Made from iron, they are the most durable and best protect against uninvited guests. But, despite the obvious advantages of metal, it has its disadvantages. This is the coldest of all materials, since it has greater thermal conductivity, and it is also not able to protect against excessive noise. Therefore, it is important to know how to insulate the entrance metal door.

The main thing when insulating metal front door with your own hands - the right material. The most popular insulation is fiber or foam boards. The practical properties of the materials, as well as the principle of insulation with their help, are largely identical. The main difference is mechanical properties and fire safety.

Fibrous materials

Fibrous materials include mineral and glass wool, which are produced in the form of solid slabs or in rolls.

They are characterized high level thermal insulation and absolute non-flammability. In addition, fiber insulation is excellent, providing residents with comfort and silence in the apartment. The difference between mineral and glass wool is the raw material from which they are made. Thermal insulation properties are almost identical.

The main disadvantage of fibrous materials is low hygroscopicity. This means that when wet, the fiber will decrease in volume and at the same time lose its heat-insulating properties.

Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to use such materials in conditions under which condensation may form - i.e. where the door is on the border of contrasting temperatures (the door to the street). Fiber insulation can be used for installation in warm entrances of high-rise buildings.

Foam insulation

Foam insulation is a rigid slab made of foam polymer materials. The difference between polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam is that the former is filled with air, and the latter with nitrogen. Nitrogen makes the stove more resistant to destruction and combustion.

Both types of material are characterized by high moisture resistance, so they can be safely used both in apartment buildings and in private houses.

The slabs are available in various thicknesses and sizes, so you can choose optimal insulation for any design.

The only drawback of the material is its high cost compared to other insulation materials.

How to insulate a metal split entrance door

The main difference between a one-piece door and one is in the design. In the first case, a frame with stiffening ribs is already provided inside; in the second, it must be done independently.

In the case of a detachable structure, it is enough to remove the cladding layer from inside apartments, and set aside while the work is being done.

Let's consider step by step how to insulate an iron entrance door with a detachable structure:

• Lay the door leaf on a flat surface, remove all overlay elements, and then the cladding layer.
• Cut the selected insulation according to the size and shape of the cells.
• Cover the metal surface with glue or apply liquid nails.
• Place the insulation into the cells of the frame and press it to the surface.
• Screw back the facing layer.

If the casing was damaged during dismantling, it can be replaced with another one. suitable material. The cladding performs not only a decorative, but also a practical function, since it enhances the noise and heat insulation effect, and also protects the insulation from moisture.

This is what the process looks like if you use solid insulation– foam rubber or expanded polystyrene. If cotton wool is chosen as insulation, then before laying it, the door is covered with film over the entire inner surface.

It should protrude 1.5-2 cm beyond the canvas. Then the cotton wool is cut into strips in accordance with the cell sizes, but with an overlap of 1-1.5. After laying the insulation in sections, the structure is covered with a second layer of film and secured with tape. As a result, the cotton wool will be reliably protected from moisture.

We insulate a Chinese one-piece door

In most cases, Chinese doors are either hollow inside or filled with honeycomb cardboard, which, although it should serve as insulation, actually does a poor job of doing its job. Therefore, a buyer of Chinese products will definitely wonder how to insulate an iron door from the inside.

The process of insulating a non-demountable structure is almost identical to the method described above. But before you insulate a metal non-removable door, you will have to install a strong frame on the inside of the leaf, which is necessary for attaching the cladding.

Preparing the door

The canvas must be removed from the hinges, laid horizontally and all overhead elements removed from it. After this, try to remove the layer of cladding. In the case of Chinese doors, it will not be possible to unscrew the trim, so it will most likely have to be cut off.

Frame installation

It is not advisable to choose metal as a material for the frame, because... the purpose of the alteration is insulation, and iron, as already mentioned, has high thermal conductivity. Therefore it is better to take wooden beam, which is installed around the perimeter.

After this, you need to install stiffeners. Moreover, you cannot install only horizontal or only vertical partitions - it is better to combine 2 types of floors. This will help protect the material from sagging or shifting.

The width of the bar must correspond to the maximum width of the protruding part of the frame.

Laying insulation

The selected thermal insulation material must be placed in the resulting sections of the frame. It is fixed by surprise or with glue. It's even better if both methods are combined. Therefore, the gaps between the insulation or frame elements should be minimal.

Installing a decorative layer

The final step in insulating and finishing a metal entrance door is the installation of the internal cladding. Most often, MDF, plywood with decorative coating or dermantin.

It is allowed to insulate a metal door on both sides, i.e. the frame is installed both from the inside and from outside apartments. In this case, for decorative cladding of the structure you can use different materials, for example: fiberboard sheet for interior decoration, and the lining - for the outside.

Another option for insulating a one-piece door is to fill the cavity with foam insulation (vermiculite or perlite). However, this method is only suitable for structures with securely welded seams, otherwise the insulation will easily leak through the holes. In addition, without disassembling the door, it is difficult to be sure that all the internal space will be filled.

Do-it-yourself door insulation

To insulate an iron door with your own hands, in addition to the insulation itself, you need to prepare the following set of materials and tools:

• sheet for internal cladding - fiberboard, OSB, plywood;
• wooden beam;
• polyurethane foam;
• glue or liquid nails;
• fastening materials;
• plaster;
• sealing tape;
• jigsaw, screwdriver, spatula.

We discussed the insulation process for each type of door in the previous paragraphs of the article.

Let's take a closer look at the features of installing the inner finishing layer:

• From a sheet of the selected material you need to cut a sheet corresponding to the size of the door. Moreover, the resulting sheet must exactly coincide with the outer perimeter of the frame.
• Using a jigsaw, holes are cut in the canvas for the keyhole, eyelet and handle.
• The sheet is attached to wooden frame using glue and screws around the entire perimeter. An equal distance of 30-40 cm should be maintained between the fasteners.
• Overhead elements are mounted into the prepared holes.
• The door peephole and other fittings are fixed with sealant during installation.

TO

The final stage of interior cladding will be decorative design surfaces. For this, fiberboard, eco-leather or any other covering technology can be used. The main thing is that the finished version fits harmoniously into the interior of the room. A door insulated according to the described algorithm will provide good protection against noise and cold.

Insulation of the box

You need to understand that insulating the door alone is not enough to achieve a sufficient level of thermal insulation. Most of the heat from the apartment leaves through the gaps between the leaf and the door frame.

Therefore, attention should be paid to insulation of this part of the structure. To begin, remove the remnants of old insulation and plaster from the wall, moisten the surface with water and foam the gaps. After the foam has dried, treat the box with plaster. This way the insulation will be protected from moisture and light, which means it will perform its functions with great success.

The final stage of insulation will be laying a sealing self-adhesive tape around the perimeter of the door frame. Sealing tapes vary in size, so you can choose optimal material depending on the size of the gaps (maximum gap – 7mm). Before gluing the tape, the surface must be prepared by thoroughly degreasing it. Otherwise, the seal will not last long.

Common mistakes when insulating

Insulating metal doors is a fairly simple and straightforward process, so it is not necessary to involve professionals to carry out the work.

Having decided to remake it yourself, it is important to adhere to the described algorithms. To avoid unnecessary mistakes, take note of these simple tips:

• When insulated, the door becomes thicker than it was originally. This fact must be taken into account when selecting accessories - locks, handles, peepholes.
• You should not carry out insulation work while the door is in a vertical position. This will not only complicate the process, but will also lead to displacement of the insulation.
• When using polyurethane foam to fill joints, it is worth considering its ability to expand. When dried, its volume increases 2-3 times, which can compromise the integrity of the structure.
• When installing a new iron door, it would be useful to leave the old wooden one. Thus, the air space formed between the canvases will help enhance the heat and sound insulation properties.
• If, after laying the insulation in the cells of the frame, gaps have formed, they can be eliminated using pieces of polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam.

Following these tips will help you achieve good results and avoid annoying mistakes when insulating your home. Knowing how to insulate an iron door yourself, you won’t have to turn to the help of professionals.

Having installed a reliable door between the street and the house, regardless of whether it is Chinese or European safe type, you definitely need to take care of the issue: how to insulate a metal entrance door until the cold weather.

Choosing a metal door with insulation

Whether you live in an apartment or a house, in any case, your home requires a reliable entrance door. This could be an inexpensive iron door made in China, or armored fabric with fireproof and bulletproof layers, the main thing is to choose a model whose cavities are filled with insulation. At the same time, it is extremely important to ask in advance what kind of thermal insulation is contained inside the sash, since very often honeycomb cardboard is used as insulation. The strength of this material is high to the same extent as its thermal conductivity. Very often internal filling steel door It is made of thin foam, which also does not contribute to high-quality insulation.

Basalt thermal insulation is considered the best option today. Of course, if the placement inside the sash is poor, the mineral fiber will settle over time under its own weight. But professionally made metal doors with such a filler, fixed over the entire area using horizontal ribs, will serve for a long time without the formation of freezing areas. There are also models with sawdust filling the internal cavity between metal sheets. This solution significantly reduces the thermal conductivity of the street door.

But most often you have to buy budget options, with completely absent insulation, and also without interior panel, or upholstered on the inside with tightly fitted boards or timber. In this case, you need to look for options on how to insulate the metal entrance door yourself. Foam rubber can be used as a material to fill the space between the stiffeners, which is best used in combination with batting, as well as polyurethane foam or, in extreme cases, polystyrene foam. Thermal insulation can be done both inside and outside.

The simplest ways to insulate a metal entrance door

There are several ways to attach thermal insulation to the inner surface of a metal door, but no matter which one you choose, you should definitely prepare the inner lining. It could be plywood, fiberboard, MDF or even a sheet of plastic. Next, pay attention to what material the frame and sash stiffeners are made of. Most likely it will be square profile, on which it is most convenient to attach the inner lining. If the door frame is made of angle iron, it is best to make thermal insulation from the outside by making a special frame from slats for this purpose. True, in this case outer skin it is better to choose based on it appearance, that is, it must be a decorative material.

But let’s return to how to insulate an iron entrance door from the inside. Let's say foam is chosen as thermal insulation. To secure it we need glue. First, we prepare the inner lining according to the dimensions of the door, cutting out holes on it for locks and a peephole (if the cutouts should be complex shape, process with a file). Next, we cut off fragments of the required size from the expanded polystyrene sheet based on the space between the stiffeners. We apply glue in dotted lines along the perimeter of the foam plastic cuts, which are then pressed tightly against the door leaf.

The next stage is installation internal lining. We have already prepared the sheet for this purpose, all the slots have been made in it, all that remains is to secure it. Since adjustment will have to be made to the frame and door stiffeners, it is necessary to pre-drill holes, identifying the fastening points. We carry out drilling immediately through the skin, so that later, after applying it, we do not lose the location of the holes. For installation we use ordinary self-tapping screws. Fixed sheet in decorative purposes process on the edges, slightly rounding them.

When laying insulation, you can use polyurethane foam as a fixation, which is applied not only to inner surface sash, but also on the side planes of the stiffeners.

Thermal insulation of the entrance door from the outside is carried out in a similar way. The only difference is that there is no frame and stiffening ribs made of profiles, between which insulation can be placed. Therefore, for high-quality fastening of the material, it is necessary to first install a limiter - a frame made of wooden slats. This structure is screwed with self-tapping screws directly to the door leaf, for which you need to drill holes for the screws in the surface of the leaf. We do it in one large sheet. Then the insulated entrance street door is covered on the outside with decorative cladding. You can even paste over or upholster with thick fabric or leatherette.

What should an insulated street entrance door be like?

On the eve of winter, it is necessary to insulate not only door leaves, but also frames. It’s good if they are purchased already with thermal insulation; if this is not available, it is recommended to place the filler inside the door frame at the stage of installation in the opening. Most the best option– fill a void in a profile or channel mortar, in which are mixed sawdust. However, as mentioned above, most often we are offered inexpensive metal doors with a complete lack of thermal insulation as “economy” class models. And, if it was not possible to insulate the sash and frame during the installation process, you still need to find an opportunity and subsequently fill the voids with insulation.

Some kind of loose filler is best suited for this purpose. This can be expanded vermiculite, expanded clay, and even ordinary ones will significantly reduce the thermal conductivity of the door. To install the insulation, it is enough to make holes in the top of the box. The main thing is that there are no slits or cracks at the bottom to avoid filler spillage. As alternative option polyurethane foam or, in other words, polyurethane foam can be used. To fill this sealant, holes must be made along the entire height in the box at certain intervals, filling the profile from bottom to top. The only drawback of this method is the inability to fully control the quality of filling the cavities and the need to close the box with decorative trims at the end of the work.

Cold penetrates into housing not only in places where there is no thermal insulation, but also with drafts that occur in the presence of the slightest cracks. These appear when the front door does not fit tightly to the frame, which in most cases is typical for metal doors. You can solve the problem on your own: if you detect a gap due to increased air draft, it is enough to place a seal between the door and the frame. Can be purchased at a hardware store or hardware store foam rubber strip with a self-adhesive base, or manually cut the foam rubber and fix it with PVA. Also, porous rubber, padding polyester, felt and even leatherette are quite suitable as a sealant. The latter is best used with any of the other materials listed, as a reinforcing wrap, that is, wrap a strip of leatherette in a long roll with foam rubber or padding polyester inside.

Metal doors are one of the most popular today entrance structures. The main problem with these products is the minimum level of thermal insulation. Therefore, the question of how to insulate a metal entrance door worries many owners of apartments and houses who do not want to freeze in the cold season.

Causes of heat loss

The modern front door is complex system, consisting of several layers various materials. One of its main purposes is to retain heat indoors. But in a private home, thermal energy leaks often occur. There are several factors that cause this phenomenon:

• Cracks. These damages often occur as the home settles. At the same time, first of all, they appear in the most “thin” places, among which are doorways.
• Wall thickness. A single-layer structure has much worse heat retention characteristics than surfaces made of several layers.
• Technical openings. This includes both windows and old doors. The last type of structure is one of the most common reasons heat loss.

Therefore, when insulating an apartment, you should first pay attention to the door. Flaw iron structure– poor sound insulation and high conductivity of thermal energy. Single-layer Chinese door protective layer quite small and not always complemented by high-quality thermal insulation.

Sometimes heat can escape not only through the metal sheet, but also through small cracks that form around the box or under the threshold.

Before you begin insulating such structures, you should identify the real reasons for the penetration of cold. If this is not done, then such an operation simply will not give optimal performance.

Please note that sheet thickness door leaf is not an indicator on which thermal insulation depends. A thick layer will simply allow heat to pass through a little longer, but this will not provide high-quality performance when there is a significant difference between the external and internal temperatures.

Types of insulation

Insulating doors involves applying an additional layer of material to their surface that does not transmit heat well. Today, several types of materials can be used for such purposes:

• Basalt slabs and mineral wool. The substances have high thermal insulation rates. At the same time, they can reduce the penetration of sounds, which is an additional plus. The disadvantage of these products is that some of them can accumulate moisture and clump, which leads to loss of original qualities.

• Batting. The material is a product based on cotton wool and various types wool It is environmentally friendly and has high thermal insulation properties. But over time, the insulation can become loose, which will lead to the appearance of “bare” areas.

• Polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam. The products are distinguished by their availability and high thermal insulation characteristics. As for expanded polystyrene, it also withstands high temperatures and does not support combustion. These materials are among the most optimal options. But please note that if such insulation is attached externally, there is a risk of it being damaged by rodents.

• Polyurethane foam. The foam perfectly retains its shape for a long time and also prevents heat penetration. But the cost of polyurethane foam is quite high, so its use is economically unprofitable.

• Penofol. The material is a thin layer of insulation, on which foil is applied on one side. It reflects heat and does not allow it to move further. This product is used as a support layer.

It is impossible to say what is the best way to insulate a door leaf. Each of the materials considered has unique characteristics and can be used to solve specific problems.

Features of thermal insulation technology

The technology for insulating a metal door involves introducing an additional heat-insulating layer into the structure of the structure. Such an operation is only possible if you have certain skills in working with such materials. Therefore, before you begin insulation, you should clarify how specialists do it correctly.

From the inside

Internal insulation is one of the most simple ways, which is easy to do with your own hands. It should be understood that such an operation is only possible for collapsible door panels. If the system is solid, then it is impossible to insulate it from the inside. Although some craftsmen can cut off the top protective layer and then install it in its place chipboard sheet or solder the metal back. But in this case, the aesthetic appearance of the door will be lost.

Technology internal insulation can be broken down into several successive steps:

• Dismantling the entrance metal door. Sheathing of the frame should be done on flat surface. Therefore, it is important to remove the canvas and remove one of the removable pads. At the same time, handles and other structural elements are also dismantled.

• Preparing insulation. This process involves cutting sheets to fit the size of the cells, which are formed by internal stiffeners. Please note that if they are missing, then it is advisable to replace the door as it will not last long. When cutting out a heat insulator, you should fit it tightly to all cells. It is important to prevent the formation of large gaps.

• Fastening. The insulation is fixed using liquid nails. To do this, they are applied to the bottom sheet of the door, and then individual pieces of material are glued. This process is quite simple and only requires precision. After this, polyurethane foam is placed in the cracks between the insulation and the frame. Its purpose is to fill all holes and increase thermal insulation characteristics. Please note that this must be done very carefully, as the product increases in volume and may push out cotton wool or other product. Once the substance is attached, it is covered with a film. It is needed to prevent moisture from penetrating into the structure. This is especially important for mineral wool and other similar substances. Some experts recommend placing the film on both sides of the thermal insulation layer. To increase thermal insulation, you can also place a layer of penofol on top of the main insulation.

• Assembly. After completing the laying of the sheets, you should begin installing the door leaf. Assembly is performed in reverse order. Some craftsmen recommend lubricating the eye with sealant to secure it securely.

The interior upholstery is completed by installing the door leaf and checking its functionality.

Outside

External cladding carried out in the case when it is not possible to remove the top sheet of the door leaf. When performing such operations, the decorative features doors.

Algorithm exterior finishing consists of several sequential steps:

• First of all, the door is removed from its hinges. In some cases, you just need to unscrew a few fixing screws. When the doors are removed, they are laid on a flat horizontal surface.

• At this stage, a frame is formed, which will be located on one side of the canvas. It is made from wooden blocks or metal pipes. The thickness is selected individually, as it depends on the quality of the door structure. Many experts recommend using thin bars, but insulating both sides of the canvas.
• Installation of the frame begins with attaching supports around the perimeter of the doors. Wooden blocks are screwed to them using several self-tapping screws. If they use hardware, then they can simply be welded to the top of the sheet. Please note that this process requires certain welding skills, since the thickness of the layer is minimal and you can simply burn it through.
• Several cross supports should be attached between the support bars. Often their number does not exceed 4 pieces. Such strips are located parallel to the lower and upper ends of the door, and fixation is carried out in a similar way to the previously described method.
• After this, sheets of insulation are placed inside the frame. This can be either mineral wool or polystyrene foam. They are fastened, as in the first case, using liquid nails. For better thermal insulation, the cracks can be filled with a small amount of polyurethane foam.

• When the doors are insulated, proceed to their decorative finishing. To cover the frame, laminated chipboard is often used, which can be selected to suit specific color doors. To do this, a blank is cut out of it, which should be equal in size to the completed frame. It is advisable to cut using a jigsaw or a special machine to prevent the appearance of large quantity chipped
• After this, the sheet is screwed to the frame using self-tapping screws. It is important to do this with two people, which will allow you to align the workpiece as accurately as possible. When everything is screwed in, the surface of the chipboard is sanded and painted desired color. If desired, you can use additional decorative overlays.
• The process ends with the installation of fittings. To accurately cut holes for handles, you should first mark on the chipboard where the holes will be formed. Please note that such overlays will increase the thickness of the door leaf. In most cases, the handle, locks and other elements may not fit these dimensions. Therefore, you will have to buy new fittings.

Door frame blow protection

In some cases, the insulation of the canvas does not allow you to cope with cold bridges that arise due to the gaps between the frame and the door. This problem can be corrected using special sealing tapes. Specialists in one of the stores will help you find out which insulation you can use. Experts often recommend focusing on the size of the gaps.

A modern metal entrance door is actually complex design, where iron is just a shell. The cavities of the leaf can be filled with insulation, since the main function of the door is to retain heat. But there are often heat leaks, not only in private houses, but also in apartments. In addition, inexpensive metal doors have ordinary tin as a body, and instead of insulation - cardboard honeycomb.

Reasons for heat loss in the house:

1. Thin walls. Folded in the classic way walls from several decades ago that do not have insulation begin to freeze over time. As a result, the thermal insulation of the house deteriorates.
2. Cracks and crevices. When a heavy structure shrinks, cracks form on the walls, which over time, if you do not pay attention to them, turn into huge gaps. Such gaps are also called cold bridges.
3. Technical openings(old doors and windows). Over time, the wood dries out, thereby forming colossal gaps where the boxes are installed. Windows that are not properly insulated are one of the key sources of heat loss. And a door, if it is made of sheet metal and does not have the necessary insulation, or is of poor quality Chinese construction, with cardboard inside instead of a heat insulator, this is the direct cause of colossal heat loss.

A metal door that does not have proper insulation is a direct source of cold in the house

That's why Door insulation is an important component of thermal protection of the entire house. But before you implement your idea, find out the exact reasons for the loss of heat, so that you don’t end up wasting time and energy on insulating the doors, and the reason for the uncomfortable microclimate lies in the cold bridges formed through the cracks in the house.

Important! The thickness of the iron door leaf is not an indicator of the thermal insulation of the door. A thick layer of metal is, first of all, protection against penetrations and only then a heat insulator (provided that there are no cracks in the structure).

Sometimes heat can be lost not through the leaf, but through the cracks of the iron door frame

Choosing insulation

The insulation on the door not only protects the room from the cold, but also insulates the rooms from extraneous noise, which is quite important in apartment buildings. Therefore, when choosing a ready-made door structure, you should inquire about its contents.

Penofol

Penofol equipped with a reflective foil layer, thanks to which all the heat remains indoors. But, as a rule, it is used only as an auxiliary insulating material.

Rigid (sheet) insulation

Sheet heat insulators (penoplex, polystyrene foam, etc.), good for ease of installation and low cost. Since the material is not hygroscopic, it is not necessary to attach a vapor barrier and moisture-proof membrane when installing it.

When choosing rigid insulation, give preference expanded polystyrene (penoplex). He significantly denser and stronger polystyrene foam, besides insulates more effectively.

Soft (rolled) insulating materials

Rolled or sheet soft thermal insulators include glass wool and mineral wool. They differ only in the base; their thermal insulation characteristics are approximately the same. Material environmentally friendly, non-flammable, allows you to independently choose the installation height, eliminating additional trimming. These advantages make cotton insulation especially popular.

Illustrative examples of heat loss

The material is sold in rolls or slabs. Elements of any shape and size can be cut out of rolled wool, and to reduce the thickness of the insulating layer, simply press and fix the material.

Vata deficiency - high hygroscopicity. The material is afraid of moisture and if the insulation absorbs water, it loses its heat-protective properties. Experts do not recommend using this insulation for doors, since with a high contrast of external and internal temperatures, the likelihood of the insulation getting wet is extremely high. However, the option is quite acceptable for the entrance door to an apartment.

Inflatable (sprayed) insulation

Video - Visual process of insulating a metal entrance door in a private house

Owners of apartments and private houses often have a question: how to insulate an iron entrance door? The fact is that even though a metal door is reliable protection from uninvited guests, the material from which it is made is an excellent heat conductor. This, in turn, leads to the structure freezing during the cold season and ice forming on its inside. Let's figure out whether it is possible to insulate an iron door with your own hands, and what is needed for this.

The process of high-quality insulation cannot be started without correctly selected insulation. Fortunately, in the modern market you can easily find what you need. It’s worth saying right away that you can use both hard and soft insulation; the choice depends entirely on you.

According to consumer reviews, one of the popular insulation materials is mineral wool. There are several reasons for this: it is inexpensive, easy to use due to its soft structure, absorbs noise well and has memory, that is, it is able to recover in size after compression. Vata copes well with temperature changes, protecting the house from the cold. The disadvantages include the fact that the material is soft and can settle over time. However, this drawback can be easily mitigated by creating stiffening ribs in the door structure, which do not allow the mineral wool to “slip” over a long period.

One of the most popular insulation materials is mineral wool.

A big problem for mineral wool is exposure to moisture, or rather condensation, which forms when the dew point moves inside the door leaf. It will help to properly insulate an iron door from the inside stone wool. It is not susceptible to moisture, so it can be used even for thermal insulation of the entrance doors of private houses. Otherwise, mineral wool is suitable only for apartment doors with a heated vestibule (corridor).

Polystyrene foam is another popular way to save heat in a room. The material is very light in weight, which eliminates the weight of the door structure. It is durable and wear-resistant. Polystyrene does not require additional waterproofing because it is not hygroscopic. In addition, it does an excellent job of suppressing noise from outside and holds heat well. Choosing among various options, you should give preference to expanded polystyrene, for example, Penoplex. It is much denser than ordinary polystyrene foam, therefore, with a smaller thickness (and this can be very important!) it has the same properties as polystyrene foam bigger size. In addition, it is not recommended to use simple polystyrene foam, since it can release harmful substances when heated.

Corrugated cardboard is the insulation material for almost all doors supplied from China. What can you say about this insulation? The material has weak thermal insulation properties, but very cheap, which makes doors with such insulation accessible to the majority of the population.

Quite expensive, but very effective material used in insulating a metal door is polyurethane foam. It is applied using a special tool. Thanks to its “liquid” structure at the application stage, it makes it possible to fill all cavities without exception, forming a solid canvas. The disadvantage of this material is its price, so it has not yet found sufficient distribution among our compatriots.

Also not too cheap thermal insulation material Isolon serves. But the big advantage is its minimum thickness. The material is sold in rolls, so you can easily purchase exactly the length you need. Thanks to the adhesive side, it is simply attached to the canvas, and this can be done without even disassembling the entire door structure, although in this case you will have to make overlays on top to hide the insulation. To do this, you can use a sheet of plywood or other material.

It is also worth noting that materials such as, for example, foam rubber can be used to insulate entrance doors. chipboards and others. But, let’s face it, their quality of thermal insulation is almost minimal, in addition, they are highly susceptible to moisture, which also increases their weight iron doors. This negatively affects their service life.

At first glance, it may seem that the process itself is overly labor-intensive and requires special knowledge. In fact, even an inexperienced master can handle the job. Having decided on the insulation material, it is necessary to remove the locks, handles and peephole from the door leaf. After this, you need to dismantle the door leaf and place it on a flat horizontal surface. Of course, you can work without removing the door, but this is extremely inconvenient and not always rational.

Even an inexperienced craftsman can cope with the insulation of a split door

First you need to remove the trim from the inside of the door. Depending on the model, this may be an armored sheet, or it may be a simple cover made of plywood or other material. Most often, the trim is attached to the door using screws or rivets. If the door has old insulation inside, it must be removed by thoroughly cleaning the entire structure. If in internal space there are stiffening ribs, then you need to drill holes in them at intervals of 40–45 cm and fill the cavities through them polyurethane foam for thermal insulation. The diameter of the holes must correspond to the diameter of the cylinder tube.

On next stage, if mineral wool or other soft insulation is chosen as thermal insulation, a water barrier is installed over the entire surface using polyethylene. This is not necessary for expanded polystyrene, since it already has good waterproofing qualities. Then the distance between the stiffeners is measured and the thermal insulation is cut with a small allowance. This is done in order to minimize the possibility of voids forming between the door structure and the thermal insulation material.

You can work without removing the door, but this is extremely inconvenient and not always rational

The next step is to lay insulation in the cavity. For better installation It is recommended to fasten with “liquid nails” or polyurethane foam. All contact areas must be additionally filled with polyurethane foam, and, if necessary, a layer of waterproofing must be laid on top. When all these procedures are completed, you can begin attaching the lining. If the old material has become unusable, then it needs to be replaced with a new one, but which one is up to you to decide. After this, you can install the door peephole, insert the lock and hang the door on its hinges.

If you have a question about how to insulate an iron Chinese entrance door or any other door that is not removable, then in this case the technique will be slightly different from the above. To begin with, remove the canvas and remove the locks, handles and peephole from it. After this, the door is laid horizontally and the installation of the frame and stiffeners on the inside and outside of the door begins. To do this, you need to take a wooden block with a cross section of 20*20 mm. Moreover, the thickness can be greater - it all depends on the thickness of the insulation itself. If possible, cook metal carcass, then you can use this method.

To install the frame and stiffeners you need to take a wooden block with a cross section of 20*20 mm

The frame is attached to the surface with self-tapping screws, and all joints with the canvas are coated with polyurethane foam to prevent the ingress of air and moisture. When installing metal structure you can use welding machine. All steps for installing insulation will be similar to those described above. The structure is covered on top with a sheet of fiberboard, hardboard or other material, which is securely attached to the door leaf. On final stage it is necessary to make holes for the peephole and door lock and install the door in place. If desired, the surface of the door leaf can be additionally trimmed with leather, leatherette, forged or plastic overlays, etc.

Advice! When attaching the frame or sheathing, use clamps. They will help securely fix the structure, preventing it from moving.

Insulation of metal doors is not only the thermal insulation of the door leaf itself. To effectively retain heat, you need to pay attention to some important points.

For a better fit of the door leaf to the steel frame, it is necessary to use rubber seals

For a better fit of the door leaf to the steel frame, it is necessary to use rubber seals, which will help improve the quality of thermal insulation of the doors. They are for sale required footage, so before installation you need to measure the perimeter of the door. The seal has an adhesive edge that attaches it to the canvas. To do this, the iron surface is degreased and only after that a rubber tape is glued. It is noteworthy that with a wide door frame You can attach the seal in several layers.

Please note that the tape itself comes in different thicknesses and types. Depending on the size of the gap, you can select the required option. For large gaps, it is recommended to use a sealant in the form of the Latin letters O and D. For gaps ranging in size from 3 to 5 mm, tapes resembling the letters V or P in cross-section are suitable. And you can get rid of very small gaps using a C- or K-shaped seal.

Thermal insulation of the door frame has a great effect in insulation. Since its dismantling, insulation and subsequent installation is too much difficult process, then you can use the above method, which is used to insulate stiffeners. To do this, you only need a metal drill and foam.

It is important to take into account that when a one-piece door is insulated, its thickness increases, so the possibility of making an extended key should be provided so that the door can be opened without problems. The same applies to the snap-on square on the handle.

In particularly harsh climatic conditions, it is advisable to install doorway heating cable, which is used to install heated floors. To do this, plaster is knocked off the slopes, tile adhesive is placed into the formed cavities, and the cable is mounted inside. In addition, the heating cable is also laid on the floor in front of the door. This system eliminates the formation of cold bridges, which, in turn, reduces the likelihood of condensation forming on the surface of the door leaf, and, therefore, icing.

Now you have an idea of ​​how to insulate a metal door and can do all the work yourself. High-quality thermal insulation will not only help keep your home warm, but will also save the door from premature failure, rust and ice formation. Do-it-yourself work will help you save money and fill your home with warmth and quiet.