Flush hinges are easy to install options for fixing doors on your furniture. They have two leaves united by knuckles. However, unlike typical hinges, one plate is smaller than the other and fits into the larger one for a seamless finish.
To install flush hinges, you get your tools, choose the right hinge and screw, place the hinge on the surface to mark the holes, drill guide holes, and screw in the hinges. Prevalent problems with flush hinges include choosing the wrong size hinges or screws and incorrect placement.
In the rest of the article, we’ll share with you the process of flush hinge installation, common flush hinge installation problems, types of flush hinges, where you can fix flush hinges, advantages and disadvantages of using flush hinges.
How To Install a Flush Hinge
The flush hinge installation process is pretty straightforward, and you would probably finish the installation process in minutes. Flush hinges are an excellent place to start if you’re a beginner. There aren’t many technical aspects, but you might need to use a few power tools.
Here are some of the tools you’d need to have before starting:
- Power drill
- Set square
- Screws
- Pencil
These steps should lead you directly to a properly installed flush hinge.
- Choose the right flush hinge for you. You would have to consider the weight you need to support before making your choice. Other essential considerations for choosing the right flush hinges include style and size.
- Assemble your tools. Before you get started, you’d want to ensure that you have all the tools you need close by so work can proceed hitch-free.
- Place the hinge on the required surface. You might need to use a set square to ensure the hinge is aligned correctly. Consider placing the smallest leaf on the narrowest section. The hinge should lay down as flat as possible while its edge is parallel to the surface’s edge.
- Mark the flush hinge holes using your pencil. This step is essential so you can have accurate placement for your screws.
- Remove the hinges and use your drill to drill a guide hole. This hole will serve as a guide for the screws which will come in after. Ensure you’re comfortable with the placement before you start drilling.
- Place the hinges in line with the guide holes. Ensure that the guide holes line up with your flush hinge holes.
- Fasten the hinges using screws. Drive in the screws through the hinge holes directly into the guide holes. You should hold the hinges in place, so the screws go in a straight line. Do this for all spots and ensure you secure the hinges tightly.
- Repeat the process on the other side. You need to ensure that you follow both sides’ same process to get a smooth, functioning flush hinge. Ensure that you get your measurements and placements accurately so the doors can open and close smoothly.
Still don’t get it? This YouTube video from Peter Millard on fitting flush hinges for cabinets might sort some light on the technique:
Common Flush Hinge Installation Problems
- Wrong size hinges. Using smaller hinges than the doors might cause you to drill holes too close to the door’s edge. Soon enough, the doors start falling out, and you might have to fix them.
- Wrong hinge placement. The small leaf of your flush hinges should lie on the narrow side. However, this could mean that for an overlay door, the hinge knuckle projects outwards. Some might find this unsightly and flip the knuckles in the wrong direction to hide the knuckles.
- Using the wrong size screws. Flush hinges are very narrow, so using screws that are too big will cause their head to project beyond the hinge leaf. This projection could mean that the hinge leaves don’t lap properly. Consider trying out different screws and choose the one that lays down the flattest in the screw sink.
Types of Flush Hinges
Flush hinges have two basic designs. You would typically find square-edged and round-edged hinges. You might find it easier to install a rectangular flush hinge, especially if you’re not a professional.
When choosing flush hinges, you need to consider the size and weight—usually, the bigger or heavier the doors, the bigger the hinges. If you use smaller size hinges on larger or heavier doors, you might observe poor performance with time.
You might also notice the different finishes of various flush hinges. The finish is purely for aesthetics, and you might want to stick to that for other fittings in your home.
Where Can You Fix Flush Hinges
Before you start fixing your flush hinges, you first need to figure out an ideal position for it.
If your furniture has a flat surface, you can probably fix a fish hinge to its doors. Flush hinges are versatile and could be valuable to your woodwork.
The best part of using flush hinges is that they’re beginner-friendly. If you have never fixed hinges before, don’t worry; you’ll probably do a good job using our guide because of how straightforward the installation process is.
If you’re trying to decide if flush hinges would be perfect for the job, you might want to consider the weight. Flush hinges are better for lightweight projects. If you’re constructing a structure to carry heavy-weight objects, flush hinges might not be the best choice for you.
Advantages of Flush Hinges
- They don’t take up much space. The design of flush hinges lets a leaf fit perfectly into another. This unique design means they can fit into small spaces and smaller structures.
- You won’t need to cut a recess. You would usually have to carve a recess in the wood for the hinge to rest for other hinges. Without that recess, your door might not lap evenly. Flush hinges remove the need for cutting recesses due to their thin design. The leaf that fits into the other also contributes to its space-conserving features.
- They’re easy to install. The straightforward installation process for flush hinges is a plus. The extra step of carving recesses is also absent when working with flush hinges. You are also less likely to fumble with your flush hinge because the installation steps are easy to follow for all flush hinge types.
- They eliminate gaps. The perfectly overlapping leaves of flush hinges mean there are no spaces between the door and the frame. This seamless look is desirable for lots of homeowners for their cabinets and other pieces of furniture.
- They are excellent for small doors. If you’re used to using traditional butt hinges, you might find that they might not be perfect for smaller doors. These doors might not be thick enough to hold a butt hinge. Luckily flush hinges are a better option. Flush hinges don’t need thick support and would function well even on smaller doors. That’s why you would find them in many pieces of furniture, including cupboards and cabinets.
Disadvantages of Flush Hinge
- They’re not sturdy. Flush hinges would work well in a simple cabinet door. However, they might not be reliable as door hinges, particularly for heavier doors. They’re not the best for weight-bearing.
- They don’t have varieties. If you want an extensive catalog of hinges to choose from, you probably won’t get that with flush hinges. The limited designs of flush hinges might be too restrictive for some people. If you want to have more options to choose from, consider looking at butt hinges or others with more options to choose from.
Final Thoughts
Fitting flush hinges is a pretty straightforward process, and you could try doing it yourself. You would need to get your tools such as the drill, screws, pencils, and set square together. Here’s how you can fix your flush hinges:
- Select your hinges and screws.
- Place the hinges on the surface and mark with your pencil.
- Use your drill to drill a guide hole.
- Screw the hinges in place.
