How to insulate a metal door correctly with your own hands

Metal doors - a reliable means of protecting a dwelling from outside intrusion. But it so happens that the insulating characteristics of such a device leave much to be desired. Fortunately, this problem can be solved with additional materials. Detailed information on how to insulate a metal door is contained in the article.

The choice of insulation

When deciding on the choice of insulation, users have several options for which tool to use:

Mineral wool

It got its name from the fact that it is made from fusible natural minerals. When exposed to high temperatures, the structure of the starting material becomes viscous. It is transformed into the finest threads that are woven together, forming a dense web. The resulting mass really looks like cotton wool.

The cost of the final product depends on how valuable and high-quality material was used for its production.

Pros:

1. Excellent insulating properties.
2. High resistance to temperature extremes, changes in humidity, chemical composition of the air, etc.
3. This insulation is considered safe. in case of fire. Its properties contribute to the fact that the flame, colliding with a layer of mineral wool, will not be able to pass into the next room.

Minuses:

1. Despite the fact that the material is resistant to external factors, over time, it begins to sag under its own weight. Accordingly, it will not perform its functions so well.

Styrofoam

It is a lightweight material that is actively used in construction as an insulator. The composition is unique: it is almost 100% air. To obtain it, polystyrene granules are alternately foamed several times, then blown over with a stream of hot air. This technology allows you to make the weight of the finished material to a minimum, while it has good insulating properties.

Having obtained the desired consistency, the foam is left to dry to get rid of excess moisture.

Pros:

1. The structure of the insulation withstands external influenceskeeping the given shape.
2. Styrofoam is easy to work with, easily cutting out elements of the required size and shape.
3. Holds up well, does not move.
4. Low cost.

Minuses:

1. Insulation performance is mediocre. In particular, this is due to the fact that the foam is not able to hermetically contact with other material, therefore, loopholes for cold and extraneous sounds remain in the smallest gaps.
2. The structure is destroyed by hot water.
3. Unfortunately, foam plastic also cannot boast of a high level of fire safety.

Corrugated board

It is the result of the activities of the pulp industry. These are dense sheets of cardboard, glued and laid in such a way that the structure is multilayer and cellular.

Pros:

1. Low cost.
2. Ease of installation.
3. Low weight.

Minuses:

1. The insulating properties are even lower than that of foam.
2. Can react to moisture levels, over time, the structure under the influence of moisture can condense, which will deteriorate the insulation.
3. Low level of fire safety.

Polyurethane foam

It is essentially plastic, which, inside a special device, looks like a liquid. At the time of application under pressure, this liquid foams and becomes voluminous at the outlet. Within a short time, the mass solidifies, creating a reliable protective barrier.

Pros:

1. It is considered to be the best insulation today.
2. Resistant to temperature and humidity extremesexposed to chemicals.
3. Mold and the development of pathogens are not afraid of this material.
4. Safe for residents.
5. Fireproof.

Minuses:

1. Requires careful professional application.

Required materials and tools

So, to carry out work on the insulation of a metal door, you will need the following tools:

• putty knife;
• screwdriver;
• jigsaw (better electronic);
• construction knife;

Materials:

• directly the insulation itself;
• construction foam for installation work;
• universal glue (insulation material will be attached to it), or liquid nails;
• sealant;
• putty;
• plywood, a little wood to create the inner frame of the door;

Warming options

Depending on the location of the material, the following insulation options are possible:

1. From the inside.
2. Outside.

The first method is suitable if the inner door leaf is collapsible. In this case, it is enough just to remove it and fill the space with the selected type of insulation. The only thing that needs to be done is to ensure that moisture is closed to the material. For this, a waterproof film is usually applied over the insulation.

The second method is most often chosen in cases where the door frame is not collapsible.

Two options are possible here:

1. Bulk. Several holes are made in the door leaf with a drill, through which the inner space is filled with granular foam. Possible cons:
   
   • Insufficient insulationif the material is insufficient or unevenly distributed.
   • May negatively affect worklocking mechanism.
   • Holes, even covered with plugs, can spoil the appearance of the canvas.
2. Creation of an external wireframe. The method is more painstaking and requires a certain skill. Most often, wooden blocks or plywood are used to create an additional layer between the door leaf and the door. They are cut out in accordance with the parameters of the source material, and a frame is formed from them, the cavity of which is filled with insulation.

Do-it-yourself insulation

Before choosing a method of self-warming the door, you need to study its design: understands or not the canvas, how the locking mechanism is arranged, etc. You can increase the insulation of the curtain, or the door boxes.

Canvas:

1. If the canvas can be disassembled, then it is best to place the insulation material inside. To do this, it is cut to the desired size depending on the parameters of the canvas (if a solid is laid). So that the insulation does not move, it is fixed with spacers. It is easier to work with a soft one, the only thing is if the selected product is not moisture resistant, after installation it must be covered with a special film.
2. If the canvas is not demountable, then you can apply the bulk method described in the previous section.

Insulating the box is a time-consuming method, but a high-quality result is worth it.

So, how to proceed:

1. Remove the canvas from the hinges.
2. Take out the door peephole, locking system.
3. Remove screwswith which the trim panel is attached to the door frame.
4. If the insulation is solid, it must be cut so that it completely occupies the internal cavities in size. You can fix it with universal glue or liquid nails. All, even the smallest gaps left between the material and the door body, should be filled with construction foam, otherwise, there will be paths for cold air currents.
5. Soft material, also fixed on an adhesive base and, if necessary, additionally covered with a protective film.

After the completion of the installation work, the outer panel is fastened back, the peephole and locks are returned, the door is installed in its place.

The presence of the smallest gaps between the joints can become a source of tangible drafts. This problem can be easily solved with sealing tape. It can be made of rubber or foam rubber. The main thing is to choose the right thickness (usually the choice is made in favor of the minimum), in order to exclude interfering with the normal closing of the door.

Sealing material is pasted over the joints around the entire perimeter of the door.

You should take care of the tightness and insulation characteristics of the door even at the stage of its acquisition. Having bought an already insulated copy, you will not have to subsequently look for ways to improve it with your own hands.

Even at the production stage, one or another type of insulation is laid in the door cavity. Maximum tightness is achieved by gluing the entire perimeter of the box with a seal.

The price of the finished product depends on the quality of the materials used in production, the manufacturer, the cost of the insulation, the type of cladding and burglar resistance. The range of prices for insulated doors is quite large - from 12,000 to 70,000 rubles.

Recommendations

So, when going to insulate a metal door, you should remember the following:

1. Knowledge of the design features of the door will allow you to choose the most suitable method of insulation.
2. Better not to skimp on insulation material, because the higher cost is due not only to the insulating parameters, but also to fire resistance, independence from environmental factors, as well as environmental safety.
3. When installing solid material care must be taken that all joints are filled with construction foam, otherwise drafts cannot be avoided.
4. If the inner surface of the door consists of stiffeners, they also need to be filled with foam by drilling several holes in them, since in essence they are small hollow pipes that will let cold air into the living room.
5. By purchasing a door that is already initially insulated, you can save yourself the hassle of making design changes. In addition, an industrial installation of insulation is usually made of a higher quality than a personal one, and therefore its service life is much longer.