If you buy a one-piece door block, that is, a door along with a frame, then there is nothing to worry about; such sets usually already have door hinges. The situation is completely different when everything is taken separately; there is a moment of choice. Today we will look in detail at what types of door hinges exist, how to choose them correctly, plus you will find out which better than loops for metal doors, and which ones for wooden ones.
Door hinge types are divided according to weight door leaf.
First of all, you need to remember that absolutely all door hinges are divided into left, right and universal. It’s quite easy to decide here. As for the left or right models, you need to imagine that you are facing your doors and opening them towards you, if the hinges are on the right, then they are right, if on the left, then they are left. Well, there are no problems with universal ones; they can be placed anywhere.
What are hinges made of?
All door hinges are made of metal, even on plastic doors are put metal canopies, just then they are covered with plastic covers. Another thing is what kind of metal this or that door hinge is made of.
Steel door hinges are deservedly considered luminaries. Previously, these were massive forged canopies; now they are also used, but only in ethnic designer styles or for utility rooms.
The bulk of the market is occupied by more modern steel sheds. IN in this case there are 2 options:
- Stainless steel looks solid and is uniquely durable. Such canopies are not afraid of corrosion and do not require painting; they can be installed both on interior and exterior surfaces. metal doors. The only problem is that they are priced above average;
Stainless steel canopies do not require painting.
- Ferrous metal canopies are also quite durable, but they do need some kind of coating. If you are interested in quality, then choose between powder coating and nickel plating. For a budget option, you can take bare metal and then paint it yourself, otherwise it will rust.
Powder coating reliably protects the metal from corrosion.
In the ranking expensive models brass is in the lead. This metal also does not rust and does not require painting. But brass is not as strong as steel. Brass canopies will withstand interior doors, but hinges for metal doors, if the design idea requires it, are made of steel and then decorated with brass, bronze or gold.
If you decide to take brass canopies, then it is better to give preference to models that have bearings; their performance characteristics are an order of magnitude higher than usual.
Know-how modern market these are alloys. There are really high-quality products with an admixture of titanium and other high-strength metals, but quite often behind the complex names lies cheap material, which lasts no more than a year.
So cheap and fairly well-known silumin, according to most experts under hinges on the door It’s not good at all, but unscrupulous manufacturers are churning out such canopies to this day, and cunning advertisers come up with another name for them and people buy them.
The whole problem is that high-quality and low-quality alloys cannot be visually distinguished, because the hinges are covered with something on top. There is only one piece of advice I can give here - look at the price, good thing can't be cheap. Plus, most of these fake awnings are noticeably lighter than steel or brass ones.
How many awnings do you need?
There are many types of canopies now; a little later we will talk about common types, but the main characteristic for any canopy is, figuratively speaking, its load capacity. Beauty is important, but not the main thing, especially when choosing hinges for a steel door.
If we do not take into account the decorative and furniture sector, then the minimum for door canopy is 15 kg. It is believed that among the production models the most powerful hinges for entrance doors must withstand about 100 kg per unit. If the door leaf weighs more than 250 kg, then, as a rule, special hinges are made to order for such a metal door.
In general, the heavier the door, the more hinges are installed on it, but the maximum is 4 hinges per 1 leaf. They can be positioned in different ways, the main thing is that there is 200 - 250 mm from the top and bottom edges to the nearest canopy. As for the rest, as you like, the photo below shows 5 common installation options.
Door hinges - types of installation.
Of course, the dimensions of the canopies and the material from which the hinges on the door are made are important, but for interior doors There is a conditional division:
- 2 canopies are mounted on canvases weighing up to 40 kg;
- If the weight of the canvas is in the range from 40 to 60 kg, then 3 canopies are needed;
- Doors weighing more than 60 kg are mounted on 4 canopies.
Types of canopies
The abundance of such goods in stores makes one’s eyes wide open; there are hundreds, if not thousands, of models, but there are no more than a dozen main types of designs and we will further understand them.
External overhead models
Here we are dealing with the progenitor of all awnings; such door hinges have been made since man learned to forge metal. This is purely an invoice outdoor version. In the old days, these canopies were made powerful and long; this design made it possible to assemble the door leaf on the basis of hinges; accordingly, the canopies were part of the leaf.
Wrought iron canopies remain in demand to this day.
Forged models have survived to this day, but they are used only as part of a design ensemble, for example, in wooden log cabins. On private farmsteads you can often find stamped versions of such hinges; their appearance is rather mediocre, which is why such canopies are only installed on wooden gates and sheds.
Metal stamped hinges are mainly used for utility rooms.
- The central rod acts as a rotating axis; in order for it to hold, the rod is riveted on one or both sides;
- Door frame;
- Door leaf;
- Self-tapping screws or nails;
- Overlay beam for horizontal connection of door leaf boards.
In addition to the classic installation scheme, there are even more modern version, in which the plate (4) is not nailed on top of the box, but between the canvas and the box, but in this case a groove is cut out in the box for this plate.
Internal mortise canopies "father-mother"
This type of canopy is not much different from the previous version, the only difference is that both plates are attached at the junction between the end of the door and the hatch. True, in order to secure the hinges, you need to cut grooves for the plates at the end of the door leaf and, on the contrary, in the frame.
- The central axis, the pin of which is fixed at the bottom of the canopy;
- Door frame;
- Door leaf;
- Plate fixed to the box;
- A plate fixed to the door leaf;
- Self-tapping screws or nails;
- Cashing bar;
- Top plug.
Legend has it that this design was developed in Soviet times, but we don’t know how true this is. The beauty of these awnings is that the doors can be removed and put back in place in a few seconds. But this is also a minus; such hinges are not suitable for entrance doors.
Male-female door hinge with built-in bearing.
The definition of “father and mother” is already folklore; below we have a part that is called dad, an axis is permanently fixed in it. A plate with a hole, which is usually called mother, is placed on top of this axis.
Card mortise canopies
In essence, this is practically the same as the “father-mother” canopies, it’s just that here sectors with holes are mounted on both plates, and they are fastened with a separate pin.
- Rotary pin;
- Rotary pin plug;
- Bearings, not all models have them;
- Canopy plates.
Of the mortise options, this is perhaps the most popular. In hinges for interior doors, the plug is unscrewed and the pin is removed, as a result the door leaf can be dismantled quite quickly. The same canopies that are designed for installation on wooden entrance doors often come with a tightly sealed, non-removable pin, and in order to remove the panel you need to unscrew the canopies.
If you decide to buy any of mortise models, then take hinges with bearings, they will last 2 times longer, plus they will not creak.
Butterfly card loops
Relatively recently, the so-called “Butterfly” loops appeared on the market. These are purely overhead models; you don’t need to embed them anywhere; the canopies are simply screwed with self-tapping screws to the frame and the end of the door leaf. The idea is that one part of the loop is hidden inside the second part of the loop.
On the one hand, such canopies are convenient because only a screwdriver is enough to install them, but on the other hand, few people remember that the maximum load-bearing capacity for the largest butterfly is 20 kg. Plus, if you deviate a couple of millimeters from the common vertical axis during installation, the hinges will become loose within a month.
Although butterflies are an excellent solution for beginning craftsmen and young families, especially when the budget is strictly limited. As for the instructions for correct installation such loops, then let’s face it, there’s nothing particularly complicated there. All the nuances of choosing and installing butterflies are analyzed and shown in detail in photos and videos.
Many craftsmen are not inclined to highlight corner loops in separate direction, because they were invented exclusively for doors with a rebate. We will not argue with anyone, let’s just say that corner awnings are overhead ( private option butterflies) and mortise. As for installation technology, corner hinges are no different from their classic sisters.
Corner hinges are mounted using the same technology as their classic counterparts.
This is a separate highly specialized direction of awnings. The door leaf here can open in both directions. In the domestic sector, double-sided hinges are not in demand; they are reserved for public and administrative buildings.
It is better to take double-sided canopies made of brass or stainless steel.
This design cannot be called simple, it has 2 pins with a connecting plate; the diagram below shows the principle of operation of a double-sided canopy. We do not advise you to save money when buying a double-sided hinge, because the design works under serious load and cheap models fly apart very quickly.
To install such canopies, it is advisable to call a professional, because if you make a slight mistake, the doors will constantly deviate in one direction. When choosing, it is better to give preference to double-sided hinges equipped with return springs; they will automatically fix the doors in the neutral position.
Screw-in models
Also quite young looking hinges. This design is closer to external overhead models. Holes are drilled in the frame and in the door leaf and a guide support pin is first inserted into them, after which the fixing pin is screwed in.
Initially, such designs were made for quick installation doors and a quarter, but some craftsmen adapt them to ordinary doors, although this is not entirely true. Depending on the weight of the door leaf, there may be several pins, but it is not advisable to install heavy doors on such canopies; they, like butterflies, are designed for doors up to 40 kg.
Hidden awnings
In this case hidden designs can safely be called the elite of all canopies. There are such hinges for metal doors and for wooden ones, they are universal. The canopy is completely hidden in the frame and door leaf, so it is impossible to remove such a door from its hinges.
- Main rotary pin;
- Bearing guides that are hidden inside the canopy;
- Fixed stationary pins.
Hidden hinges are made of especially durable steel grades or strong alloys. There are no budget models here; on average, the price per unit starts from 1,500 rubles. Of course, there are cheap options at a price of 300 - 500 rubles, but our advice to you is that it’s better to buy a normal one for that money mortise hinge, rather than a bad hidden one.
Hidden hinges for metal doors are now being produced, the advantage of which is that they have an adjustment mechanism (even in Chinese models), which is convenient when heavy weight canvases. How this entire system is regulated is described and shown in detail.
Hidden adjustable awnings work well for metal doors.
Installing such canopies with your own hands is possible, but you will have to stock up on a good hand cutter, and in metal doors you will also welding machine, otherwise nothing will work out.
Conclusion
To summarize, we can note that if your budget is limited and you don’t have a lot of tools, then take butterflies or screw-in hinges. Mortise door hinges are better suited for wooden panels. It is advisable to install hidden canopy models on iron and expensive wooden doors. The video in this article shows the nuances of selection and installation. If the information was useful, then there are social network buttons below, perhaps your like will help one of your friends decide.
High-quality hinge fasteners allow you not to notice its weight when opening and closing a heavy door. Hinges for entrance doors play an important role in ensuring ease of use and reliability of the entire door system. From the right choice hinges largely depend on the functionality and aesthetics of the door block.
The most popular types of hinges for metal entrance doors include:
- welded;
- internal or hidden;
- with closer;
- pin screw-in.
What types of hinges are there for entrance doors?
Welded hinges for entrance doors
Welded fasteners include hinges
- cylindrical with ball;
- drop-shaped on a thrust bearing;
- axleless;
- adjustable.
Priced from 100 rubles, durable and equally reliable. Suitable for entrance steel doors wide price range, weighing from 70 kg, have a long service life. As the data shows independent examination, both types, providing free, quiet movement of the door leaf, serve for at least 50 years.
They are ball awnings with a large load capacity. They are distinguished by high performance, resistance to deformation, and durability of the supporting element. They eliminate possible door jamming and have the ability to withstand over 420,000 opening-closing cycles and a record load of up to 3000 kg.
With a pre-calculated mass for them reaching 600 kg per unit - great option for high doors price segment. Made from rolled steel, have a large margin of safety, 10 times greater than the strength of ball and bearing hinges, and a working life of 500,000 opening and closing cycles. The height of the door leaf is adjusted using special bolts, which prevents sagging and sagging of a heavy door with trim.
Which are 4-6 times more expensive than welded options, are not inferior to them in terms of strength criteria, and represent optimal combination practicality and aesthetics. Mainly designed for door systems weighing 250 kg and 200,000 opening-closing cycles under intensive use. They are in demand for completing luxury doors, including those with wide leaves.
Working on the damping principle, they are increasingly required for metal entrance doors in country house or cottage. The closer's ability to convert opening force into braking force ensures smooth, soft closing and extends the service life of the door system by 5-7 years. For heavy steel doors up to 150 kg, 3-section modifications are recommended.
Screw-in hinges for steel entrance doors are used less frequently, since pin fastenings are inferior to welded ones in terms of resistance to weight load, durability and reliability. Products with 2-3 pins are suitable for lightweight door systems. For sashes from 70 to 100 kg, powerful 4-pin canopies are used. Dimensions hinges and their number are selected depending on the weight of the door leaf.
Door hinges and crossbars are an integral component of any door block. Through hinges, the door leaf is connected to door frame, and the crossbar, in turn, makes it difficult to open the doors freely, that is, due to its forward movement, the door leaf is locked.
Types of door hinges
A door hinge is a simple mechanism that secures a door to its frame. Door hinges are classified as follows:
- Classic or card door hinges are two plates movably connected to each other by a steel rod, the first of which is attached to the door leaf, and the second to the door frame.
- Double-sided hinges - open both inwards and outwards and, as a rule, are installed in public places, because such hinges for interior doors, as a rule, are not needed.
- A butterfly hinge or an overhead hinge without a mortise - this design allows you to avoid cutting openings for hinges either in the door or in the frame.
- Screw-in hinges - designed for doors with a rebate; to install them, drill two holes for the hinge rods (one smooth, the other screw). The main rod then closes decorative finishing(hidden loops).
Types of crossbars
A door bolt is a special metal object with a body shape in the form of a rotating rod or resembling a hook. Depending on the design of the lock, there may be several bolts in it. They differ:
- According to their shape (bars, cylinders), width, length and materials from which they were made.
- According to the mechanism that sets the crossbar in motion - using a key (for entrance doors) or door handle(for interior doors).
Thus, before deciding what door hardware, hinges and crossbars you will buy, you must first decide on their purpose. Leroy Merlin store consultants will help with the rest; they are highly qualified and can answer any customer question.
Leroy Merlin offers a wide selection of products for low prices for residents of Moscow, as well as the cities of the Moscow region: Balashikha, Podolsk, Khimki, Korolev, Mytishchi, Lyubertsy, Krasnogorsk, Elektrostal, Kolomna, Odintsovo, Domodedovo, Serpukhov, Shchelkovo, Orekhovo-Zuevo, Ramenskoye, Dolgoprudny, Zhukovsky, Pushkino, Reutov, Sergiev Posad, Voskresensk, Lobnya, Klin, Ivanteevka, Dubna, Yegoryevsk, Chekhov, Dmitrov, Vidnoye, Stupino, Pavlovsky Posad, Naro-Fominsk, Fryazino, Lytkarino, Dzerzhinsky and Solnechnogorsk. You can order the necessary products online with delivery to all these cities or visit one of our retail stores
Hinges play an important role in door design. They provide mobility and reliability. If the weight of the leaf exceeds 70-100 kg, then choose door hinges for heavy doors. They have certain distinctive features which can withstand significant loads.
Used to make doors different materials. Their weight varies and can reach 100 kg. Then a reinforced door hinge is used. It is important to choose the right design so that the doors last a long time and reliably. The weight of the canvas also affects the number of fasteners. Usually 2-4 loops are placed.
Loop classification:
- By installation method;
- Depending on the material;
- Type of fastener;
- Installation location;
- Mechanism connector.
You have to choose your own door hinges from wood materials. Loops with metal blades are included in the kit. Reinforced hinges found on plain and rolling bearings. The last option is suitable for canvases with moderate weight. Sliding hinges are considered to be extremely reliable and can withstand heavy loads.
Reinforced hinges are considered to be forged overhead products. The design has unusual look, but the principle of operation does not differ from standard fasteners. Forged hinges are handmade. Products can be found in private country houses.
For forged options not required preliminary preparation canvases. It is enough to screw the loop and insert it into place using wedges. The main disadvantage is that distortions and deformations occur during operation. To fix the problem, you will have to remove the hinges along with the screws.
What hinges are used for heavy doors?
Doors from 70-100 kg are considered heavy. If the fabric is lighter weight, then standard loops are sufficient. For interior doors, steel fasteners will be sufficient. And for the entrance, you will have to choose a reinforced structure. You can take brass elements. They are quite durable, but expensive.
Types of hinges for heavy doors:
- Invoices. This type fasteners are the simplest. The product is not suitable for an entrance door, but for an interior door it is a suitable option.
- Mortise. When installed, the elements go deep into the canvas and the box. These are reliable products that can withstand a load of 100 kg.
- Hidden. Suitable hinges for the front door, because they are difficult to break into.
- Screw-in. Only the rotary axis is visible. The fasteners can always be adjusted, but the hinges will not support more than 120 kg.
For wooden doors
Door hinges for heavy wooden doors It is better to choose mortise removable ones. If the canvas is heavy, the thickness and length are sufficient to support a weight of 70 kg or more. When choosing a material, it is recommended to choose brass, since such hinges are made by casting. Budget option is steel.
Wooden hinges work well. To check the quality of the loop, first of all, you need to swing it in different sides, checking the axle. The backlash should be small, but its presence is mandatory. The ball on the end of the axle should touch the cap on the other half of the fastener. It is necessary to fold the loop and check whether the size of the halves matches. No discrepancies are allowed.
For heavy metal
Metal doors often come with matching hinges. There is no need to choose the product yourself.
But sometimes you still have to purchase separately hinges for entrance doors. When choosing them, you need to take into account several nuances.
The main purchasing criteria are design features doors: which way they open, material of production, weight, availability of locks and additional elements. Be sure to take into account the intensity of use of the canvas. Not the least important role is played by the attractiveness of the structure and stylish design.
The weight and size of door leaves can vary greatly depending on the purpose of the door and the material from which they are made. While there are no problems with the choice of canopies for furniture and interior doors, the same cannot be said about door hinges for heavy doors or gates.
You need to select reinforced fittings for them, as they must withstand very serious loads.
The reliability and efficiency of door accessories also determine performance characteristics the doors themselves: service life, noiselessness, ease and smoothness of opening. What if we're talking about For products located at the entrance to a house or site, additional requirements are imposed on hinges.
This:
- Resistance to intense wear;
- Resistant to moisture and dust;
- High level of resistance to tampering attempts.
For reference. The most vulnerable point of steel entrance doors is the hinges, which are often cut off to gain entry into the house.
Therefore, when choosing canopies, we try to take into account all factors that may affect the safety, convenience and duration of their use.
Namely:
- Location of the door block;
- Conditions and intensity of its operation;
- Dimensions and weight of the sash;
- The direction of opening the door leaf;
- Appearance of fittings.
If the door is very heavy, then in addition to the special design of the canopies, their optimal number for each door is selected. Quite often, instead of two, three or even four loops are used in order to more evenly distribute the mass of the fabric between them and eliminate possible deformations.
Types of canopies for massive doors
Special fittings are selected only for really heavy doors. The instructions require installing it on canvases weighing from 80-100 kg. With a smaller mass, you can get by with regular loops, increasing their number if necessary.
Door hinges are classified according to characteristics such as type of design, installation method, and material of manufacture.
By type of construction
According to their design, hinges are divided into one-piece and detachable.
The first ones consist of two cards mounted on the rotation axis with holes for fastening. Standard loops are 10-12 cm long and are used primarily when installing lungs.
- Frame card with three hinges;
- Sleeve;
- Door card with two hinges;
- Self-tapping screws for fastening.
Reinforced door hinges are available for heavy doors large sizes with an increased number of fastening points. The thickness of the cards is also made larger (minimum 3 mm versus 2 mm for conventional canopies).
Please note. The use of one-piece hinges is ineffective due to their short service life and low reliability. Such loops quickly wear out inside, which leads to creaking and sagging of the canvas. In addition, to remove the canvas from the box, the hinges must be unscrewed.
There are two types of detachable canopies: with a ball and with a bearing.
Structurally, they look like this:
- Door card;
- Fist;
- Steel finger;
- Frame card.
You can remove the door leaf by lifting it and removing the door card with frame.
Please note. To prevent your front door from being broken into by removing it from its hinges, purchase door fittings with special depressions and protrusions, which when closing the door are combined and limit the vertical movement of the leaf.
In order for such canopies to serve longer and more reliably, they are equipped with additional elements:
- Loops with balls. This is an improved version of the usual detachable hinge. In it, a steel ball is placed in the door card, ensuring easy sliding of the finger in the fist and smooth opening of the door. Such canopies do not sag, but over time they may begin to creak. Grease with grease helps remove it.
- Bearing hinges. The most common type, which has a lot of advantages: strength, reliability, durability, low maintenance requirements, and no squeaking throughout the entire service life.
By installation method
Installation of hinges can be done in different ways depending on their design and purpose:
- Overhead hinges- the most common and easiest to install, which is easy to do with your own hands. It was they, forged by blacksmiths, that were used by our ancestors from time immemorial. Today there are more modern and reliable options, but neither one nor the other is suitable for installation on entrance doors, as they are not protected from burglary. However, they can withstand a decent weight, so they are placed both on metal doors and on gates or heavy solid wood products.
- Mortise hinges much more reliable, since their cards are attached to the end of the door leaf and the inside of the frame, and closed position become invisible. Depending on the size and thickness of the plates, two hinges can withstand fairly decent loads - up to 100 kg. They are called mortise because grooves are selected for the cards in the body of the canvas and the box, allowing the plates to be “recessed” to the level of the main plane.
- , unlike overhead and mortise ones, are reliably protected from cutting, since when closed door their rotary axis is absolutely invisible. Unsurpassed reliability, strength and ability to withstand quite large loads allows you to install such canopies on armored doors of cash registers and banking premises. They are universal: they can open the door both on the right and on the left. However, they also have a serious drawback - small angle opening the doors.
For reference. Other types of hidden hinges are also used for steel doors.
- Screw-in hinges consist of two “barrels”– cylindrical parts with holes for fastening and with pins that are screwed into the frame slope and the end of the door leaf. The axis of rotation is located inside the cylinders. In essence, this is an analogue of card loops, in which the role of cards is played by screw-in pins. A disadvantage of the design can be considered weight restrictions: two standard hinges will not withstand a load of more than 100-120 kg, their number in the case of heavy sashes will have to be increased to 3-4.
According to the material of manufacture
Various metals and alloys are used to make canopies for heavy doors.
- Conventional uncoated steel hinges are practically not in demand today and are used only for doors to non-residential utility rooms or street fences.
- Stainless steel hinges are more popular as they have high stability to temperature changes and moisture, retain their original appearance for a long time.
- Canopies made of alloys of steel, copper, zinc and aluminum, coated with enamel, brass, or bronze or gold compositions, are valued for both wear resistance and decorativeness, allowing you to choose fittings for the door of any color and design.
- Brass canopies are the most expensive, but they are superior to hinges made from other materials in all operational and aesthetic indicators. They are most often used when installing premium doors.
Conclusion
If you purchased a door and are going to install it yourself, all necessary information you have a choice of awnings. The installation process itself is shown in the video in this article.
But in the case of massive panels, it is better to purchase ready-made doors from well-known and reliable manufacturers who supply all the necessary fittings with them. It also includes door hinges for heavy doors, selected taking into account the design and weight of the product.