Wherever you see a door, you will find a hinge. Its basic concept has been taken from the joints found in the knees and elbows of the body. The hinge is a type of bearing that normally connects the two panels of a door, to allow a limited angle of rotation to allow the door to open and close.

Hinges were found in Europe, Asia, and Africa in ancient times. Metal was a rarely found commodity and significant status. In ancient times they served more as a status value and were therefore large and massive, mostly made of bronze. They were found at gates protecting frightened structures and other places of state importance. The larger the hinge, it showed that the king was richer and more powerful. Since then they have evolved into smaller and more delicate forms.

It is an intrinsic part of a door. They are now found in different materials, sizes and stiffness of rotation angles. A typical door normally has three placed at the same distance from each other. They are also placed on the windows.

They are classified according to their purpose. Here are some types –

The butt hinge is the most common household hinge and fits all cabinets and doors. They are generally very resistant. It is also the easiest hinge to be replaced by one person without the help of a technician. However, it is important to ensure that the existing hinge and the new hinge are exactly the same type and size.

Flush hinges are found on cabinets and are lightweight. Otherwise they are exactly like the butt hinge. The continuous hinge is called a piano hinge because it was first used to secure the top of pianos. Now used on items that require extended support. The concealed hinge is used on cabinets where you don’t want the hinges to be visible.

Pivot hinges are used on doors. Pivots rotate from the top and bottom of the door. They are usually large and thick and are ideal for heavier exterior doors.

They also differ from each other in their configuration. They are available in single or standard type, reverse mount, stamping, single leaf half swag, single sash full swag, multi-leaf, unequal leaf, multi-coil, and foamed hinge. Multi Barrel Hinges are made to order due to the variations of barrels and blades available.

They can be purchased in plastic, aluminum, stainless steel or brass. Hinges can be painted to complement décor and add beauty. They can be found in pretty shapes and made to order whenever desired. Hinges can be selected from catalogs or can be found in hardware stores in all major markets.