Door hinges are an integral part of your door's working mechanism.
When doors are not installed properly, you will have problems with the hinges and it is important to have them fixed right away before the issue leads to something else. Here are some tips that will help you fix your door hinge problems at home.
Remove the door from the hinges so you can have clear access to these parts. If you have a flat panel or flush door, it is best that you remove the hinge screws first with a screwdriver before removing it from its hinges. This way, your door won't accidentally fall and get damaged. It is important to note that interior doors have two hinges and exterior doors have three.
After removing the screws, gently push out the pin holding each of the hinge pieces together using a flat chisel or thin bar. You can also use pliers if you don't have those tools readily available as an alternative. Just make sure not to bend them, as this will make them unusable later on. In order to put everything back properly without having any issues, be extra careful when removing the pins.
Remove the old hinge screws from their holes on the door jamb using a screwdriver before installing new ones into these positions. Make sure that you put screws that fit perfectly into these holes on the top and bottom sections of your door hinges before tightening them up. Also, don't forget to put in some grease every time you replace an old screw so they can slide through easily without being too stiff.
There are general dimension guidelines on where to place the hinge on the side of the door. Professionals recommend that the top hinge be placed approximately 5 inches from the top door jamb and the bottom hinge 10 inches from the bottom. The third hinge, which is the middle hinge, should be at the centre of the door's height. These measurements are useful whether you are installing a new door or door blanks. To install door hinges on a new door, use a tape measure to get the correct positions for the top and bottom hinges. Remember, your door type, and door function will determine the appropriate hinges. From your local hardware store, you can buy different types of hinges to suit your needs. You can choose from, among others, pin door hinges, spring door hinges that close the door automatically, or ball bearing door hinges ideal for heavy doors.
First of all, it is necessary to be aware of the types of flush hinges.
The concealed hinge has a device that allows the door leaf to be opened against the face of the door leaf. It is commonly used with hanging wardrobes or pelmets.
The purpose of the exposed hinge is to hold the door leaf in a flush position against another flat surface, for example, a sideboard or cupboard. It is important that the face of this type of hinge must sit flush with whatever it is being attached to.
The face of the leaf and the cabinet leaf are flush when closed. The flush hinges always need a recess or a cavity to be able to sit inside. The hinge pin is pushed through both leaves and secured with either screws or nuts and bolts. Make a recess in the door leaf by using a drill about 1.5 - 2 cm deep. The hinge is placed on the door edge and pushed into position to check its location. The door is then carefully closed. If it is able to close completely with the hinge pin just touching the edge of the door leaf, the hinge will be flush on the face of the door. If it still protrudes slightly from the edge, keep removing material until it is flush. On the other hand, if the hinge pin penetrates more than 1cm into the door leaf, then reduce this material until it is flush.
The hinges are usually fixed to the door before attaching it to the frame. However, this will depend on the type of hinge and what material you're working with. The most common types of hinges are the butt, T and corner door hinge. When attaching the hinges to frame cabinets, make sure that the hinges are fixed to the cabinet frame before you attach it to the door.
The T-shaped hinges are the most classic ones. The design of this hinge allows you to attach each end of the door to one common point. The hinges are fixed on the bottom or top of the door. There is a small hole in each arm of the T, so you need to pass your screw through it and tighten it later on. While fitting your door, get a friend to hold it in place so that you can get the screws into the holes of the T. Get them started first with the tip of your screwdriver and then tighten them using a power drill.
A door leaf is the hinged or movable portion of a door that swings open to allow access. Door hinges are mounted on both the door leaf and frame, allowing them to swing open. A standard solid door has two leaves. When the door is closed, the door leaf and frame should be snug against each other. A flush hinge is a type of door hinge that allows the door to close without its surface touching the doorframe, creating a gap between them when the door is closed. The most common configuration for a flush hinge has two leaves: one consists of an immobile part mounted on or screwed into the cabinet, and another moveable leaf consisting of "arms" which attach to the backside of the cabinet; this end usually has male connectors (called "pins". The flange here would be female). A male connector (usually cylindrical) fits into a corresponding hole in the movable leaf's arms and locks it into place. Pushing down on the pin will disengage the pins from the holes and allow the leaf to be repositioned.
In order for your doors to sit flush against each or whatever surface they are being attached to, hinges need a recess or cavity so they can sit inside it and not protrude from the edge of either side. Generally speaking, flush hinges come in 2 types: exposed and concealed, which means they don't always require a set-up but most likely will need at least some type of recessed area depending on what type of door you are mounting. It is always best to make this area slightly larger than the actual hinge so that you can work with it more easily.
For example: if you want to attach a door for which flush hinges are recommended, then before putting any holes into the surface of your furniture, find where the recess needs to be and start making it by drilling 1.5cm to 2 cm deep into the wood, marking its diameter on your drill bit or use a pencil or a utility knife. Now connect all 4 points to form an accurate circle that fits that specific part of your hinge. You can then use a chisel or other tool that can cut into wood and create a nice round shape inside that cavity. That way, when you place your new hinges in their respective positions, you will be able to push them inside the recessed area and fix them into place. You may need to hire a professional to do this if you are looking to install a security screen door.A variety of methods are known for hanging or "rehanging" a door on its hinges. The best-known of these is to tap a new set of matching screws into the existing holes in the hinge plates.
Directions for door installation:
Remove the existing screws in your door hinges using an electric drill with a screwdriver bit, if possible.
Position the bottom of the door so that it is laying flat on a flat surface, such as the floor.
Start tapping new stainless steel hex-head screws into the existing slotted holes. The screws should be long enough to reach through the hinge plate and engage firmly in the door frame.
Continue inserting screws until they are all firmly engaged in the door frame, levelling and aligning the hinges as you go.
Hang the door by engaging the hinges in the original holes on the old door frame, and then just tighten down each screw. In wooden door frames, it is advisable to pre-drill pilot holes before inserting the screws.