Hinges for interior doors: purpose, designs, types, how to choose fittings, an overview of the best options

Major repairs in the house involve updating the doors, often with the replacement of the door leaf, and not just cosmetic painting. This is a good time to choose hinges for interior doors. It is possible to install really worthwhile canopies that will last a long time without creating problems for the owners.

How to choose the right hardware

Of course, everyone would like to install reliable, convenient, easy-to-install and configure door hinges. At a modest price, without squeaks and subsidence of the door leaf after a couple of years of operation. But the ideal door hardware does not exist in principle. Therefore, the best hinges for interior doors are selected individually, taking into account:

• loads (how often they use);
• the location of the doorway in terms of housing;
• method of fastening on the door leaf and frame;
• in addition, there should be a consignment note or hidden in the thickness of the door leaf;
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• the weight and dimensions of the door leaf.

But that's not all. If it were only about the reliability, durability of the door hinge, then the best candidate for an interior passage would be forged canopies or hidden models installed on the front doors.

But, in addition to functionality, additional requirements are imposed on the hinges in terms of appearance, design, running accuracy, and the type of swivel support used. Therefore, the choice usually begins with the material and evaluation of the design of the canopy.

Material selection

Due to the increased requirements for the appearance of fittings, most models are produced with an additional decorative coating. Usually it is chrome plating, nickel plating, sputtering with titanium nitride or imitation of gilding. If the apartment has a lot of furniture (cladding) under an aged tree, then you can pick up "copper" canopies in the Loft style with a blackened antique surface.

The most practical are steel and brass models. The first ones are suitable for heavy sashes, with a large load on the axis of rotation. For example, for interior double doors. In this case, the door leaf turns out to be, as it were, cantilever-hanging on steel canopies, without relying on a lock or latch. You can, of course, put brass fittings, but there is a risk that the door leaves will sag.

Loop fittings made of brass combine reliability, durability and a beautiful look. Brass hinges with the correct calculation of the load and balancing will last quite a long time, at least 10-12 years.

Often, complete with new doors, hinge fittings made of steel-aluminum alloys are offered. The material is inexpensive, looks attractive, but the strength is relatively low. It happens that the fittings break even with an accidental strong blow to the frame due to a sudden gust of wind (draft).

Varieties

With rare exception, interior doors up to 70 cm wide are made on a wooden or plastic frame lined with light materials based on cellulose fibers. Models with a wider sash are usually made on a reinforced wooden frame.

It is the design that is the main factor influencing the choice of the canopy model. The owners of the apartment choose the design of the interior door, its shape, size, surface finish. Only in the second turn are the loops selected. In this case, several determining conditions are taken into account:

• method of fastening (insertion) on the door leaf;
• is it possible to install hinges in a hidden way;
• ultimate load;
• support scheme: sleeve or bearing.

In addition, you need to consider the location of the hinges on the frame and on the sash. The problem is that most modern interior doors are made according to the scheme with a recessed latch. That is, the door frame is almost completely embedded in the wall of the apartment. This often complicates the installation of fittings, so it is often more difficult to hang walk-through models than entrance or balcony ones.

Read also: How to install an interior door without a threshold and with a threshold.

Review of the best hinges

Door hinge fittings can vary greatly in design and quality, even within models of the same type. Therefore, it is better to choose hinges for interior doors not from the picture in the catalog, but to actually look at the samples of canopies "live", for example, in a building supermarket or a specialized salon. And of course you need to decide which company to choose loops.

Mortise

The largest group of loops that, in fact, remain universal. That is, it can be used not only for interior doors, but also for any doors, including home-made and restored door leaf.

Structurally, such a loop consists of two flat halves (sashes) connected by a hinge. The dimensions of the canopy can be from 60x30 mm to full weight 150x40 mm. All of them are used for hanging interior doors.

A feature of mortise models is the mounting scheme. They need to be cut into the canvas and the hatch of the interior door.

At the same time, the design is one-piece, which means that you will first need to fix the part on the end of the interior door leaf, and then try on and transfer the markings to the loot. Not very convenient, but such a scheme, unlike collapsible models, ensures that there is no play in the hinge.

The simplest mortise hinges - card models of the PN5-60 type, are made of 3 mm thick steel, on top of which a layer of galvanized zinc is applied.

No additional washers and spacers are used in the hinge. Therefore, you have to lubricate regularly, otherwise, after a year or two, a backlash will appear in the loop, respectively, the sash will sag. To hang a door leaf up to 30 kg, at least 4 pieces of canopies PN5-60 will be required.

Higher level mortise hinges may have multiple anchor points in the hinge, some even use bearings. This significantly increases the reliability of the suspension and the smoothness of the interior door.

Of the inexpensive ones, models of the NORA-M EKO type, with a chrome coating, size 100x70 mm, are in demand.

For interior doors of exclusive design, with additional veneer veneer, it is better to use more expensive, but definitely high-quality ones. The same "Palladium" or MORELLI MS100x70.

The latter were developed by a well-known Italian manufacturer of hinges, door fittings, including for interior and exterior doors. They cost 10-15% more, but the manufacturing accuracy of the hinge is higher, the hinge is more reliable, not to mention the design.

Mortise hinges are better suited for interior doors, since the halves (cards) are actually hidden in the thickness of the door leaf and loot. Only the hinge itself remains visible. In addition, the load-bearing capacity of the mortise hinge is higher than that of any other.

The only drawback of mortise hinges is the increased requirements for the qualification of a carpenter. Since you have to cut grooves on the door frame and sash, it is easy to ruin the door block if the calculation is wrong.

The average price is 240-270 rubles. To install one interior door, you only need one pair of canopies.

corner

This type of canopies is divided into two large groups according to the device. The first are the so-called bent corner loops. They are massively used for interior doors in apartments and private houses due to their high load capacity and spectacular appearance. They differ from the universal ones only in that each half of the loop (card) is bent along the axis at an angle of 90O.

The installation principle is no different from the universal ones, but there is one advantage - the self-tapping screws are wrapped in the sash on the side, this allows you to make the interior door thicker (massive), use sound and thermal insulation. In this case, the hinges will not prevent the door from opening to a full angle.

Of the popular models, canopies of the MANERA brand can be cited as an example. The price for one suspension is from 1500 rubles.

The second type of corner hinges is used for special installation cases, as well as for the installation of PVC interior doors. That is, the plane of attachment of the canopy on the spout (wall) is perpendicular to the surface of the door leaf. The accessories are quite expensive - an average of 1300 rubles. per set for one mounting point.

Popular brands are SIMONSWERK SIKU and Dr. hahn. Price - 1400-1800 rubles.

screw-in

Structurally, such loops look like two coaxial barrels with side threaded pins. With their help, the fittings are separately attached to the door leaf and the frame. In fact, the same double-leaf hinge, but instead of a plate, a threaded pin is used. The fittings are attached to the tree not with self-tapping screws, but by screwing into a pre-drilled hole.

The lower barrel is always load-bearing, screwed into the frame, the upper one into the interior door leaf and put on the axle. There may be two or more pins on the barrel, but only one of them will be threaded, the second and third are locking. They are mainly used on light doors (up to 40 kg) with a rebate on the frame.

Flaws:

1. When installing, you need to use a jig, if you make a mistake with drilling the hole, then the barrel will stand crooked, the door to the loot will fit unevenly.
2. If the diameter of the hole for screwing in the pin is chosen incorrectly, there is a chance of splitting the door leaf or nut.
3. Weak bearing capacity. Therefore, if you put the door on mortise (pin) hinges, then it is better to take it with a margin.

For lightweight models weighing up to 20 kg, three suspension points are usually made (on two-pin ones), a 13 mm barrel. For doors of 30-40 kg, at least 4 hinges with a diameter of 14 mm are installed.

Almost all models of canopies are universal, they can be placed on windows, cabinet doors, interior doors. They look neat, are inexpensive - up to 200 rubles. Very easy to repair by welding. If necessary, the canvas can be easily removed and returned to its place.

From what is on the market for interior doors, SIMONSWERK VARIANT APECS 3 models are in demand, from inexpensive ones - AMIG, Lefty. Most of the mortise hinges are nickel-plated, but you can also pick them up with blackening (under oak) or with “gilding”.

Bilateral

This type of suspension is also called bar loops. By design, they resemble universal hinges, but with an additional middle insert. This design makes it possible to open interior doors at an angle of up to 150Oand in some cases up to 180O, almost with the exit of the leaf from the plane of the door frame.

The simplest models, such as the Spanish "AMIG", are made of aluminum 3-5 mm thick, followed by a decorative coating. Since the metal is soft, the dimensions of the double-sided loop are quite large. Size - 180x60 mm.

Due to the increased diameter of the axis, the hinge can withstand a load of up to 35 kg. This means that heavy oak models with a leaf width of up to 80 cm can be used as interior doors.

Double-sided canopies are non-separable, installed in the canvas and loot with a card insert. According to user reviews, installing such a hinge requires skill and patience from the carpenter, otherwise you can ruin both the hinges and the interior doors. The price of the loop is 4300 rubles.

If reliable (almost eternal) hinges are required for interior doors, then you can install a model of the famous Italian brand ALDEGHI LUIGI SPA. The hinges are not cheap - 4400 rubles, but not much more expensive than the same "AMIG".

The peculiarity of the model is that the mechanism is made of durable alloy steel with antique bronze coating. Looks like an antique. Suitable for old solid wood interior doors.

Usually, stainless steel canopies are considered not very comfortable and creaky. But in this case, the hinges are made with additional spacers made of anti-friction material. Therefore, there is no sound when opening.

For your information! Another model is interesting for its huge resource. The hinges are capable of withstanding 200,000 cycles of opening-closing without subsidence of the sash of the interior door.

Overhead

Due to the simple installation, this type of door hinge is in steady demand. Overhead models - "butterfly" - are present in all ratings of the best canopies for interior doors.

In fact, this is a modified version of universal canopies. With the difference that in the closed state the loop folds into a plate 2.5-3 mm thick. But this type is used only for interior doors and light doors weighing 20-30 kg. One suspension point is designed for a load of no more than 15 kg. For one interior door, you will need at least two, and preferably three, hinges.

They are made of steel, necessarily with galvanized coating - nickel, blackening or bronze. Fasten directly to the end of the door leaf with self-tapping screws. If necessary, you can easily remove and rearrange to another canvas.

The design is one-piece, so hanging interior doors on the frame is best done with an assistant.

Overhead models of Italian brands Code Deco, Rucetti are put on new canvases, but if desired, on an interior door can be supplied by Chinese VANGER or Russian APECS, the quality is slightly lower, but cheaper.

Hidden

The fashion for installing hidden hinges appeared along with the widespread use of interior doors on a solid wooden frame with a leaf thickness of at least 35 mm. Otherwise, the mechanism simply will not fit inside the door leaf.

The design is assembled from two coupled and spring-loaded hinges connected by a common axis. Both parts are located in spaced apart planes, so when the door is closed, the hinge hides in the free cavity of the “neighbor”.

The mechanism is quite complex, capricious, but often the conditions for installing interior doors do not allow the use of a canopy-loop of a different scheme.

The main disadvantage of the hinge is the installation method - you have to cut a fairly deep niche from the end of the interior door. This means that after a secret canopy, it will be difficult to mount any other type in its place.

Of the most common, popular models, awnings of the MORELLI or MOATTI brand should be noted. The price of hinges for interior doors ranges from 2200-2600 rubles. You can put cheaper APECS, their price is from 700 rubles. up to 1600 rub.

Results

Choosing the best hinges for interior doors is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. It will take a little experience in installing at least the simplest hinge fittings in order to understand exactly how the hinge on the door leaf should work.

Healthy: Do-it-yourself door closer installation.

Tell us about your experience in installing and operating canopies-loops. Which models, in your opinion, can be considered the most successful, and which ones are not? Bookmark the article and share it on social networks.