Door hinge install

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. How-to center. Gift guides. Related articles. Related products. Door Hardware 3. Product Details. Contact About Find a retailer.

Join our mailing list. 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. Use a drill or screwdriver and the package screws to secure the two sides of the hinge to the jamb and the door.

Place the hinge pin in the hinge to secure the new hinge. Repeat the process on the second hinge. Move to the next hinge, and use a drill or screwdriver to remove it. Replace it with the new hinge and new screws, holding it in place to make sure the hinge doesn't get jostled out of location.

Insert the new hinge pin when the new hinges are secured. If you have a third center hinge, you should replace it at this point as well. They are in the doors, windows, and cabinets that we use routinely in our homes. Homeowners that wish to replace their current door or repair their existing one may be interested in learning to install or replace door hinges. This guide will take you through the various steps so that you can complete this process easily.

Before we get to how to install hinges, you should be aware of the right hinge type for your needs. 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.