Door hinge buying guide: How to find replacement hinges. - Schlage

When it comes to door hardware, hinges are unsung heroes. We tend to forget about them until a door has trouble opening or closing. Luckily, replacing hinges is a straightforward process that requires only a few simple steps. But before diving into the installation process, you'll need to choose the right hinges.

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This handy guide will walk you through everything you need to know to choose the right replacement door hinge. With a few simple tools and a little know-how, you'll have your door looking and working like new in no time.

When should door hinges be replaced?

The average door hinge should last 10-15 years. One of the best ways to prolong the life of your hinges is to periodically lubricate them with WD40. However, this won't completely protect from factors such as wear and tear or a heavy door. Here are a few signs that it could be time to replace your door hinges:

• Your doors are sagging or drooping
• Your doors are hard to open and close
• Your hinges are squeaking
• Your hinges are loose
• There is visible damage to your hinges

Consider the corner style

Schlage door hinges come in one of three corner hinge styles: 1/4" radius, 5/8" radius, and square. These styles refer to the shape of the hinge when it's viewed from the side. Most homes will have either round 1/4" radius or square corner hinges, but it's not uncommon to find homes with 5/8" radius corners.

To determine the corner style of your hinges, take a look at their outer corners. If the corner is at a 90-degree angle, it's a square corner hinge. If the corner is rounded, it's either a 1/4" radius or a 5/8" radius. A 1/4" radius corner will fit a dime along the curve, and a 5/8" radius will fit a quarter.

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You can also refer to your existing hinges when choosing replacements. To make the installation go as easily as possible, choose the same corner style as the existing hinges on your door. Be sure to transfer the corners and screw holes for a complete look.

Choose your finish

Hinges are available in a variety of finishes to match any décor. The finish is applied to the metal of the hinge, so it will be visible when the door is open. While it may seem like a minor detail, the style and finish of your hinges can really help tie your whole home together.

Select the right size

Once you have chosen your finish, you'll need to measure your existing hinges to determine the correct size. In most homes, interior doors will use 3.5" hinges, while exterior door hinges will typically be 4" to support the additional weight of the door.

How to measure door hinges

To accurately measure your door hinges, you'll need a measuring tape and a few minutes.

• Start by removing one of your door's existing hinges.
• With the hinge removed, use a measuring tape to measure the width and height of the hinge. Be sure to write down these measurements or take a picture for reference.
• Now, measure the distance between the top and bottom of the hinge's "knuckle." This is the part of the hinge that connects the two leaves. This measurement will help you determine the correct "length" of the hinge.
• Finally, measure the thickness of your door. Most interior doors are 1 3/8" thick, while exterior doors are 1 3/4" to 2" thick. Be sure to choose a hinge with the correct door thickness for your project.

Another simple way to choose a replacement hinge is to take an existing hinge with you to the store. You can also transfer the pattern of the hinge onto a piece of paper using a pencil. However, if you are buying online, simply knowing the size and corner style is usually enough.

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1. I'm sick of sh!#@y door hinges that I buy at HD/Lowes. Do you guys have any suggestions on reasonably priced, decent quality interior door hinges?

2. I'm working on a house from the early 50's that has 3 panel interior doors. HD and Lowes dont carry them but can order some that are SIMILAR. Any suggestions on brands/companies that make decent doors and can ship to me?
(located in San Diego if it matters).

Thanks! 1) the intersection of decent quality and reasonably priced is probably very small. However, some of the Baldwin stuff is pretty good, but not cheap. Lee Valley Tools has a very comprehensive hardware offering and I have found their stuff to be good quality, but I've never used their interior door hinges.
2) In my experience, special order doors can be nose bleed expensive. I don't know how many you need, but I'd certainly be checking out a local architectural salvage place. There must be one in San Diego someplace. Even if you have to pay to have them professionally stripped, you'll probably come out ahead. Maybe not, I'm pretty sure California has banned anything that will actually work to strip paint. Bommer and Hager are your options for domestically produced hinges, but only in architectural weights.
Emtek is an Assa Abloy company now that imports the entire line, but quality is still decent, they have a stake and operate the factories in china. Baldwin is a B&D/ Stanley company, mostly overpriced.
Pictures of the doors, there are lots of manufacturers that can do an excellent job?

2. I'm working on a house from the early 50's that has 3 panel interior doors. HD and Lowes dont carry them but can order some that are SIMILAR. Any suggestions on brands/companies that make decent doors and can ship to me?
(located in San Diego if it matters).

Thanks!

A quick search on 'custom doors San Diego' turned up this place, among others: https://www.customdoorboutique.com

They may well be able to provide good hinges as well. Remember that Lowes and Home Depot aren't the only places to shop. #1 - indeed mutually exclusive. I have had good luck sourcing NOS USA made Stanley on eBay. The old USA made stuff was great. I concur with above -- Emtek makes a nice product at better prices than Baldwin. Hager is also good -- but, again not cheap. The older Baldwin was also good and you can still find some of that on e-bay as well.

When I did rehabs: Ordering interior doors w/ three on a door and a step up from regular got you a nice product and long life -- forget using two as in the old days. The problem -- inside residential typically was a smaller hinge and did not have ball bearing -- they just don't hold up today like they did before. Need three.

Anything custom is very expensive -- even the semi custom MDF stuff from HD is $600-700 and not all that nice. It may be worth looking at an Arch salvage place for the doors .. you can drop 2k+ in an instant for decent nothing special interior doors -- real wood exterior are way over 4k w/ hardware. It's crazy how it adds up

I have never had any problem with 3 standard basic hinges on any interior door.

Marc

Same here. do them all the time.

Do you have something atypical like solid oak 9' plus doors?

Marc

That 42x96 I did had four 4.5" ball bearing hinges.