Hinges for glass doors: instructions for choosing and installing

In order to expand the space, to make it brighter and more comfortable, it is enough just to change ordinary doors to glass ones. They bring a touch of futurism, even in the most simple interior. These doors are often placed at the entrance to large stores and shopping centers, so that buyers can see the goods on the shelves. Despite the fact that such a door looks quite weightless, in fact it is much heavier than a conventional wooden structure.

The weight of one leaf, made of durable glass, can reach 40-50 kilograms. In order for such a door to be securely fixed and functioning smoothly for many years, it is necessary for it to select the correct fittings. It is especially important to choose high-quality hinges that hold the glass in any position.

Kinds

With the help of modern technology, glass doors are made thin enough to lighten their weight, but at the same time very durable. Because of these features, ordinary door hinges are not suitable for mounting such a canvas. There is a special hardware that is able to withstand the full weight of the material and at the same time be sufficiently elegant and inconspicuous so as not to stand out against its background.

The difference of such fittings is as follows.

  • High strength and durability. Heavy glass can fall when people fall and hurt people, so it should be fixed with all possible care.
  • Fastening thin cloth. The hinge is very difficult to fix on the side of the door, as its thickness rarely exceeds 1.5 cm. Because of this, the hardware is mounted differently from ordinary door hinges.
  • Decorative. Glass doors are often made transparent, so through them all their fasteners can be seen, which should be as small and accurate as possible. Clarity of lines and elegance of design - these are the external differences of glass hinges.
  • High price. To make durable fittings, you need to use better, and therefore expensive materials.The mounting structure itself is also more complicated than that of a conventional door hinge, which increases its price by a few more points.

All accessories can be divided into several types depending on what material it was made from. Aluminum, zinc, brass, steel and bronze hinges are made for glass doors. The cheapest but least durable ones are those made from aluminum and zinc. Stainless steel or brass are much better in their characteristics, however, they are much more expensive.

The most expensive and at the same time the most durable and beautiful are bronze mounts for glass. Many manufacturers are ready to give them a guarantee, reaching 80-100 years, which indicates the highest quality of the material. Regardless of the base, the top loop can be covered with various compositions and paints, to have both a polished glossy and a soft matte surface.

To destination the accessories can be both universal, and have narrower specificity. For example, there are separate loops for glass:

  • in shower cabins or saunas;
  • on furniture doors in cabinets and cupboards;
  • for large interior or entrance doors.

Despite this separation, most often all accessories are classified according to two main parameters. The first one is the installation method of the mount. Depending on it, there are several types of loops.

  • Overhead. Such fasteners do not require the installation of drilling holes in the door leaf, and therefore the purchase of a special drill for glass. All necessary holes are made in the walls themselves or furniture walls, where one part of the loop is fixed. The second part is attached to the glass with special clamping screws. To screw more tightly to the slippery glass, it is a special adhesive or rubber gasket. Laid on fasteners are very easy to install and look very restrained and elegant.

Unfortunately, the weight of the sash, which they can hold, should not exceed 25 kilograms. For those structures whose weight is 30, 40 or more kilograms, special reinforced loops are used.

  • Mortise. Such fasteners are used for doors whose weight exceeds 25 kilograms and requires pre-drilling holes in the glass. Mortise hinges have a cup construction and, in one part, are attached to the glass and the other to the wall or side wall of the furniture.You can put such an element on a canvas whose thickness is at least 10 millimeters. In the absence of experience installing such a door, you should not try to do everything yourself. It is best to entrust the hinge hinge and alignment of the entire structure to professionals.

The second sign on which it is possible to group accessories for shutters from glass is the way of their opening. Depending on this method, the loops can be of the following types.

  • Pendulum. Such fasteners allow the opening or closing door to freely oscillate, like the movement of a pendulum. The hinge mechanism is made in such a way that there is no movement limit in it, as a result of which it is simply impossible to slam such a door. This protects the glass from cracks and chips and creates a decorative visual effect. Most often, such fasteners are placed only on interior doors that do not lock.

Hanging such hinges on the doors of the cabinets does not make sense, since free swing of the sash requires free space of a sufficiently large size both in front of it and behind it.

  • Articulated. The design, which includes one or more hinges, allowing you to open the door at 165 degrees.This fastener has two parts that are connected by one movable axis (hinge), for which they received their name. The most reliable fasteners that can withstand up to 25 kilograms of weight are four-hinged loops.
  • With closers. The most common fixtures for cabinets doors and all kinds of drawers are the finishing hinges. They not only hold and allow you to open the flap, but also gently bring it to full closure without sharp claps and strikes. Such soft movements allow a longer period to keep fragile glass doors in one piece and eliminate abrupt noises.
  • With overlap. One of the most convenient hinges for complex curved structures that are able to open it 180 degrees. The design of the loop itself differs from that of the door closer, but it is also capable of gently extinguishing the speed of movement, which makes it possible to keep the web intact. Most often this is how the doors to the shower stall, as well as the glass doors of various linen cabinets, are mounted.
  • Sliding. Such loops are mounted on a special rail, which can move in both directions. The doors open and close, respectively, opening and closing the passage.This method of hanging glass doors is often used in large stores or offices, but is practically not found in ordinary apartments and is not too convenient for hanging furniture doors.

Tips for choosing

When choosing accessories for glass doors You need to pay attention to the following features and characteristics.

  • Item Material Depending on the metal from which the loop is made, it can withstand less or more weight. When the thickness of the door leaf is not more than 8 mm, aluminum or zinc fasteners are sufficient. If its thickness exceeds 10-12 millimeters, then you should look at the bronze and brass hinges.
  • The complexity of installation. If there is no possibility of calling specialists, then it is worth choosing the simplest fasteners that can be easily hung alone or together with an assistant. In the absence of special tools for drilling holes in the glass is not worth buying mortise design.
  • Appearance. If there are no patterns or drawings on the glass door, then the glance will very quickly shift from the transparent sheet to the accessories. It should be combined with the design of both the door itself and the interior of the rest of the room.You can choose fasteners in the tone of the main color or make it a contrast element.

In addition, you need to pay attention to the quality of the finishing coating element. In the sauna or shower the loop will have to constantly contact with water of different temperatures and moist air, therefore the paint must be of suitable quality.

  • Reliability manufacturer. Quality products from a famous manufacturer always have a good and informative packaging. In the accompanying documentation or on the box itself must be specified limit weight, which can withstand one loop. In addition, complete with mortise elements must go special screws or screws with nuts. Also, a reliable manufacturer will always give a guarantee on your product, so it is important not to forget to clarify with the seller its availability.
  • Price. Not always the most expensive product in the store is the highest quality, but very cheap hinges can not be reliable. It is necessary to determine the scope of the budget so that they fall into several products of the average price category, and already from them you can choose the loops that fit their characteristics.

Installation and adjustment

Ways of installation and adjustment of accessories on a glass door depend on its type. The easiest way to do this is to install clamping hinges that do not require pre-drilling of glass. First you need to take all measurements and choose the place of installation of the loop. In the event that there are two loops, they are placed at a distance of at least 5-7 centimeters from the horizontal edge. After applying all the markings on the glass and the door frame (or the cabinet), all the necessary holes are drilled and that part of the hinge is fixed on the wall (or the cabinet). Fixation is made with a screwdriver or a conventional screwdriver.

The glass is inserted into the clips on a fixed loop, after which the clips tighten. To carry out this operation alone is quite difficult, an additional assistant is needed. Tighten the clips on the glass is better manually, rather than a power tool. This is necessary in order to feel that the glass is fixed securely and does not move in the loop. After adjusting and correcting all possible flaws, overlays of the installed hinges can be attached with decorative covers hiding the internal structure of the mechanism.

Installation with drilling is more complicated and requires special equipment. First of all, all measurements are taken and an area is laid out for installing a hinge on the glass and doorframe. In the marked area, the glass is drilled with a conventional diamond nozzle for a drill or in a special workshop. In the resulting hole is set the calyx loop and with the help of bolts connected to the mating part. Bolts of the required size should be included in the package upon purchase, but you can buy them yourself, choosing them in size.

Holes are also drilled on the door frame with a conventional drill and a strike plate for the hinge is installed. The door is attached to the wall, its position is regulated by a conventional screwdriver. For such adjustment, special bolts are located on the body of the hinge. The position of the door is adjusted both horizontally and vertically. A properly hinged door should not hang out, but it should not get stuck when opening or closing. Also regulated the density of fit and smoothness. The hole in which the cup is fixed is closed on top with a special cap. It not only preserves the integrity of the structure, but also performs a decorative function, and also protects the cup from dust or moisture.

In the next video you will find step by step instructions for mounting the hinges on the glass door.

The glass door has long been no longer a luxury, available only to certain sectors of society. Modern technologies have allowed not only to reduce the cost and simplify the process of its manufacture, but also to make such a door more secure.

It is necessary to carefully select the correct and reliable fittings of high quality. If it is made correctly, the installed door will not need repair and additional adjustment for many years.

In the next video you will find the installation of hinges for glass doors.

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Information provided for reference purposes. For construction issues, always consult a specialist.

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