Door hinges: types, features of choice and installation

Hinges are one of the most important door elements. They are needed for the clutch door leaf with the box, and in addition, it hinges provide the ability to open and close doors. As a rule, they are sold together with the door construction. But sometimes there are situations in which the hinges need to be replaced and then it is very important to acquire the right mechanisms and assemble them properly.

The main function of the door hinges is to provide easy opening and closing of any type of door leaf. Another important function of these elements is to ensure the fixation of the entire array in the doorframe; therefore, these furniture elements are subject to the highest demands on quality and reliability.

There is a wide variety of door hinges: removable, swing, frog, spring, with a door closer, adjustable, double, double-sided opening, and many others. In this case, the grounds for their classification are:

• fixture location;
• installation features;
• material used;
• type of basic design.

At the place of fasteners emit several types of loops.

1. Accessories for entrance structures - they are characterized by very high strength, which allows them to withstand the mass of the web and significant purely opening and closing. Such models cause the canvas to be fastened to the box, because they have the function of protecting the doors from unlawful removal from the loops by intruders - they become an obstacle to penetration into someone else's apartment house.Traditionally, hidden (hidden) hinges are used for entrance doors.
2. Fittings for interior doors - these models are characterized by greater lightness and lower strength than products for entrance openings.
3. Select right or left hinges. - the choice in this case directly depends on the direction in which the door will swing open. If the handle is located on the right side, then the door opens with his left hand to itself - this design requires left hinges. Conversely, if the handle is attached to the right, and the door is opened with the right hand, then right hinges are needed.

But you should be careful if you purchase a product from European manufacturers, in these countries it is customary to use a different classification - there the technologists are guided not so much by the hand that opens the canvas as by its direction of movement. In addition, there are doors, as a rule, swing open from himself. Thus, if you push the canvas with your right hand and it stays on the appropriate side, then the door is considered left.

According to the method of installation, there are universal and detachable door hinges.

The first are more common, they are cheaper and easier to install, however, are non-separable. From time to time in the house there are situations when you want to remove the entire door. If it is attached with collapsible right or left hinges, it is enough just to open the door, lift the main canvas and remove the doors. But if you used universal products, then you need to unscrew and screws, with which they are fixed.

According to the design variant, there are many different types of hinges, and their final choice depends entirely on the characteristics of the door itself. For example, there are products that are optimal for models of wood.Other options are more suitable for plastic, and others - for metal sheets and even glass. In addition, when buying loops, you should take into account their required number, weight and dimensions of the array itself.

Overhead hinges, which are a durable rod and hinges fixed on it, as well as plates, which help in installation, are considered more familiar to the domestic user. Most often, both parts of this model have completely identical plates, however, in recent years, the model has been improved - one side has become slightly longer, which greatly simplifies installation.

Butterfly-type hinges are a more modern version of the hinges, in which one detail is as if embedded in the second, and when the door is closed, the plates do not interfere with each other. In the closed state, in these products, an aligned straight surface is achieved, while its thickness fully corresponds to the parameter of a single plate. Installation of such devices does not require special skills and professional tools, so that the installation of this fitting is possible even for a beginner.

The advantages of overhead loops include:

• ease of installation;
• low price;
• long service life;
• versatility.

However, there are disadvantages:

• the need for loosening, if necessary, the removal of the blade;
• probability of skewing of the structure;
• suitability for fixing only for paintings with low weight;
• requirements for a perfectly aligned surface of the canvas and the entire door frame.

No less popular mortise hinge models. Outwardly, in their appearance, they are very similar to overhead, and the principle of construction is similar - card. But the differences lie in the method of installation - these hinges cut into the end of the door, due to which a rather smooth movement of the canvas itself and an aesthetic look are ensured.

Screw-in fittings have quite serious differences in comparison with the first two models. Here the axis is made in the form of a cylinder and several pins are attached to it, it is on them that hinges are attached to the door and box, and only the hinge remains visible.

As a rule, when mounting such hinges, decorative caps are used for masking, they are selected in tune with the main canvas and as a result they completely merge with the door.

Similar loops fasten on massive cloths. If the door is too small, then screwed mechanisms destroy the wood and cause chipping and a significant number of cracks.

Pluses are obvious:

• ease of installation;
• probability of adjustment to the desired height;
• versatility.

Cons are also significant:

• such hinges can be mounted only on the door and a quarter;
• if necessary, remove the door requires removal of accessories.

Corner plates have a characteristic feature - they are made in the form of corners. Such hinges are truly universal, in particular, they can be used for doors with a porch. But from the minuses it is necessary to indicate the absence of the possibility to conceal them in any way, thus, the general view of the door may be spoiled.

Concealed hinges are in great demand when the canvas is in the closed position - they are invisible. As a rule, they are mounted on the most expensive models of interior doors and are mounted inside the canvas.Unlike all other models, such hinges are able to withstand heavy doors, but their installation is quite complicated and requires professional skills.

These hinges provide a fairly small angle of plowing, and this can create certain difficulties when moving large furniture. With a strong mechanical action loops warp and even jam. Well, another drawback is the high cost, which is an order of magnitude higher than prices for other hinge models.

Bilateral hinges are widely used in public buildings, however, if desired, they can also be fixed in residential areas. They have a rather peculiar design that allows you to open the door both from yourself and to yourself.

But their cost is very high, so in the houses such accessories are rarely used, and there is no sense in it.

Bearing hinges are quite effective - they help to evenly redistribute the mass of the entire web. It is based on the principle of using sliding or rolling bearings, such doors move very smoothly due to reduced friction.

Hardware flaws are in an unattractive design, so most often they are fixed in the back rooms and other unimportant rooms. In addition, if the product is of poor quality, then such loops fail rather quickly.

Traditionally, the height of the door hinges varies from 11 to 15 cm, and the width ranges from 2.7 cm to 3.5. The thickness of the device usually does not exceed 3 mm.

If we talk more constructively, then the standard loop sizes can be:

• height: 11 cm, 13 cm, 15 cm;
• width: 2.7 cm, 3 cm, 3.5 cm;
• thickness: 2.5 mm, 2.8 mm, 3 mm.

There are some nuances. Thus, 11 cm high loops on each of their cards have 4 small screw holes, 13 and 15 cm high loops, and also wide ones with 5 holes each, which is important for increasing the reliability of fixing the hinges in the doorway.

A rather limited list of materials is used to create hinges on the door.

• Brass - these loops are made by a method of a shod casting and are in the greatest demand. Brass doors are characterized by increased strength and good ductility, they can withstand a large mass of the door.

• Steel - these are the most durable and reliable elements that are characterized by a long service life and durability.Iron products withstand the most massive doors, so most often they are mounted in the input devices.

• Zinc and aluminum alloys - These are inexpensive hinges, but they are subject to wear very quickly.

In Soviet times, stainless steel hinges were most prevalent, although at the time they did not look very aesthetically pleasing. Nowadays, products are covered with special anti-corrosion and decorative coatings, which makes them quite attractive, so that the fashion for steel hinges is rapidly returning.

However, the rest of the loops nowadays try to make them more aesthetic - they can be black, white, golden, and also imitate the color and texture of wood in shades of brown.

That is why everyone can choose the best for themselves version of these devices, which will look the most aesthetically pleasing when the door is open.

Door hinges are considered one of the most important elements of fittings, they need to match their functional purpose, as well as optimally combined with the decor of the entire door installation.

When buying a door should be taken into account a few fundamental points:

• door leaf parameters: weight, width, as well as thickness and height;
• the material from which the door is made;
• door style;
• loop fixing method - right or left;
• door function - entrance or interroom;
• frequency of use - it is low, high and medium;
• features of the design of the canvas butt - it can be smooth and folded;
• technical features of fixation of the selected model of hinges, characteristic features of the leaf - a door-book, as well as a folding door, traditional.

The number of loops is calculated based on the calculated value according to the following principle:

• two levels of fixation for canvases not exceeding a mass of 25 kg;
• for structures weighing 25–60 kg, three levels of door hinges are required;
• sashes up to 80 kg require the use of four locking levels at equal distances.

Experts recommend to give preference to the following manufacturers.

• Palladium - it is a brand specializing in the production of high-precision fittings, which guarantees comfortable and high-quality opening and closing of the door. As a rule, this manufacturer produces loops of brass and steel, while the surface is varnished in different shades in two layers.
• Apex - under this brand, accessories for interior doors are produced. Both the hinges themselves and the screws needed to fasten them are standardly included in the basic kit. Products are made of stainless steel and covered with a decorative composition, which simultaneously performs protective functions.
• Dr. Hahn - this company realizes very attractive white door hinges, which are distinguished by a number of important operational features:

1. possibility of adjustment in the horizontal and vertical planes;
2. ability to withstand a load of up to 140 kg;
3. universality of use.

Features fastening loops largely depend on the base material from which the fabric is made.

Replacing the loops in plastic models occurs in several steps.

1. First you need to remove the decorative protective cover.
2. Then it is necessary to remove the door itself - it is first opened, and then the completely protruding fragment of the cylinder is buried by a bump stop and removed with pliers. Then the cloth is slightly bent to itself, lifted upwards and to the sides, after which the door is easily removed.
3. Using a hex key, remove the loop itself by unscrewing it.
4. In place of the damaged fittings, they fasten a new one; it is optimal to choose products from the same manufacturer so that the mounting holes fully coincide.
5. After all the hinges are bolted, you must put the door in its old place - for this purpose, all the works described above are repeated in the reverse order.

Mortise hinges are usually installed on wooden canvases. To do this, they first mark all the seats - they are usually placed 20–30 cm from the top and bottom edges. It is important that in this zone there are no chips and knots, if any - loops are better to shift a little.

After that, it is necessary to cut a recess under the loop, while its depth must fully correspond to the thickness of the plate, and attach the loop to it. Metal doors involve the use of welding when installing hinges.

From the following video you will learn how to choose the hinges and how they differ.