How to install door hinge

Multi-Family, Property Manager. Multi-Family, Property Owner. Multi-Family, Contractor. I would like to receive advertising materials from Allegion plc and its affiliates and third parties selected by Allegion, including newsletters, updates and promotions.

Your information may be shared with third parties in order to provide you these materials. You may unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions in our Privacy Policy or contacting us at dataprivacy allegion. Categories 03 How to install door hinges. How to install door hinges. Follow this step-by-step tutorial for the easiest way to install new door hinges.

Before you get started, you will need a Phillips screwdriver and tape measure. You may use a cordless screwdriver but this tool is optional. That's it! Replacing door hinges is an easy project you can complete in no time at all. For a complete step-by-step look, check out our video tutorial for replacing and upgrading new hinges.

Style selector. If you intend to install a lightweight interior or exterior door, butt hinges would be a great choice. For heavy or wide doors, ball bearing hinges are recommended for their smooth opening and closing action. If you intend to install a screen door or outward swinging door, you should consider spring hinges that swing the door back into its closed position.

The installation process for the three hinge types mentioned above is roughly the same, so this guide should be useful for installing either type. Installing your door hinges is a straightforward process. For the sake of this guide, we have broken this down into a simple seven step process.

The first step is to place your hinges along the side of your door frame and mark where you will install them. Keep in mind that most interior doors require a minimum of two hinges, while other security doors may require three or hinges. For two-hinge doors, you should set the first hinge approximately 7 inches below the top of the door. For the second hinge, it should be placed approximately 11 inches above the bottom of the door.

If you wanted to install a third hinge, it should be set a distance halfway between the top and bottom hinges. To ensure your hinges are positioned correctly, you should trace their shape on both the door and the frame. Set your hinges in place and trace around them using pencil. You can then place your door in the frame and check that the hinge positions on the door and frame line up properly. If two outlines do not match, you may need to measure the hinge positions again and line them up accordingly.

Once the alignment is complete, you can use a utility knife to create a shallow outline. This will help in the next step when you are cutting the mortise. Door hinges are typically installed to be flush with the door surface. This is accomplished by cutting out a portion of the door and setting the hinge in the removed space. Use a hammer and chisel to cut the mortise according to the outline made earlier. This should be a careful process, so make sure you are cutting the wood strips slowly.

Remember not to cut the mortise too deep, as this will cause the hinge to be loose when fit in place. You should then repeat this process for the door frame. If you accidentally cut a mortise that is too deep, you can use wood filler to make up the extra space. However, it is best to avoid this in the first place if possible.

Next, you should drill holes into the mortise on both the door and the frame. You should mark the location of the holes on the hinges against the wood and double check to ensure they are accurate. Measure this distance and mark the location on the frame, and then do the same on the door that you're hanging. If you have a third hinge typically used for heavy doors , it will be placed directly in the middle of the other two hinges this will put it slightly off-center.

Trace around the hinge. Put your hinge in place on the door and the jamb, and use a carpenters pencil to carefully trace around the hinge. The depth of the hinge on the jam should always be as thick as the hinge is.

Double check to make sure that your outlines match the same location on the door and jamb, before moving to the next step. Then, use a utility knife to score the outline; this will make it easier to cut the mortise.

Cut the mortise. The term 'cut the mortise' is the professional term for cutting out the wood in the jamb in the shape of the hinge, so that the hinge will be inset in the jamb and provide more strength and aesthetic appeal. To cut the mortise, you'll need a very sharp chisel and a hammer. While carefully angling the chisel, tap gently into the jamb from the side to remove thin strips of wood. Make sure not to cut the mortise too deep, as this will cause the hinge to become loose over time.

Cut out only the outlined area and the marked depth. If you cut the mortise too deep, you can use wood filler or place a thin piece of wood in it before installing the hinge.

Mark the location of the screws. Replace the hinge back in the jamb where you cut the mortise. Use your pencil to mark the location of the screws in the jamb.

Do the same with the location of the hinge on the door. Remove the hinges when you're done marking. Drill the pilot holes. Use a drill or screwdriver to drill very narrow pilot holes in the location of the screws you marked on the jamb. Tap them lightly in first, to make sure the screws don't accidentally move out of place.

Use a screw guide to keep the screws straight as they go into the wood. Install the individual hinges. Put the hinges back in their places, and use a drill or screwdriver to secure them individually into the jamb and the door. Connect the door to the jamb. Hold the door in place, using blocks under the bottom to support it if necessary. Line up the two hinge plates so that the ones on the door match the ones in the jamb.

Slide the hinge pins into place, and remove the blocks from the door. Test the door to make sure it works, and you're finished! Method 2. Use blocks of wood to steady the door. Move the door so that the entire hinge is exposed, and place blocks under the door to steady it. When replacing a door hinge, you won't remove the door. Placing blocks underneath will help support the door and prevent it from falling over. Compare the hinges and measure the door.

Make sure that your new hinges match the old hinges in size and edge shape. Additionally, use a measuring tape to verify that the current hinges are in the right locations. The hinges should be placed so that one is 7-inches from the top of the door frame, and the other is located inches from the bottom of the door-frame.

If these are incorrect, you'll need to go about the aforementioned steps on cutting the mortise and preparing the door jamb for the new hinge. Remove one of the old hinges. Start at the top hinge, and remove the screws holding the hinge leafs in place. Carefully pull them away from the door and the jamb, and check to make sure the wood under the hinges is in good condition.

You may want to plug some of the old holes with a small wood wedge, especially if some of the holes have stripped out. Prepare the jamb and door for the new hinge. If the old door hinge had been attached for some time, you may need to do a little repair work on the jamb and door. Sand down the wood if necessary, and add a new coat of paint or stain to match the pre-existing wood. If the replacement hinges are sized differently from the old ones, fill in the mortise holes in both the door and the door frame with wood putty.

Use a metal scraper to fill in the screw holes or plug them with a small wood wedge. Allow the putty time to dry, and sand it smooth and flush with the surface. Paint or stain the repair to match the rest of the door and trim. Install the new hinge. Place your new hinge over the location of the old one.