Just as there are many different doors to suit various purposes, there are many different types of door hinges to accompany them. The average house usually has several different kinds without the occupants being aware of them (until they go wrong, of course)!
The similarities may be many and the differences small, but having the right hinge for the right door is quite important. Here’s a few of the more common varieties:
Barrel hinge
Barrel hinges are the most common type of hinge on the market - this is the usual hinge type people think of when they hear the word. Barrel hinges consist of two halves that come together to form a thin cylinder or barrel, into which a pin is inserted. One half is screwed into the door and the other half into the door jamb, thus fixing the door in place. The hinge then rotates on the pin when the door is opened and closed.
Most standard doors will feature two or three of these hinges, which are easily replaced. These hinges normally get their roughest treatment when kids hang off doorknobs...
Pivot hinge
This is a simple bar protruding out from the top and bottom of the door, on which the door pivots to open and close. These are common in showers where another type of hinge may be impractical due to residue build up and difficulty of maintenance.
Concealed hinge
These hinges are hidden inside the door and may or may not have a self-closing and/or soft closing mechanism installed. These are usually found on furniture as opposed to room or exterior doors.
Continuous or piano hinge
On a continuous hinge, the hinge joint runs the entire length of the door, just like the hinge on a piano lid.
