Polyurethane door molding: casings, portals, and overlays

A door opening is a transitional zone, a boundary between spaces, a point of visual concentration. You enter the living room from the hallway, move from the bedroom to the study — the gaze automatically fixes on the doors. A standard interior opening with simple 60-70 mm wide casings looks functional but architecturally empty, lacking expressiveness.Polyurethane molding for doorstransforms a utilitarian opening into a portal — a three-dimensional framing with columns, capitals, pediments, frontons, and panel overlays, creating an architectural accent, establishing the status of the room, and emphasizing the interior style.

Why polyurethane, not wood or plaster? Wood is heavy (an oak casing 120 mm wide, 2100 mm high weighs 8-12 kg, requires powerful fasteners, risk of sagging after 2-3 years), expensive (a carved wooden portal costs 30-80 thousand rubles versus 8-18 thousand for a polyurethane equivalent), finicky (wood dries out, cracks, darkens from the sun, requires periodic treatment with protective compounds). Plaster is fragile (shatters during transport or accidental impact), heavy (a plaster overlay 40×60 cm weighs 5-8 kg versus 400-700 grams for polyurethane), does not tolerate moisture (plaster molding on a bathroom or kitchen door will become waterlogged within a year).

Polyurethane is lightweight (total weight of portal decor 3-6 kg — adheres with regular mounting adhesive without screws or dowels), impact-resistant (withstands household impacts without chipping), moisture-resistant (suitable for wet areas), does not change color (UV stabilizers protect against yellowing), visually identical to plaster or wood (same relief depth, same ornament detail, indistinguishable after painting). And most importantly — affordable price with a premium look. A polyurethane portal for 12-20 thousand rubles looks like a carved wooden one for 50-70 thousand.

This article is a complete guide to polyurethane door decor. We will analyze types of elements (casings, portals, panel overlays, pediments, frontons, arch framings), selection criteria (matching interior style, door size, opening type), installation technology (on interior doors, entrance doors, arched openings), finishing (painting, gilding, patination). The goal is to provide a tool for transforming ordinary doors into architectural focal points of the interior.

KPU-091 Decorative Moldings

from 376.55 $

Decorative molding KPU-114

from 145.22 $

Decorative molding KPU-118

from 84.88 $

Decorative molding KPU-119

from 84.88 $

Polyurethane molding MLDPU-027

from 49.23 $

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Door decor typology: from casings to portals

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Decorative casings: framing functionality

A casing is a vertical strip that covers the joint between the door frame and the wall. Standard casings (those included with doors) are flat or with minimal profile, width 60-70 mm, color white or wood-like, with a purely utilitarian purpose (to hide the seam). Decorative polyurethane casings have a width of 80-150 mm, are profiled (convex, concave, multi-stepped) or ornamental (carved elements, leaves, dentils, grooves), creating an architectural frame that transforms the door from a functional element into a decorative one.

Types of casing profiles:

Simple rounded - a bead or quarter circle, minimalism, versatility, suitable for modern interiors. Width 80-100 mm, price 350-600 rubles/meter (set for one door - 7 meters, total 2500-4200 rubles).

Multi-stepped - several planes at angles forming steps, light play on the facets, classicism. Width 100-130 mm, price 550-900 rubles/meter (set 3900-6300 rubles).

Ornamental - carved decor (floral motifs, dentils, beads, meanders), Baroque, luxury. Width 120-150 mm, price 800-1500 rubles/meter (set 5600-10500 rubles).

Installation:

Remove old casings (if any), clean the surface of the frame and wall from dust and adhesive residue.

Cut new casings: two vertical (frame height + 30 mm allowance for mitering corners), one horizontal (frame width + 30 mm). Joining at a 45° angle (classic frame) or vertical casings to the ceiling + horizontal one on top (modern option).

Apply adhesive (polyurethane or acrylic mounting) to the back of the casing in a continuous line around the perimeter + zigzag in the center.

Press against the frame, hold, secure with painter's tape for 2-4 hours (until the adhesive sets). For heavy, wide casings, add 2-3 thin headless nails (finishing nails) - drive into the thickness of the casing, sink the head, fill the hole with putty.

Treat joints with acrylic sealant (fill gaps, smooth with a wet finger), remove excess adhesive immediately with a damp cloth.

Result: a door with decorative casings looks architecturally detailed, scale is increased (visually the opening appears wider), style is expressed (simple profile - minimalism, ornamental - classic).

Our factory also produces:

Polyurethane mold NPU-417.4

from 101.42 $

Carved casing NL-14

from 41.33 $

Carved casing NL-16

from 52.44 $

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Door portals: architectural grandeur

A portal is a full-fledged architectural structure around a door, imitating a columned portico or classical architrave. Consists of vertical elements (columns, pilasters, or wide casings with base and capital), a horizontal top element (entablature, cornice, pediment), optionally decorative overlays, consoles, pediments.

Portal components:

Pilasters - flat vertical elements imitating columns, consist of a base (foundation at the bottom, width 150-250 mm, height 80-150 mm), a shaft (vertical part height 1800-2100 mm, width 100-200 mm, can be smooth, fluted, or with ornament), a capital (top, width 200-300 mm, height 120-200 mm, carved, with acanthus leaves or volutes). Installed on the sides of the door, create vertical rhythm, solemnity. Price for a set (two pilasters with bases and capitals): 8000-25000 rubles depending on height, complexity of ornament.

Horizontal cornice - installed above the door, connects two pilasters, completes the composition. Width 100-180 mm, length equals opening width + pilaster projection (usually 1000-1400 mm), profile with dentils, egg-and-dart, complex steps. Price 2500-8000 rubles per element.

Pediment or tympanum - decorative element above the cornice, triangular (classical pediment) or arched (tympanum), enhances grandeur. Dimensions: width 800-1200 mm, height 150-400 mm, can be smooth or with interior ornament (rosettes, cartouches). Price 3000-12000 rubles.

Consoles - brackets under the horizontal cornice (installed on the tops of pilasters), imitate cornice support, add volume. Height 80-200 mm, width 60-120 mm, S-shaped or volute. Price 1500-4000 rubles/pair.

Portal styles:

Classicism: pilasters of Ionic or Corinthian order (capitals with volutes or acanthus), straight cornice with dentils, triangular pediment, strictness, proportionality.

Baroque: lush pilasters with many carved elements, curved cornice, arched tympanum, consoles with scrolls, maximum decorativeness.

Empire: massive pilasters, wide cornice, pediment with heraldic motifs (eagles, laurel wreaths, weapons), solemnity, imperial luxury.

Art Deco: geometric pilasters (rectangular stepped, without ornament or with zigzags), strict cornice, absence of pediment or simple rectangular, graphic quality, modernity.

Portal installation:

Install pilaster bases on the floor on the sides of the door (symmetrically, distance between base centers = frame width + 100-150 mm).

Glue pilaster shafts onto the bases (vertically, check with a level).

Glue capitals onto the tops of the shafts.

Install the horizontal cornice between the capitals (cornice ends rest on capitals, creating a U-shaped frame).

Glue consoles under the cornice on the capital (optional, enhances visual support).

Glue a pediment or a sandrik above the cornice in the center (the top aligns with the door axis).

Result: the door has been transformed into a grand entrance, an architectural focal point of the room. Suitable for living rooms, dining rooms, studies, and halls in classic interiors.

Door panel overlays: details matter

Overlays are decorative elements glued directly onto the door panel (not onto the frame, but onto the door itself). They create paneling (an imitation of classic paneled doors on a smooth surface), accentuate geometry, and add volume.

Types of pads:

Rectangular frames - moldings forming rectangles on the door (usually 2-4 rectangles per panel, upper ones smaller, lower ones larger, proportions 1:1.5 or 1:2). Molding width 30-60 mm, profile simple or ornamental. Imitation of classic paneled doors. Price for a set of moldings for one door: 1500-4000 rubles.

Central medallions - oval or round overlays in the centers of frames (diameter 80-150 mm), with carved ornamentation, enhance decorativeness. Price: 500-2000 rubles/piece.

Corner overlays - installed in the corners of molding frames, hide joints, add accents. Sizes from 40×40 mm to 80×80 mm, carved (leaves, rosettes). Price: 200-800 rubles/piece.

Vertical strips - narrow long overlays (width 40-80 mm, length 500-1500 mm), imitating vertical panels, pilasters on the door. Price: 600-2500 rubles/piece.

Overlay installation:

Mark the positions of the overlays on the door (symmetrically, use a level, tape measure, pencil). For rectangular frames: step back 80-120 mm from the edge of the door, draw rectangles of the required size.

Cut the moldings to size (joining corners at 45° for frames).

Apply glue to the back of the overlays, glue them to the door according to the markings, press for 2-3 minutes.

Glue corner overlays into the corners of the frames, central medallions into the centers.

Let the glue dry for 24 hours, then paint the overlays (in the color of the door for a subtle relief effect or in a contrasting color for graphic emphasis).

Result: a simple smooth door (MDF, chipboard, even an old Soviet paneled door covered with laminate) transforms into a classic one with volumetric panels. The visual value of the door increases 2-3 times.

Sandriks and pediments: crowning doorways

Sandrik - a horizontal decorative element above a door (or window), projecting 50-100 mm from the wall, creating a canopy visually supported by consoles or projections of the architraves. Historically, a sandrik protected against rainwater running down the wall into the doorway; in interiors, its function is decorative.

Pediment - a triangular or arched element above a door, crowning the composition, creating an association with a classic temple portico. More formal than a sandrik.

Types:

Straight sandrik - a simple horizontal plank with a cornice profile (dentils, egg-and-dart), length 900-1400 mm, projection from the wall 60-100 mm. Classicism, restraint. Price: 2500-6000 rubles.

Arched sandrik - the top line is not straight but an arc (convex or concave), Baroque, dynamism. Price: 3500-9000 rubles.

Triangular pediment - two slopes at an angle of 30-45° converge at the apex, inside smooth or with ornamentation (rosette, cartouche, coat of arms). Classicism, Empire style, solemnity. Base width 1000-1500 mm, height 200-400 mm. Price: 4000-15000 rubles.

Broken pediment - the apex is not closed, two slopes diverge, forming a break, inside which a decorative element (vase, eagle, crown) is placed. Baroque, uniqueness. Price: 6000-20000 rubles.

Installation:

A sandrik or pediment is installed above the door, above the horizontal architrave (if the architraves are simple) or above the portal cornice (if the portal is full).

Mark the center of the opening (the apex of the pediment or the middle of the sandrik should align with the center of the door).

Apply glue to the back of the element, glue it to the wall (if the element is heavy - over 3 kg - add 1-2 self-tapping screws to the top part, screw them into the wall through the element, sink the heads, fill with putty).

If the sandrik is supported by consoles (on the sides), glue the consoles under the sandrik (their lower ends rest on the tops of the architraves or pilaster capitals, the upper ends on the lower plane of the sandrik).

Result: the door is crowned, receiving an architectural finish from above. The sandrik or pediment visually increases the height of the opening, adding formality.

Framing arched openings: curvilinear classicism

An arched opening (interior without a door or with an arch instead of a rectangular frame) requires special framing — flexible molding or composite elements that follow the arch's curvature.

Flexible moldings for arches

Polyurethane can be flexible (adding plasticizers during production makes the material elastic, bendable to a radius from 500 mm to 3000 mm without deformation or cracking). Flexible moldings are special elements for framing arches, columns, bay windows, and any curved surfaces.

Application on arches:

Measure the arch radius (distance from the center of the circle to the outer edge of the arch). Select a flexible molding that allows bending to this radius (the catalog specifies the minimum radius, e.g., 'flexible, radius from 800 mm').

Cut the molding to the length of the arch arc (measure with a tape along the contour, add a 50-100 mm allowance).

Bend the molding to the shape of the arch (bend smoothly, without sharp kinks; the polyurethane will conform to the shape).

Apply adhesive to the back, glue it to the arch along the contour, press firmly, and secure with painter's tape (apply strips perpendicular to the molding, pulling it toward the arch) for 3-4 hours.

Seal the joints with straight sections (vertical casings on the sides of the arch) using sealant.

Prices of flexible moldings: 600-1500 rubles/meter (30-50% more expensive than regular rigid ones due to special production technology).

Keystone: the key of the arch

A keystone is a decorative element at the apex of an arch, imitating the keystone of masonry (the central stone that locks the arch). Trapezoidal or carved, sizes from 100×150 mm to 250×400 mm, with ornamentation (mask, cartouche, rosette) or smooth.

Installation:

Glue the keystone at the apex of the arch (the center of the stone aligns with the axis of the opening). The stone protrudes 20-50 mm from the arch plane, creating a three-dimensional accent.

Price: 1200-6000 rubles depending on size and ornament complexity.

Imposts: the base of the arch

Imposts are decorative elements at the base of an arch (points where the arc begins), consoles or capitals, visually supporting the arch. They are installed at the tops of vertical casings or pilasters.

Price: 1500-5000 rubles/pair.

Result: the arched opening received complete architectural framing — vertical pilasters, imposts, an arc made of flexible molding, and a keystone at the apex. It looks like a classic stone portal, though made of lightweight polyurethane.

Installation on interior doors: installation specifics

Interior doors are lighter than entry doors; the frame is often wood or MDF (not metal), and the panel is hollow or filled with honeycomb cardboard (not solid). This determines the specifics of decorative installation.

Surface preparation

The frame and panel must be clean (free of dust, grease), dry, painted, or primed (if the door is new and unpainted — prime it before installing molding, otherwise the adhesive will absorb into the wood/MDF and won't hold).

If the door is old, painted with oil-based paint (glossy), lightly sand the surface with P120-180 sandpaper (matte the gloss to improve adhesive adhesion).

Adhesive selection

For interior doors (vertical and horizontal surfaces), use adhesive with quick setting and high initial adhesion:

Polyurethane adhesive (Cosmofen Plus, Moment Crystal) — sets in 5-15 minutes, holds firmly, does not require prolonged fixation. Downside — expensive (500-800 rubles per 310 ml tube). Suitable for heavy elements (pilasters, cornices).

Acrylic mounting adhesive (Tytan, Moment Mount) — sets slower (30-60 minutes), requires fixation during drying, cheaper (200-400 rubles per 400 ml tube). Suitable for lightweight elements (casings, panel overlays).

Liquid nails (universal) — a middle option, setting in 15-30 minutes, price 250-500 rubles per 400 ml tube.

Fixation during drying time

Vertical elements (casings, pilasters) may slide down under their own weight after gluing (especially when using acrylic adhesive with slow setting). Secure them:

Painter's tape — apply strips of tape across the element (one end on the element, the other on the wall/frame), pull taut to draw the element in. Hold for 2-4 hours, then remove the tape.

Headless thin nails (finishing nails, 1-1.5 mm diameter, 20-30 mm long) — drive 2-3 nails into the thickness of the casing/pilaster, sink the heads 2-3 mm, after the adhesive dries, remove the nails (if needed) or leave them, fill the holes with acrylic putty, and sand.

Props — for horizontal elements (cornice, door pediment), use temporary props (wooden blocks placed from the floor to the element, supporting it from below) during adhesive drying.

Door panel overlays: specifics

The door leaf is hollow — filled with honeycomb cardboard or empty, only the outer planes are dense MDF 4-6 mm thick. This means you cannot screw in self-tapping screws (they have nothing to grip inside), glue is the only fastening option.

Use glue with high adhesion to MDF or painted surfaces (polyurethane or reinforced liquid nails). Apply glue to the entire area of the overlay (not just around the perimeter, but also in the center with a continuous layer) to maximize the contact area.

Press the overlay against the door with a weight while drying (if the door is lying horizontally on sawhorses) or with tape (if the door is vertical on hinges — apply many strips of tape pulling the overlay to the leaf).

Painting door moldings: final aesthetics

Moldings are supplied white and primed. To leave white or paint — depends on the concept.

Monochrome: molding in the color of the door

If the door is colored (wenge, walnut, gray, black), paint the molding the same color — creating a unified whole, the molding is revealed only by relief, not color. Effect: restrained elegance, volume without contrast.

Technology:

Paint the molding with acrylic paint in the door color (if the door is wood-like — with tinted paint to match or decorative paint with a wood effect). Two coats with a short-nap roller + brush for the relief.

Contrast: white molding on a colored door

A classic technique — white molding on a dark door (wenge, graphite, black). Contrast emphasizes the ornament, creates graphic quality, classic clarity.

Application:

Dark door + white architraves + white overlays on the leaf = clear highlighting of architecture.

Gilding: palace luxury

For Baroque and Empire interiors — gilding of the molding ornament (acanthus leaves, volutes, dentils).

Technology:

Paint the molding with a base color (white, ivory, beige). Let dry.

Take gold paint (acrylic metallic or gold leaf), apply with a brush using the dry brush technique to the protruding parts of the ornament. The gold will only settle on the upper planes, the recesses will remain the base color — creating volume, luxury.

Cover with matte varnish (removes excessive shine, makes the gold noble).

Patina: antique effect

For classic interiors in historical buildings, antique stylistics — patination (creating a dark coating in the recesses of the relief).

Technology:

Paint the molding a light color (white, ivory). Let dry.

Dilute dark paint (umber, sienna, black) with water 1:3 (milk consistency).

Apply with a brush to the entire surface of the molding. Immediately (without waiting for drying) wipe the protrusions with a damp cloth — the paint will be wiped off the protrusions, remaining in the recesses.

Result: recesses are dark (imitation of age-old dust), protrusions are light — effect of antiquity, age.

Questions and answers about door moldings

Can moldings be installed on metal entrance doors?

Yes, but it's more difficult. Metal is smooth, glue adheres worse than to wood/MDF. Use special glue for metal and polyurethane (e.g., Cosmofen Plus or two-component epoxy). Pre-degrease the metal (wipe with acetone or alcohol). For heavy elements (portal pilasters on a metal frame) add mechanical fastening — self-tapping screws for metal, screwed through the molding into the frame, fill the heads with putty.

Will the molding on the door withstand constant opening-closing (vibration)?

Yes, if properly glued (quality glue, full drying 24 hours). Polyurethane is elastic, compensates for minor vibrations. Overlays on the leaf (not on the frame) experience more vibrations, but practice shows — they hold for years without peeling.

How to care for door molding?

Remove dust with a dry soft cloth or brush (once a month). For stains (if any — e.g., fingerprints on white molding near the handle) wipe with a damp cloth (not wet, wrung out), without aggressive cleaning agents. Polyurethane does not absorb dirt, is easy to clean.

Can the molding be removed if you want to change the design?

Yes, but removal is destructive (the molding cannot be re-glued). Pry the edge of the element with a thin spatula, tear it off the surface (glue will partially remain on the molding, partially on the door). Remove glue residue with a spatula or sand. Fill, sand, repaint the door surface — return it to its original state.

Is molding on a door only suitable for classic interiors?

No. Classic ornamental portals — yes, for classic, neoclassical, baroque styles. But simple profiled architraves, minimalist frames made of moldings on the door leaf suit modern interiors (loft, Scandinavian, minimalism). The choice of profile determines stylistic affiliation: simple — universal, ornamental — classic.

How long does it take to install a portal on one door?

Professional installer — 3-5 hours (marking, trimming, gluing, joint sealing) + 24 hours for glue to dry. DIY (if you have the skills) — 6-8 hours of work. Painting (if needed) — an additional 2-3 hours + 4-6 hours drying between coats.

How much weight can a door frame support when installing a portal?

A full portal (two pilasters + cornice + pediment + consoles) weighs 5-10 kg. A standard interior door frame (wood or MDF, secured in the opening with mounting foam and anchors) handles it without issues. The load is distributed around the perimeter, not concentrated at one point. The risk — if the frame is installed poorly (held only by foam without mechanical fasteners) — it may sag under the portal's weight after a year. Check the frame's reliability before installing the portal.

Conclusion: Doors as focal points

Polyurethane door moldingtransforms utilitarian openings into architectural events. You enter the living room not just through a door, but through a portal with columns, capitals, a pediment — a feeling of solemnity, significance of the space. Guests are impressed, you take pride in the interior, the home has gained status.

Polyurethane door architravesare 3-5 times cheaper than carved wooden ones, 10 times lighter than plaster ones, easier to install (don't require professional tools or carver skills), more versatile (suitable for any doors — wood, MDF, metal, laminated). Visually, after painting, indistinguishable from wood or plaster — guests won't guess it's polyurethane, they'll think it's expensive hand carving.

Polyurethane door portals— not a luxury for palaces, but an affordable solution for ordinary apartments and houses. A full portal (pilasters, cornice, pediment) costs 12-25 thousand rubles (depends on height, ornament complexity), installed in one day, lasts for decades without losing appearance. This is a one-time investment, paying off with visual effect, increased interior status, and the pleasure of living in a beautiful space.

Overlays on the door leaf — the simplest way to transform cheap doors (smooth laminated ones for 3-5 thousand rubles) into classic paneled ones (visually worth 15-25 thousand). A set of moldings and overlays costs 2-4 thousand rubles, installed DIY in 2-3 hours, the result is impressive — the door looks expensive, solid, classic.

Company STAVROS produces a full range of polyurethane door decor: architraves (40+ profiles, width 80-150 mm, simple and ornamental, price from 350 to 1500 rub./meter), portals (ready-made kits — pilasters, cornices, pediments, frontons — in different styles: classicism, baroque, empire, art deco, kit price 10000-35000 rub.), overlays on the door leaf (rectangular frames, central medallions, corner elements, vertical strips, price from 200 to 2500 rub./element), flexible moldings for arches (radii from 600 mm, price 600-1500 rub./meter), keystones (sizes from 100×150 to 250×400 mm, price 1200-6000 rub.), consoles and imposts (price 1500-5000 rub./pair).

STAVROS quality — polyurethane density 320-400 kg/m³ (strength, impact resistance, durability), sharpness of relief (sharp edges, deep grooves up to 20 mm, ornament detailing up to 1 mm — manual refinement of master models by sculptors, then precise reproduction in silicone molds), multi-layer primer (three layers of factory application, snow-white, even, ready for painting), dimensional accuracy (deviation ±1-2 mm — element joints are perfect, without steps or gaps).

STAVROS catalog is structured by categories: architraves (filters by width, style, price), portals (ready-made kits with interior photos, dimensions, composition, turnkey price), overlays (sorted by type — frames, medallions, corners, verticals), arch elements (flexible moldings, keystones, imposts). Each item is provided with technical specifications (dimensions, weight, material, bend radius for flexible ones), photographs (front view, side view, close-up — detailing visible), usage recommendations (which interior style it fits, which elements it combines with).

STAVROS service — selection assistance (designers will select a portal for your door and interior style, free consultation by phone, email, in the showroom), kit calculation (if ordering several doors — they calculate the total quantity of architraves, overlays, optimize the order, minimize waste), delivery (warehouses in Moscow and St. Petersburg, shipment on the day of order or the next day, delivery across Russia by transport companies 2-7 days, courier in Moscow/St. Petersburg 1-2 days), installation by partner crews (experience 10+ years, STAVROS certification, 24-month warranty on work, price 30-50% of material cost).

STAVROS samples — before ordering, request trial elements (architrave, pilaster fragment, overlay), assess quality, relief, weight, attach to your door, ensure scale and style fit. Samples are free (only delivery payment 400-700 rub.), receipt time 2-5 days across Russia.

Choose STAVROS — choose doors worthy of framing, openings transformed into portals, an interior where every detail is thought out, every transition between rooms is an architectural event. Your doors deserve STAVROS decor.