using PVA wood glue, which is applied directly to the door leaf. The wallpaper is pressed against the product and leveled with a roller or rag, expelling air bubbles.
Interior door restoration using wallpaper and moldings
Important! If it is necessary to dock the elements, they are glued close to each other without overlap.
After the surface is completely dry, the polyurethane moldings are glued according to the selected scheme. They are fixed with liquid nails or PVA glue.
The doors can be restored with the help of textile material, thanks to which the structure will become a real exclusive to the interior. The fabric can match the upholstery of furniture, or be distinguished by a beautiful pattern and color, which will harmoniously fit into the design of the room.
The textile material can be fixed to the surface in different ways. It is convenient to glue thin fabrics with double-sided adhesive tape.Thicker material is fixed by using PVA glue. Heavy canvases are attached with staples or furniture nails.
Useful advice! For door decoration, it is better to choose fabric of dark colors or canvas with a large expressive pattern, on which dirt will not be too noticeable.
The walls and door of the room are covered with the same wallpaper
Different finishing options can be viewed in the photo of the restoration of interior doors with your own hands.
How to restore old doors using decoupage and patchwork technique
You can update an old interior door using modern techniques. Decoupage is very popular for decorating various surfaces.
To implement this technique, the doors do not need to be removed from their hinges. It is recommended to pre-prime the surface in 2 layers. The chosen decoupage card is soaked in water for 10-12 minutes. At this time, a layer of PVA glue is applied to the canvas. The fragment is taken out of the water. With the help of a fabric, excess moisture is removed from it and protective stripes are removed.
The card is applied to the surface and carefully smoothed with a rubber spatula to remove air bubbles. After the surface is completely dry, it should be opened with acrylic varnish in several layers.
To decorate the surface using the patchwork technique, you will need scraps of dense fabric with treated or non-crumbling edges, fragments of leather, lace, ribbons, clippings from magazines, newspapers, photographs that can be combined with each other to create interesting collages.
Repair of an old door using decoupage technique
Useful advice! The patchwork technique is not suitable for decorating bathroom doors or other damp rooms, as the finish will quickly begin to turn yellow and mold.
The surface is pre-primed. Next, a layer of PVA glue is applied to it. In an arbitrary or special order, fragments of the drawing are laid out on the door with their own hands, which are tightly pressed to the surface and rolled with a roller. Heavy elements can be fixed with a stapler. Completely dried collage is covered with a layer of furniture varnish.
Do-it-yourself restoration of interior doors using decorative inserts
To decorate an old door, you can use glass inserts or change the state of existing elements. The easiest way is to stick a colored film on the glass surface.
Stained glass technique looks especially impressive when restoring old wooden interior doors. To implement it, you will need special stained glass paints, brushes, a marker and a finished sketch. The process is carried out in the following sequence:
- the glass plate is removed from the door and placed on a horizontal surface. The entire door can be removed;
Glass inserts on the door can be decorated with stained-glass windows and drawings
- from the back side of the element, the outline of the future drawing is drawn using a marker according to the sketch;
- on the front side, using brushes and paints, a contour is formed, which must dry completely before the next process;
- empty spaces are filled with the necessary shades of paint;
- the drawing can be supplemented with decorative elements in the form of pebbles, rhinestones, pieces of glass, which are glued to the surface that has not yet hardened.
Idea! Stained glass technique can be used not only for glass inserts, but also for the door leaf itself.
You can transform the glass inserts by sandblasting the elements by contacting a specialized workshop.
In a blind product, you can independently cut holes of any size and shape, into which glass, mirror or ceramic elements are inserted. They can also be glued to the canvas in a chaotic manner, or create a specific ornament.
In old blind doors, you can cut a place for inserting stained glass
Doors decorated with various bulk materials, grains of which are fixed with glue, will look original and exclusive. The dried surface must be covered with varnish for the durability of the design.
How to renew veneer doors and extend the life of the coating
The method of restoration of interior veneer doors depends on the nature of the damage. Swollen areas can often be seen on the surface, which are the result of improper gluing of the veneer, or as a result of high ambient humidity.
To cope with such flaws, you can use a hot iron, which should be used to iron the swollen surface. You must first put a wet cloth on it for 10-15 minutes to soften the veneer.
You can remove swollen areas by gluing exfoliated veneer fragments. For this, PVA glue is typed into a medical syringe, which is injected under the coating. The veneer is tightly pressed against the canvas, the glue is evenly distributed. It is recommended to press down the glued place with a load for several hours.
Dents on the surface of a veneer door are sealed with a special wax
Visible scratches and other minor damage can form on the surface of veneer doors. You can disguise defects with melted wax, the color of which should match the shade of the finish. Surfaces should be roughened slightly, then degreased and filled in.
If the canvas has deep large damage, then its repair is carried out using veneer patches. For this, damaged areas are cut out on the surface. If deep damage has formed under them, they are sealed with putty.
Fragments of the required size and shape are cut out of the new veneer, which must also coincide in the type and direction of the pattern. The patch should not stand out from the general background. It is glued to the surface with PVA glue.
If you want to completely renew the coating, the question arises of how to paint the veneer doors. The surface is pre-cleaned, putty if necessary and then primed. The canvas can be painted using hypharal, polyurethane or water-based paints.
Old veneer doors can be renovated with staining
Important! Surface painting is carried out in two layers with complete drying of each, with one applied in the horizontal direction and the second in the vertical direction, which will create an even coating without gaps.
Veneered doors can be opened with shellac varnish or cellulose polish to provide a glossy finish.
Repair of old doors is a simple and interesting activity that you can do yourself using one of the proposed methods. In the absence of the necessary skills, you can resort to the help of specialists who will prepare the surface and decorate it in one of the selected ways. In this case, the price for the restoration of interior doors will depend on the condition of the canvas and the complexity of the repair.
