Hinges for interior doors: how to choose, review of the best options

A major home renovation involves updating the doors, often with replacement of the door leaf, rather than just cosmetic painting.This is a good time to choose hinges for interior doors. It is possible to install really worthwhile awnings that will last a long time without creating problems for the owners.

How to choose the right accessories

Of course, everyone would like to install reliable, convenient, easy-to-install and configure door hinges. At a modest price, without squeaks or sagging of the door leaf after a couple of years of operation. But 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 are used);
• location of the doorway in terms of housing;
• method of fastening on the door leaf and frame;
• In addition, the design must be overhead or hidden in the thickness of the door leaf;
• weight and dimensions of the door leaf.

But that's not all. If we were talking only about the reliability and durability of the door hinge, then the best candidates for the interior passage would be forged canopies or hidden models installed on the entrance doors.

But, in addition to functionality, hinges are subject to additional requirements for appearance, design, accuracy of movement, and the type of rotary support used. Therefore, the choice usually begins with the material and evaluation of the canopy design.

Material selection

Due to increased requirements for the appearance of fittings, most models are produced with additional decorative coating. Usually this is chrome plating, nickel plating, titanium nitride or imitation gold plating.If the apartment has a lot of furniture (cladding) imitating aged wood, then you can choose “copper” awnings in the Loft style with a blackened antique surface.

Steel and brass models remain the most practical. 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 appears to be hanging in a cantilever on steel canopies, without support from a lock or latch. You can, of course, install brass fittings, but there is a risk that the door leaves will sag.

Brass hinge fittings combine reliability, durability and beautiful appearance. Brass hinges, if correctly calculated and balanced, will last quite a long time, at least 10-12 years.

Often, new doors are supplied with hinge fittings made of steel-aluminum alloys. 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 exceptions, interior doors up to 70 cm wide are made on a wooden or plastic frame and lined with lightweight materials based on cellulose fibers. Models with a wider sash are usually made on a reinforced wooden frame.

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

• method of fastening (inset) to the door leaf;
• Is it possible to install hinges in a hidden way;
• maximum load;
• support scheme: bushing or bearing.

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

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

Review of the best loops

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 according to the picture in the catalog, but to actually look at samples of canopies “live”, for example, in a construction supermarket or a specialized salon. And of course you need to decide which company to choose the hinges from.

Mortise

The largest group of loops, which, in fact, remain universal. That is, it can be used not only for interior doors, but also for any doors, including homemade and restored door leaves.

Structurally, such a hinge consists of two flat halves (leaves) 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 special feature of mortise models is the fastening scheme. They need to be embedded into the leaf and door frame of the interior door.

At the same time, the design is one-piece, which means that you will first need to secure the part to the end of the interior door leaf, and then try on and transfer the markings to the door. It’s not very convenient, but this scheme, unlike collapsible models, guarantees that there is no play in the hinge.

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

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

Higher level mortise hinges may have multiple support points at the hinge, some even using bearings. This significantly increases the reliability of the suspension and the smooth operation of the interior door.

Among the inexpensive ones, models like “NORA-M EKO”, with chrome coating, size 100x70 mm, are in demand.

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

The latter were developed by a famous Italian manufacturer of hinges and door fittings, including interior and entrance doors. They cost 10-15% more, but the precision of manufacturing 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 door. Only the hinge itself remains visible. In addition, the load-bearing capacity of a mortise hinge is higher than that of any other.

The only drawback of mortise hinges is the increased requirements for the qualifications of the carpenter. Since you have to cut grooves on the door frame and leaf, it is easy to damage the door block if the calculation is incorrect.

The average price is 240-270 rubles; to install one interior door you will need only one pair of awnings.

Corner

This type of canopy is divided into two large groups according to its design. The first include the so-called bent corner hinges. They are widely used for interior doors in apartments and private houses due to their high load capacity and impressive appearance. They differ from 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 universal ones, but there is one advantage - the screws are wrapped into the door at the side end, this allows you to make the interior door thicker (massive) and use sound and heat insulation. In this case, the hinges will not interfere with the door opening to its full angle.

Among the popular models, we can cite MANERA brand canopies 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 installing interior doors made of PVC. That is, the plane of attachment of the canopy to the door (wall) is perpendicular to the surface of the door leaf. The fittings are quite expensive - on average 1300 rubles. per set for one mounting point.

The brands SIMONSWERK SIKU and Dr.Hahn are considered popular. Price - 1400-1800 rubles.

Screw-in

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

The lower barrel is always load-bearing and is screwed into the frame; the upper barrel is screwed into the interior door leaf and placed 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 will be safety pins. They are used mainly 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, the barrel will fit crookedly, and the door to the hatch 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 door.
3. Weak load-bearing capacity. Therefore, if you install a door on mortise (pin) hinges, it is better to take it with a reserve.

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

Almost all models of awnings are universal; they can be installed on windows, cabinet doors, and 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.

Of what is on the market for interior doors, the SIMONSWERK VARIANT APECS 3 models are in demand, and the inexpensive ones are AMIG, Left-handed. Most mortise hinges are made nickel-plated, but you can also choose them with blackening (oak) or “gilding”.

Double sided

This type of suspension is also called bar loops. In 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 150O, and in some cases - up to 180O, almost with the leaf coming out of the plane of the door frame.

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

Thanks to the increased axle diameter, the hinge can withstand loads 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-removable and are installed in the canvas and core by inserting cards. According to user reviews, installing such a hinge requires skill and patience from a carpenter, otherwise you can ruin both the hinges and the interior doors. The price for a loop is 4,300 rubles.

If reliable (almost eternal) hinges are required for interior doors, then you can install a model from 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 coated with antique bronze. Appearance like an antique. Suitable for old solid wood interior doors.

Typically, 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! The model is also interesting for its huge resource. The hinges are capable of withstanding 200 thousand opening-closing cycles without sagging of the interior door leaf.

Invoices

Thanks to its easy 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 essence, this is a modified version of universal canopies. The difference is that when closed, 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. One interior door will require at least two, and preferably three, hinges.

They are made of steel, always galvanized - nickel, blackened or bronze. They are attached directly to the end of the door leaf with self-tapping screws. If necessary, you can easily remove it and move it to another canvas.

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

New door leaves are equipped with overhead models from Italian brands Code Deco and Rucetti, but if desired, you can install Chinese VANGER or Russian APECS on an interior door; the quality is slightly lower, but cheaper.

Secret

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

The structure is assembled from two mating 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 is hidden in the free cavity of the “neighbor”.

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

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 hidden canopy, it will be difficult to install any other type in its place.

Among the most common and popular models, it is worth noting the awnings of the MORELLI or MOATTI brand. The price of hinges for interior doors ranges from 2200-2600 rubles. You can install cheaper APECS, their price starts 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 installing even the simplest hinge fittings to understand exactly how a hinge on a door leaf should work.

Healthy: Do-it-yourself door closer installation.

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