The humble hinge has evolved quite a bit over the years. Being an item that’s often out of sight by design, you may not be aware of the different types and use cases.
At Hardware Box, our hinges fall into one of four main types:
The butt hinge is very common, and probably what most people think of when it comes to door hinges. These are recessed into the door and door jamb and consist of two matching “leaves” with a knuckle in the middle - held together by a removable metal pin.
Usage: Ideal for simpler installations and internal doors since you can lift the door into place once the hinges are attached. Also great if you’re painting as it allows the door to be removed easily without unscrewing.
Fixed Pin Butt Hinges look almost identical to the loose pin variety, however as the name implies, the metal pin is fixed in place and cannot be removed. These are a better choice for external doors where security is a higher consideration.
These hinges are sometimes referred to as “flush” or "fast fix” hinges. These hinges are quicker to install since the nested-leaf design doesn’t require any chiselling into the door or frame.
Usage: Ideal for metal door jambs since recessing is not possible.
The design of these hinges allows for the door to be lifted up and removed entirely without needing to touch the hinge. These are often required by law in 'fully contained sanitary compartments' as per various building regulations such as National Construction Code requirements (2015) Clause 3.8.3.3.
Usage: Toilet cubicles, hospital and healthcare premises and other commercial sites. Your builder or architect can generally advise whether these are required in your situation.
Hinge Sizes
The weight of your door is the biggest factor when deciding which size hinge you need.
As a rule of thumb, use larger hinges such as 100x75mm for heavier doors around 40mm thick, and 85x60mm hinges on typical internal doors around 35mm thick.
If you have any additional questions or need some help selecting door hinges for your project, don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’re happy to help!
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