Door Hinge - A Lot of Power in a Small Package

Every morning you probably open and close at least five doors before you leave t o go to work. You close the bathroom door to jump in the shower. You open the medicine cabinet to get your toothbrush and toothpaste. You reach for your cereal to grab a quick bite to eat and the front door swings shut behind you before you leave. All of these doors and more would not work without a door hinge or two. And what would the world be like without this oh so important invention? Well picture going into and out of your house through a hole in the roof because you are no strong enough o move a large rock or slab of wood everyday in front of the entrance.

Hinges are surprisingly strong. They can generally do eight to ten times the work they are assigned. So the door hinge puts the power of the Roman goddess Cardea into your hands.  And the best way to see the biggest variety of door hinges is to shop online. Don't drag yourself all over the city looking for that perfect hinge to complete your kitchen makeover. Instead browse the selection online and compare and buy hinges from the comfort of your living room.

There are several types of door hinge available. The most common is the butt hinge. This consists of two flaps with screw holes attached by a pin or a rod. To take the door down all you would have to do is remove the pins.  You can choose to add finials or balls to the pins for a decorative touch.

Garage doors are usually attached with T-hinges.  Best Hinge Release  like the letter T the horizontal part is attached to the door frame while the vertical part is attached to the door.  These hinges can be plain or ornamental and lift up rather than out.

If you have folding doors you might use a Soss hinge.  Named for its inventor this door hinge is recessed into the door edges so when the door is folded it is completely concealed. It must be installed exactly or it will not work.

If dealing with cabinet doors the type of hinge you use will depend on the door type. There are three door types; lipped, flush and overlay. A lipped door has a lip cut around it and works well with most hinges. A flush door rests within the frame and works well with butterfly hinges. A butterfly hinge works like a butt hinge but is hung on the outside and is more ornamental ranging in styles from colonial to art deco.

The pivot hinge is made for overlay doors. One is mounted on the top and the other on the bottom with portions of each bent over and mounted to the frame and door resulting in a concealed hinge. Perhaps the most popular hinge is the spring mounted hinge. Fitted with a small spring inside this door hinge allows the door to close on its own, automatically.

So the next time you open or close a door stop for a moment to ponder the power and utility of the humble door hinge; it deserves it.