What size door hinges do I need? How do you adjust a door hinge? Why are my hinges squeaking? Doors only work if they have a sturdy set of hinges for a secure fitting, smooth opening and perfect closure. However, the installing and maintaining of door hinges comes with a vital set of questions and queries that need answering.
At Door Giant, we're constantly keeping up-to-date with everything that door installers and homeowners want to know and - more frequently - we're noticing that hinges are becoming the source of some serious DIY discussion. So whether you're installing a brand new door or tending to an old, worn out set of hinges, you need to know how to deal with them on a case-by-case basis.
So, in our latest blog, we've assembled a selection of the most frequently asked questions, popular queries and common conundrums surrounding door hinges. You'll get quick advice and accurate troubleshooting to make sure there are no hold ups in your hinge fitting project or general maintenance work.
How Many Different Types Of Hinges Are There?
The most common types of hinges are; butt hinges, ball bearing hinges, concealed hinges, strap hinges, pivot hinges and continuous hinges.
What Hinge Size Do I Need?
The most popular door hinge size measures 76mm x 50mm. In England and Wales, the most common interior door size is the 2'6" door (Height: 1981 x Width: 762 x Thickness: 35mm). For standard, lightweight, hollow core interior doors, a pair of hinges will be sufficient, whereas solid doors and engineered doors will more than likely require a three hinge set.
For existing doors or older doors, it's best to simply unscrew the old hinges and take measurements of the existing hinge, making notes of the corner type and radius of the hinges before replacing with brand new ones.
Where Do You Put Hinges On A Door?
Hinges need to be spaced evenly along the length of your door. Most of the time, hinges are installed 5 inches from the top of your door and 10 inches from the bottom of the door. A third hinge should be installed equidistant between the top and bottom hinges.
How Do You Fit Door Hinges?
For a step-by-step guide to fitting hinges to a new door, please read our previous blog: How Do You Fit And Adjust Door Hinges? Door Giant's simple guidelines will help you achieve a safe, reliable fit, a professional looking finish and a smooth opening operation.
Why Would You Use A Concealed Hinge?
This type of flush hinge creates a smart, sturdy and invisible opening and closing joint on the interior of cabinets, kitchen units and similar furniture.
What Hinges Should I Use For Flush Doors?
You can buy flush hinges and smaller fixtures for your flush door project. Alternatively, you can instead opt for a slim and simple pair of butt hinges to meet your lightweight door needs.
How Do I Stop My Door Hinges Squeaking?
Creaky doors are almost always caused by squeaky hinges. Occasionally, warped and distorted wooden doors will creak and what you'll hear is the sound of wood-on-wood rubbing together. If you suspect your hinges are squeaking, you can use a range of professional or DIY household lubricants to solve the problem.
Purchase either a multi-use penetrating oil and apply a few drops to the hinge with the pin pulled up or alternatively apply silicone spray, graphite or even olive oil to silence your hinge. If your hinges continue to squeak, even after multiple lubricants have been applied, it's likely that your hinge has an alignment issue and will need to be adjusted.
How Do I Adjust Door Hinges?
Oftentimes, general problems with the opening and closure of a door are the result of faulty, worn out, loose or misaligned hinges. You can easily adjust and reposition hinges to get your door opening and closing smoothly and fitted perfectly up against the frame.
