Fitting Kitchen Cabinet Cupboard Hinges

Cupboard hinges are often unnoticeable on doors and gates, but they play a vital role in both functionality and safety. When properly installed, hinges not only facilitate smooth operation, but also provide additional protection against intrusion and improve fire safety in emergency situations.

When choosing new or replacement hinges for your cabinet, door, or gate, consider a few factors:

Hinge Type: Determine the type of hinge that best suits your needs.
Size and Weight: Evaluate the size and weight of your door, including any additional weight of the door closer.
Location: Determine where the hinge will be used, which may affect whether the hinge needs to be hidden, as well as the material and finish.

Hinge Features

Materials

Hinges come in a variety of materials, each with different qualities:

Brass Hinges: Brass hinges are compact and are often used for lightweight interior doors, giving them a nice, traditional look. However, they are not suitable for exterior doors. Brass is ductile, malleable, and resistant to breaking, while also being corrosion-resistant.
Stainless Steel Hinges: Commonly used on fire-rated and exterior doors, stainless steel hinges resist extreme temperatures and offer high durability against rust and corrosion. For exterior use, look for 304 or 316 stainless steel hinges.
Cast Iron Hinges: Strong and durable, cast iron hinges offer high resistance to corrosion and friction and a classic look.

cupboard hinges

Finishes

The finish of a hinge affects its appearance and performance:

Polished and Chrome Finishes: These hinges have a smooth, shiny surface and are ideal for interior doors that don’t require weatherproofing.
Satin Finish: Satin hinges have a brushed look that doesn’t easily show marks, making them ideal for visible applications.
Plating, Galvanizing, and Nickel Plating:
Plating adds hardness and provides a protective barrier.
Galvanizing provides long-lasting protection against corrosion and rust.
Nickel plating reduces friction, making it a good choice for hinges that are frequently used.

Sizes

The size of a hinge depends on the weight and width of the door or gate:

Heavy Duty Hinge: A must for heavier, wider doors.
Standard sizes: For residential interior doors, hinge lengths are usually around 75mm, while most fire door hinges are around 100mm.
Hinges are usually available in packs of two, and using them together ensures they can support the specified weight.

Fire-rated hinges

Fire door hinges must carry the CE mark as well as the Certifire identification stamp. A minimum of three fire hinges are required per fire door:

Grade 13 stainless steel: These hinges can resist fire for up to 60 minutes. Non-rated alternatives may melt or warp in the heat.
Grade 7 options: These lower-priced hinges can resist fire for up to 30 minutes.

Hinge stampings and markings

Look for the various markings and stamps on hinges:

Grade: Indicates properties such as maximum weight capacity.
Fire certification: Fire hinges are stamped with this mark; hinges without it may fail in a fire.
UKCA and CE markings: Indicate compliance with market standards and regulations for the UK and European markets.