Door Hinge Repair Cambridge The hinges on your doors are a minor but crucial element that can make a significant impact on the appearance and functionality of your doors. Replacing noisy hinges is a quick, inexpensive upgrade to enhance the curb appeal of your home. Bar soap or petroleum jelly is a common method to fix hinges that are squeaky. Rub the soap or petroleum jelly on the hinges to coat it with the coating. Replacement Hinges Hinges are a small component that can cause a substantial amount of damage if they break or wear out. Luckily, hinges are relatively easy to replace and do not require any special tools. It is essential to select the correct hinge for your home. This will ensure that your door shuts and opens smoothly. If your door hinges are not functioning properly, consult an expert to fix them as soon as you can. A defective hinge for a door could cause the door to become warped or pulled from the base of the frame. This is typically due to improper use or weight too much. Lubricating your hinges is essential to prevent this. This will prevent the hinge from getting damaged or rusty, and will prolong the life of your door. There are a few different kinds of hinges and each type has its own benefits and disadvantages. The butt joint is the most common hinge. It attaches a door to both sides using pins. This hinge is ideal for doors that are light in weight since it does not require much strength to open or close. The butt joint is more susceptible to damage than any other hinge. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/cambridge-windowrepair/ is recommended to make use of continuous piano hinges for doors that are heavier. This kind hinge is positioned on the door and runs the entire length of the door which allows it to open and close easily. This type of hinge has the benefit of not needing an additional center support, and is more sturdy. Another hinge type that is commonly used is the storefront pivot hinge, which permits the door to be pivot from one location at the top and the bottom of the door. They are typically located in commercial areas and can be a challenge to repair if they are damaged. A professional can assist you with this issue by mounting an entirely new pivot hinge or changing the old one. Depending on the type of hinge you choose, the cost will vary. Loose Hinges If hinges aren't tight they will cause the door to hang crooked and could even begin to scrape against the floor, which can be annoying at best. With just a few tools, any homeowner can fix hinges that are loose. In most instances, tightening screws on the hinges will resolve the problem. However, in certain cases the screw holes may have become stripped, and they won't stay tight. If the holes in the screws have been stripped then you'll have to bore the holes and plug them with wooden dowels or glue coated wooden matches. To stop your door hinges from getting loose, it is important to relubricate them and tighten them regularly. It is also important to check for any signs of damage to the hinges. If you spot any chips or cracks on the metal, it may be time to replace the hinge. It's also a good idea to replace the hinges if find that they're beginning to stick or bind when you open and close the door. The most common cause of door hinges becoming loose is wear and tear due to continuous use, but without proper tightening or lubrication. This is especially true for doors that are frequented by children because they can hang from the handles of the door or swing the door around on the hinges. This can cause the hinges to become loose and even fall out. If hinges are loose, you can tighten them using a screwdriver. However when the hinges are loose for an extended period of time, the constant movement of the hinge plate and screws will begin to enlarge holes where screws are. This can make it impossible for the screws to remain tight and they'll be ripped, rendering them ineffective. To fix this issue, simply dip the bare end of a wooden match into regular carpenter's adhesive and then tap it a bit with a hammer to work the glue into the hole as much as it is possible. You will probably need to use several of these matches coated with glue to fill in the hole. Rusty Hinges Rust is a frequent issue for hinges used on doors, especially on older doors. It can make them look awful, but more important it could cause the hinge to break and fail which could pose a danger for those who use the door. It's possible to save an old hinge with a bit of work. The first step is to remove the hinges from the door, and then clean them to rid them of any gunk. Once the hinges are cleaned and oiled, they can be put back in place to use them again. Modern doors are made of brass or alloys of metal which are resistant to rust. Many people prefer hinges from the past because of their aesthetics and durability. However they are more susceptible than modern hinges to rust. The best way to avoid this is by preventing the hinge from rusting in the first place. It is the easiest way to clean the hinges regularly using steel wool and water, especially when they are damp. If you do this regularly, rust will not be a problem for your door hinges. If you're looking to take things further, consider using hinges made of stainless steel. In contrast to iron, stainless steel won't rust. It can also give your home a modern appearance. If you're unable to replace the existing hinges However the best method to prevent rust is to keep it away from the hinges of your door by regularly scrubbing them down and then applying lubrication. It is best to remove the hinges completely to scrub any rust that has accumulated. Once the hinges are cleaned, you can use a mixture of oil and vinegar to lubricate them and help protect them against corrosion. This is a cost-effective and simple fix that can be easily found in the majority of homes and is worth trying before you think about replacing hinges. Doors that won't shut Over time, doors may become misaligned due to the expansion and contraction of wooden frames. This can cause the door to catch on the corners or even latch when you close it. A little bit of work will often solve these issues. If you are able to tighten the hinges and fix the alignment issue then your door will close properly again. Start by checking the hinges for any loose screws. The loose screws can cause the hinge to loosen and create an opening between the leaf of the hinge and the jamb. This could cause the latch to not reach the strike plate's hole, and result in a stuck-up door. To fix this, take off the hinge screw and slide a piece of cardboard (we use the back of old legal pads as a guide) between the hinges and the door jamb. Then screw the hinge back into place. This will increase the gap on the latch side and reduce it on the hinge side. The latch can now slide past the strike plate. Repeat the process if the issue is solved. If you're still having trouble then you could hammer or shim the strike plate to align it with the hole for the latch. If this is the situation then a small amount of wood filler or paint will usually be enough to conceal the changes. Damage to the physical structure or prolonged use can also cause the strikeplate to be warped or curved and cause it to touch the edge but not go enough to ensure that the door is shut. To test for this apply lipstick to the latch and place the strip of masking tape onto the strike plate. Close the door, then open it. The lipstick will leave an impression on the tape where the latch meets the strike plate hole. If the mark is below the hole, this means that your latch needs to be moved up.