Choosing door hinges for heavy doors

When ordering repairs from third-party organizations or purchasing a door unit, which includes the box and the door itself, there are usually no questions on the choice of bearing elements. A completely different situation is observed if you want to carry out repairs on your own. At the same time, massive constructions require an especially careful approach to fittings, so in this article we will consider suitable options for choosing door hinges for heavy wooden doors, as well as for metal and armored products.

Currently, door fittings are classified according to the following criteria:

• by design;
• by material;
• by symmetry.

In this case, the symmetry of the door hinges are:

• right;
• left;
• universal.

Let us consider in more detail the most common materials and options for the design of door fittings.

All considered designs can be made of various materials. In this case, all models are made only from different metals - less durable materials simply can not bear the weight of the structure. Theoretically, ceramics could hold such a mass, but in practice loops are not made of it, since such a hard material is very fragile and will not withstand dynamic loads (such as slamming doors).

By production of a loop the following groups of metals are used:

• stainless steel;

• black metals;

• brass;

• other alloys.

Now the market offers a huge number of different designs of loops.

They can be divided into two groups:

• demountable;

• all-in-one

Split fittings are usually two elements connected by a pin, which can either be mounted into one of them, or be inserted from the outside. This kind of loops is called canopies, and the type of connection is usually called “father – mother”. It is possible to remove a door from canopies, having raised it up. It is possible to dismantle the door from the one-piece hinge only by unscrewing the screws on which the hinge is held in the box.

Let us dwell on the most common types of structures in more detail.

This option is well suited for solid wooden doors, but on metal products it will look extremely inappropriate. Unlike more modern hardware, in the outer loop one of its parts is attached not to the end of the door, but to its outer surface, and has dimensions of several dozen centimeters. Make outdoor options most often from ferrous metals forging.

This type was the most common in the Soviet era, it is a detachable design with a pin, which is part of one of the two loop elements. In the second there is a corresponding groove pin. With such an attachment, the door is removed very quickly by lifting it up, therefore, it is not recommended to install front doors on it. For massive interior doors awnings can be used, but they do not look very aesthetically pleasing.

This option is a modification of the previous one, in which the groove for the pin is in both elements of the loop, and the pin itself is inserted into them separately.The option in which the pin is fastened with an easily unscrewed plug is great for passageways between rooms, while for the entrance doors you need to find an option in which the plug is sealed or welded.

This option is only suitable for wooden products, as it is fastened by screwing the screws both in the box and in the canvas itself. They are usually inexpensive, look very nice, but even the strongest of them can withstand a maximum load of 20 kg. So it is worth using them only for interior passages, having previously calculated the mass of the structure. They need to be installed strictly in the same vertical axis, play even a few millimeters will lead to the need to dismantle accessories in a couple of months.

This mounting option is used only for doors with a porch (when the outer edge of the outer surface of the door covers a part of the door frame). Usually, their construction is similar to the “Butterfly” or “papa – mama” canopies, only both elements are L-shaped.

A door equipped with such a fastener can open in both directions: either “on itself” or “on its own”. In a household, such a need rarely arises, but if you do decide on such an option, it is better to entrust its installation to an experienced master, because the slightest mistake during installation is fraught with an imbalance of the structure. Save on the quality of such products is also not worth it - the load on them is much more than the more familiar options. You should also choose a model equipped with special springs that lock the door in the closed position.

These products are a modification of canopies, in which the hinges are fastened not from the outside of the canvas and the box, but from the inside using special bearing pins, which are installed in the holes drilled in the canvas and the box beforehand.Of course, these models are suitable only for wooden doors, and their weight should not exceed 40 kg.

These reinforced products have a complex structure, and their main advantage is that they are invisible from the outside, since all their elements are inside the box and canvas. At the same time, they are suitable for both wooden and metal doors, and their bearing capacity (provided they are made of high-quality material) allows installation of the heaviest metal and even armored structures on them. They are produced exclusively from high-strength alloys or strong steels. It is better to entrust the installation to a professional - the home craftsman will not have enough not only skills, but also tools (you cannot install hinges in the metal construction without using a welding machine).

Regardless of the mounting model chosen, there is a rule that ensures the safe operation of the door.

The number of accessories is selected based on weight:

• if the canvas weighs less than 40 kg, then two loops will suffice;
• if the weight of the door is from 40 to 60 kg, three attachment points will be needed;
• A door weighing more than 60 kg must be installed on 4 hinges.

How to choose the hinges and how they differ from each other, see in the video.