E-Materials » Hinges

Cabinet Door Hinges

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:12:45 +0000

Upgrading your cabinet door hinges is one of the easiest DIY home improvement projects. In most cases, it’s just a matter of unscrewing the old ones and installing the new. It really doesn’t get much easier than that, and a full kitchen can usually be finished in a single afternoon. Don’t just limit yourself to kitchen cabinet door hinges, you can swap out the ones in your bathrooms, hallway, or entertainment center.

For the beginner, I recommend finding hinges that match the type that you already have on there. If they’re overlay hinges, replace them with upgraded overlay hinges. If you’re more skilled and have the tools to change types of cabinet door hinges it is an option. You can install concealed hinges if you want the clean look of that style of cabinet.

Each buying situation is unique for cabinet door hinges, but almost every need there is can be found on the internet. If you’re ordering lots of hinges you’ll end up paying a lot for shipping since they’re heavy. You can start your search at your local hardware store. They’ll have lots of choices, but with as many options as there are you should be very picky and keep your search up until you find the perfect one that suits your cabinets.

Brass Hinges

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:36:46 +0000

Brass hinges add a level of elegance to any cabinet or door. The best part about them is that they can replace just about any existing hinge with a simple installation. You can swap out your old, standard hinges with fancy brass hinges in an afternoon and many times all you need is a screwdriver to do so!

Whatever hinge you need, there is a brass counterpart, even brass butt hinges! With so many choices you have the opportunity to be picky in what you choose. Take your time to find the perfect one because it’s out there, you just have to track it down.

A brass hinge only costs a little bit more than its standard counterpart. You can improve the look and feel of your home without breaking the bank, and probably get it done in a day.

When you’re replacing hinges you’ll usually be able to remove the old ones and install the new ones and it’s done. The biggest problem that you’ll run into, and this is especially true with brass door hinges, the plate that mounts to the frame and door may be larger and thicker than the original one was. If you run into this problem, you’ll need a chisel to increase the size of the mounting area so that the hinge will sit flush on the door. This is a minor adjustment, and most DIY home owners shouldn’t have a problem getting it done. Just be sure to have a vacuum cleaner on hand to suck up the sawdust!

Butt Hinges

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:47:33 +0000

Butt hinges are the King Kong of the hinge world. The most common use of a butt hinge is a truck tailgate, but they have tons of other uses. These hinges are almost always welded on, but there are also some that come with holes for bolts or screws.

These are primarily for industrial use, and generally not recommended for home use, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use them. You have to be ready for a heavy duty installation and have the tools necessary. They are absolutely overkill for just about every home use you can imagine, but would be the perfect look for an industrial themed home. They come in bronze, brass, black, and a slew of other colors.

When looking for these hinges the best places to start are the hardware store or online. If you’re looking at the hardware store they probably won’t be with the rest of the hinges and door accessories, they will probably be with the construction materials. You can find most butt hinge styles online, but the shipping is going to be quite high due to their massive size and weight.

Most butt hinges are untreated steel, which means that they’re going to rust very easily. If you’re using these in your home I recommend finding some that are painted or are made from something that won’t rust.

Oil Rubbed Bronze Hinges

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:26:18 +0000

If you’re looking to add a touch of class to a simple cabinet or door oil rubbed bronze hinges are the way to go. They add a classy and rustic feeling to every installation and can usually just be swapped out with the current hinge. Bronze is very strong, so these hinges can take years of abuse and wear and tear.

Oil rubbed door hinges tend to be a bit thicker than a standard door hinge, so some extra woodworking will be necessary to get the hinge to sit flush on the door and door frame. Aside from that, you can almost always just the old hinge out and install the new one. Their warm color and feel will really help your house feel like a home.

In the kitchen oil rubbed bronze cabinet hinges are an extremely easy way to jazz up the room. I’m particularly fond of these hinges on light colored cabinets, but they can also work well with dark and medium toned ones.

There are also oil rubbed toilet hinges and oil rubbed piano hinges for those applications. Those are very specific and particular needs, so I recommend starting your shopping adventure online before heading down to your hardware store to see if they carry them.

In any application, I recommend using these hinges. They’re an easy and inexpensive way to improve the look and functionality of any door or cabinet.

Overlay Hinges

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:16:47 +0000

Overlay hinges are the common type of cabinet or cupboard hinges. When a cabinet door is mounted to a frame built onto the face of the cabinet, overlay hinges are needed.

Many overlay hinges are decorative and directional. This means that you’ll need a right hand and a left hand overlay hinge for each. They usually mount to the face of the cabinet and on the inside of the cabinet door. In terms of installation difficulty, these are usually the easiest. An overlay hinge will usually mount with a small screw or nail. If you’re worried that the hinge is not secure enough with the screw, put a dab or two of wood glue beneath the hinge plate. Keep in mind that if you do this, it’s going to be very hard to remove them later, if you choose to.

Overlay hinges can be purchased at most hardware stores. They also come in generic sizes (1/2 inch, 3/4 inch, etc.) that makes it easy to find the size that you need. If you’re looking for something more decorative, I recommend trying garage sales or antique stores to see if you can find something that’s cheap and has the hinges that you really want.

Shutter Hinges

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:55:42 +0000

Shutter hinges are the perfect accent to any window. They may seem small and unnoticeable, but a shuttered window with plain hinges will stand out like a sore thumb. Taking the time to find the right ones will give your room a completed feel.

Exterior shutter hinges have to be high quality, if not they will rust and break in just a few years of weathering. There are many exterior hinges that are handcrafted by blacksmiths on the East Coast that will last longer than you and your home. These hinges are more expensive than your hardware store variety, but that price will also cover you never having to worry about them.

Interior shutters hinges are grounded in decoration. I recommend spending a good amount of time finding the ones that will best suit your home. It’s very important that you find ones that will make your room look better and do their job properly, especially with wooden shutters. Most interior shutter hinges are directional, so you will have to buy a right and left hinge for each window.

Installation is different for each set of shutter hinges. Some will require being flush mounted into the wall or window sill, others are simply drilled right in. Consider the amount of work that installation will take when purchasing your shutter hinges. If you’re a DIY homeowner the difficulty of installation will make or break this project.

Cupboard Hinges

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:45:59 +0000

Cupboard hinges are one of the easiest things you can change to improve the look and functionality of a room. In most cases you only have to remove the old hinges and replace them with new ones. This is especially true with visible kitchen cupboard hinges. If you don’t want to go through the work of refinishing or replacing your cupboard doors changing out the hinges is a good way to make an improvement.

Cupboard door hinges come in thousands of different styles and shapes. Most of them are reversible so you can buy them in bulk, but other are directional with a right hand and a left hand side.

My favorite way to get cupboard hinges is at the antique stores and garage sales. There have been multiple time that I’ve bought a cabinet just to get the door hinges. Obviously, I have to find something to do with the rest of the cabinet but that’s a different project for a different post!

With so many choices it may be hard to decide what you want. I recommend taking one of the hinges off of your current doors and bringing it with you to the hardware store or anywhere that you can find hinges. Having the old cupboard hinge will help you determine size and you’ll be able to contrast old with new to determine if it will really fit with the rest of your kitchen or bathroom.

Concealed Cabinet Hinges

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:54:07 +0000

Concealed cabinet hinges give a very sleek and finished look to any set of cabinets. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, or garage they look great! My favorite use for a concealed cabinet hinge is on flat and sharp corned cabinet doors. Visible hinges on these types of cabinets just doesn’t look right!

Another major benefit of concealed cabinet door hinges is that they’re usually adjustable hinges so you can dial in their position as your house settles into its foundation.

Installing concealed cabinet hinges can be pretty tricky, but doable. If you’re starting with new cabinet doors it will be the easiest. You’ll have to drill or miter the hole for the hinge plate to mount flush into the door. If you’re not comfortable with this, or have the tools to complete the job, I recommend taking it to a local woodworker or cabinet finishing store.

When shopping for concealed hinges keep in mind that they also go by the name European hinges. The two terms are interchangeable, so when the Home Depot employee gives you a blank stare when you ask where the concealed cabinet hinges are you should try the other term!

Adjustable Hinges

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:21:53 +0000

Adjustable hinges are one of the sweetest inventions in the last hundred years or so. Houses and foundations settle after they’ve been built and when that happens door frames stop sitting square. This is also a common problem during basement remodeling. Sticky doors have traditionally been fixed by inserting a shim under the guilty hinge, but now you don’t need to do that anymore! Adjustable door hinges do the work for you.

These hinges work with a screw that when turned will adjust the vertical and horizontal set of the door. The average adjustable door hinge will give you 2-3mm of wiggle room each direction, which is normally plenty to unstick a door. Originally, the adjustments had to be made before the door was installed, but now you can adjust as you wish while the door is on with the simple turn of a screw.

An adjustable hinge certainly isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as a traditional one, but in terms of functionality it reigns supreme. They’re almost always black and industrial looking, but function over fashion has to win sometimes!

Keep in mind that the plates of these hinges are deeper than a traditional hinge so during installation you’ll have to chisel a bit more out of the door and the door frame. Generally, you want to install these hinges when a house has just been finished being built and adjust them as needed from there. They can also be installed on any door that has problems sticking.

These hinges are quite a bit more expensive than their static counterparts. Expect to pay between $20 and $40 for a quality adjustable hinge. Adjustable cabinet hinges and adjustable gate hinges are also available.

Installing Hinges

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:48:45 +0000

Installing hinges is a DIY home improvement job that just about everyone can do, as long as they know how to use a drill and have a semi-steady hand with a chisel. I’m also going to assume that you know right from left…

There are right handed doors and left handed doors. The easiest way to tell the difference is the side that the hinge is on when the door opens in is its side. If you open a door in (push) and the hinge is on the right, the door is right handed, and vice versa for a left handed door.

Cabinets are always going to be the opposite of the side the hinge is on since you pull cabinets open. If a cabinet’s hinge is on the right, the door is left handed.

Luckily, you don’t need to worry too much about all of that since most hinges are reversible!

When deciding which side you should hang the door and install the hinges, you have to consider who’s going to get hit when door is opened. In bedrooms and front doors you always want the hinge to be on the inside of the door jamb so the door is pulled from the bedroom or entry way. Garage doors will be the opposite.

Most door hinges sit flush with the wood. This means that you’ll have to use a sharp chisel to knock that amount of wood out of the door frame. Start by using a razor blade to score the outline of the hinge plate and start working the chisel to get the wood out. It’s much harder to convince yourself to take a chisel to your door jamb than it actually is to get the job done! You’ll have to chisel the same depth on the part of the door that corresponds with that part of the hinge.

If a door sticks at the top you can either chisel farther down where the hinge meets the door, or drill a thin shim into the bottom hinge at the door jam.

Installing hinges isn’t a hard DIY job, but you have to get over the fear of jamming the chisel into your door and door frame!