Interior decoration is one of the most important tasks when working on a project, since it is what first appears before the customer’s eyes. Of course, you can do everything using proven methods that have already proven their effectiveness, and the costs for them will be much less, both financially and in terms of work time. However, modern technologies make it possible to introduce innovative mechanisms into the decoration of a room, which in practice increase safety and prove to be much more effective than standard solutions. One of these mechanisms is hidden hinges for interior, armored, metal doors.
The technology behind hidden hinges is actually not that complicated. However, the main problem of such a mechanism is the more labor-intensive installation and high demands on the door leaf. But before we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of hidden hinges, it is necessary to understand their features and understand how they differ from ordinary ones.
Installation of hidden door hinges
For smooth and easy opening of doors, the hinges must be correctly selected and installed. Secret or hidden hinges are popular. To install them, special holes are made in the door frame and leaf, and when the door is closed, such canopies are not visible.
According to regulations, door hinges, including hidden ones, must provide the following characteristics:
- free opening and closing of the door leaf;
- reliable fixation of the door and frame during operation;
- safety, they should not allow spontaneous separation of the leaf from the door frame;
- possibility of fixing the blade in extreme positions;
- high-quality performance of functions during the warranty period.
Hidden hinges from well-known manufacturers are highly durable and can withstand up to 200,000 operating cycles.
To create hidden hinges installed on interior doors, an alloy of four metals called tsamak is usually used. It contains magnesium, aluminum, zinc and copper. Tsamak has good fluidity at a low melting point, so high-temperature furnaces are not required to organize production. It has sufficient strength and a smooth surface.
To give finished hinges an attractive appearance, a nickel, chrome or brass coating is used, which can be glossy or matte.
Hidden door hinges do not spoil the appearance of the door leaf, since they are not visible in its closed position
If we talk about the design of hidden hinges, it will be more complicated than that of overhead or mortise models.
The invisibility loop includes the following elements:
- metal case;
- hinge, it hides in the hinge body;
- lever, this element consists of two parts, which are fastened together by a steel movable axis, and ensures the connection of the hinge and the blade;
- anti-friction bushings, they serve to improve sliding.
The hidden hinge consists of the following main elements: a central rotary (1) and two fixed axes (3), a lever (2)
Before purchasing hidden hinges, you need to decide on the direction in which the door will open. There are left-handed and right-handed products, as well as universal ones. The latter can be installed on any side of the box.
In addition, there is a division of hidden hinges into unregulated and adjustable. It is clear that the cost of the latter will be higher. If we talk about the materials of the door frame and sash in which such hinges are installed, then these are wood, aluminum or steel.
To ensure maximum service life, experts recommend installing three hidden hinges, especially for heavy door leaves.
Depending on the load the hidden hinges are designed for, their sizes will differ. For interior doors, it is enough to install parts that can withstand a load of 40–50 kg. The weight of entrance doors can reach up to 200 kg, so more powerful models will be needed here.
Although universal hinges are more convenient to install, they are less reliable. Experts recommend choosing hidden hinges taking into account the opening of the canvas.
Left and right door hinges are more reliable, but universal models can also be purchased
Hidden hinges with closer
These models appeared relatively recently. Since the hinge and the closer are combined in one mechanism, there is no need to additionally install a shock-absorbing device. Externally, such products are practically no different from traditional ones. They may be larger in size, but the main difference is in the design.
A hinge with a closer has a built-in shock-absorbing mechanism, the main working element of which is a spring. When the door leaf is opened, it stretches, and when released, it begins to shrink. Thanks to this, the sash returns to its original closed position.
In order for the door to close smoothly, an oil shock absorber is used. In this case, the spring is placed in a cylinder. It has a system of valves through which oil moves from one chamber to another. When opening a door, the process occurs in one direction, and when closing it, in the opposite direction. The spring is in a viscous medium, so the compression rate decreases. This allows the door leaf to close more slowly and softly and avoid hitting the frame.
The closer spring, placed in a cylinder with oil, ensures smooth closing of the door
When choosing hidden hinges with a closer, you must take into account that they cannot be installed on all types of doors. Such models cannot be used for heavy products, since the hinges will not be able to perform their functions normally and will quickly fail.
The number of hinges will depend on the weight of the door leaf:
- for a sash weighing 40–50 kg, experts recommend installing two hidden hinges with a closer;
- for doors weighing from 50 to 90 kg, it is necessary to install three canopies;
- For fabrics weighing more than 100–120 kg, it is not recommended to use such loops; it is better to install a powerful closer separately.
Another disadvantage is that the door block must be positioned with a slight deviation from the vertical. This is necessary to facilitate the operation of the parts mechanism. In each case, the angle is determined individually. If you make the slope large, then the door will close on its own even without a closer. At a small angle of the blade, the operation of the mechanism becomes more complicated, and it fails faster.
Due to the presence of a built-in shock-absorbing mechanism, such hinges have a number of advantages:
- no impacts of the canvas on the box, which prolongs the service life, and if there are children in the house, then the presence of a door closer will minimize the risk of injury;
- there is no need to hold the door when closing;
- no drafts.
When adjustment work is required
Such work is performed only under certain conditions:
- It became difficult to open the door. It takes a lot of effort.
- The canvas does not fully connect to the box. A gap has appeared. Its size is determined by the overall perimeter of the door.
- The structure became unstable.
- When the door closes, friction occurs between the frame and the leaf.
- The clamping mechanism works intermittently.
Any of the malfunctions requires adjustment work. Preventative work is carried out immediately after problems are detected. In this case, the adjustable gap can be quickly restored to the desired value.
If you delay adjusting the hinges, then during operation the structure will begin to sag, and the blade may shift. It is difficult to fix such a breakdown.
Advantages and disadvantages of hidden door hinges
At first, hidden hinges were installed only on entrance doors, this is due to their high burglary resistance. Now many people have begun to install such canopies on interior ones, and they are guided by the following advantages of hidden hinges:
- Attractiveness. Such hinges do not spoil the appearance of the door leaf, so they can be installed on almost all types of doors, including products with an “invisible” frame.
- High reliability. A pair of hidden hinges can support a door leaf weighing 50 kg, while conventional ones are designed for a leaf weight of 30 kg.
- Comfort. They can be adjusted in three directions: vertically, horizontally and clamping. This can be done both during installation and during operation. This adjustment is important for new buildings, since after some time the house may shrink, which is why the doors begin to close poorly. Some models of hidden hinges allow you to open the door 180o.
- Long service life.
- Versatility. Such hinges can be mounted on canvases made of wood and metal, as well as synthetic materials. Most manufacturers include such accessories in their range.
Despite the large number of advantages, hidden hinges also have disadvantages:
- High cost of fittings.
- The risk of deformation of the door frame when trying to suddenly open the doors due to the presence of levers.
- Low strength of the door structure due to the creation of holes in the frame and door leaf for the installation of such hinges.
- The width of the rebate at the entrance door on the hinge side is reduced, so the sealing of the gaps is worse.
- The installation of the platband is difficult, since when the door is opened, the door leaf rests against it.
Conclusion
Hidden door hinges are not cheap, so choosing wisely is especially important here. We hope the tips contained in the article will be useful to you. Once again, we remind you that secret canopies are not a product that you save money on; if you don’t have enough money, take some other type of canopy; detailed photos and videos of all types of hinges can be found “here” .
Hidden hinges stand out from other models.
What to look for when choosing hidden door hinges
When choosing such products, you should pay attention not only to their cost, but also to their performance characteristics.
It is better to buy fittings from trusted manufacturers such as AGB, Armadillo, Krona Koblenz and others. There is no need to try to save money by buying loops of dubious origin. Door hinges must ensure not only smooth and easy opening of the door, but also reliable fixation to the frame.
The Italian company AGB is a well-known manufacturer of hidden hinges
There are no specific instructions for choosing the right hidden loops. To purchase accessories that meet your requirements, it is enough to determine the following parameters:
- Door opening side. There are right and left loops. You can buy universal models, but their strength is lower.
- Loop size. To do this, you need to decide on the weight of the canvas. If it is 15–25 kg, then hinges 7–8 cm long are sufficient, and when the door weight is 25–40 kg, then canopies 10 cm long must be installed.
- Number of loops. This indicator also depends on the weight of the door leaf. For lightweight structures, it is enough to install two hinges. If the canvas is heavy, then 3-4 canopies will be needed.
- Material. For heavy entrance doors, you need to purchase hinges made of steel or brass. They are more durable, but also expensive. For interior structures, you can use hinges made of tsamak alloy. Their strength is sufficient for reliable fixation of interior paintings, and the cost of such fittings is less than that of steel or brass.
Brief overview of proven manufacturers
It is not realistic to list all the companies operating in our market, so we took only those brands whose products have no complaints or negative reviews.
AGB
The company has been operating for about 60 years and has been represented on our market since the mid-nineties. It has a fairly wide range of secret canopies.
- The simplest mechanisms from AGB can withstand a weight of 20 kg, which is quite enough to hang an average interior door;
- Much attention is paid to the color scheme of products; here you will find canopies to suit any interior;
- Absolutely all mechanisms of this brand are adjustable in all 3 directions, and the adjustments are not lost after adjustment.
The AGB company is represented by a wide range of models.
Armadillo
Fittings from the Armadillo brand are famous for their strength, reliability and decent appearance. It has been present on the domestic market for more than 10 years. Armadillo focuses on the elite category, so you shouldn’t expect a reasonable price.
This brand is especially proud of the use of so-called active bearings. Due to this innovation, the door leaf closes softly and almost silently, with no squeaks to speak of.
If you are interested in hidden hinges with a built-in closer, then Armadillo mechanisms are exactly what you need.
Hidden hinges from Armadillo are virtually silent.
Krona Koblenz
Although this manufacturer’s line includes only chrome-plated and nickel-plated canopies, we recommend that people who value quality and reliability pay attention to this product. Here you can find awnings at relatively affordable prices.
Krona Koblenz benefits greatly from the fact that it produces hidden awnings not only for medium and light doors, but also for heavy metal doors.
The Kubica K6300 model from the Krona Koblenz brand impresses with its elegance.
How to set up
During adjustment, the same gap is established around the perimeter of the door. Installed hidden hinges allow you to customize the door without dismantling it.
Hidden loop device diagram
Adjustment work is carried out in several planes using special hexagons.
- Height adjustment. A gap is set at the bottom of the door leaf and the same size is maintained at the top of the door.
- Horizontal adjustment. The door is aligned with the frame, certain gaps are established.
- Pressure adjustment. To do this, turn the adjusting eccentric. As a result, the leaf is pressed tightly against the frame anywhere around the door perimeter.
The adjustment size ranges from 1 to 5 millimeters. It all depends on the manufacturer.
After completing the adjustment work, decorative plates are installed. Mounting bolts and adjustment holes will be hidden under them.
