Butterfly hinges for interior doors: types and installation tips

In the understanding of every person, the installation of interior doors is a very difficult job, and the installation of the necessary fittings is generally confusing for many. But thanks to modern technology, this task has become much easier, especially in the matter of installing door hinges.

When buying an interior door, it is important to choose the right fittings. Particular attention should be paid to the hinges. The choice of a modern person is made exclusively in favor of a quality product; in this case, butterfly loops are content with special honors. They are characterized by increased strength, reliability and safety. According to their characteristics, these door fasteners are of the card type. And the name "butterflies" was acquired due to the appearance. When opened, the hinges resemble the wings of this unusually beautiful insect.

An important distinguishing feature of these hinges is the way they are installed. Standard models are fastened using the familiar threading method. Butterfly loops do not require similar manipulations. You just need to screw them onto the surface of the door and the opening. And all thanks to the special design of the mounting plate. In simple terms, when the door is closed, the part of the hinge, screwed on the door leaf, enters along the contour into the connector screwed to the opening. This leaves no gaps.

On the technical side, butterfly loops have universal characteristics. During installation, there is no difference between internal and external opening, the main thing is that the rectangular part is fixed to the opening, and the figured part - to the door. Butterfly hinges for interior doors are easy to install. Anyone can cope with the installation. But if there are any doubts, it is best to call the master.

Thanks to technical progress, today manufacturers are ready to offer customers a very extensive list of butterfly hinge models. Each individual structure is made according to a special drawing and from different materials.

Despite the small list of metals used for the production of butterfly loops, everyone can choose the most suitable option for themselves. But in addition to the appearance, it is important to remember about the features of the selected metal. For example, brass products have many distinctive features, and the most important is their high resistance to external factors. From an aesthetic point of view, the fittings look extremely elegant and rich.

Zinc fasteners are available commercially at a relatively inexpensive price. But when installing, it is worth remembering a few nuances. Zinc material is corrosive and not durable. From this it follows that the installation of zinc hinges must not be carried out in open air, where moisture can get on the product.And to extend the service life, it is important to constantly monitor the work process and, in the event of squeaks or extraneous noise, carry out preventive work.

Regarding the sizes offered on the market, you should know that "butterflies" are produced in two categories:

• 10 * 3 cm ("four");
• 12.5 * 3 cm ("five").

In both cases, the thickness of the mounts varies between 2.5-3 mm. The designations "four" and "five" are intended exclusively for craftsmen and sellers. A kind of abbreviation speaks of inch sizes. In order to hang a light door, it is enough to purchase two hinges, but if the door leaf is made of massive material, you should think about and install three hinges or all four for reliability. At the same time, a pair of "fours" are suitable in a light design, and only "fives" are suitable for a massive product.

Butterfly hinges for interior doors are considered the most relevant method of fastening. The installation work itself proceeds very quickly and conveniently. Subsequent positive qualities are revealed already during operation. It is worth finding out in more detail what are the advantages of butterfly loops and whether they have disadvantages.

• The issue of ease of installation should be clarified in more detail. Butterfly hinges do not cut into the base of the canvas and the opening. Therefore, there is no need to carry out preparatory work, measure the dimensions of the hinged hinges, set gaps and remove a few millimeters of thickness on the doorway.
• The appearance of the butterfly loops is reminiscent of the vintage style, which looks very elegant. The doors themselves acquire a peculiar color that is in perfect harmony with the surrounding interior.

• An important feature of butterfly loops is its reasonable price, even in spite of the production material.
• The most important plus is reliability and durability. The main thing is to carry out the installation from the very beginning, taking into account the observance of all standards. If the installation process was slightly disrupted, there is a chance that there will be a creak and more.
• Butterfly hinges are versatile fittings. They can be installed for right-hand or left-hand opening, as well as for inside and outside. The main thing is to choose the most suitable option for yourself.

Unfortunately, even the most remarkable object has its drawbacks. The same goes for "butterflies".

• Having installed the fasteners, it will not be possible to remove the door just like that. If it becomes necessary to temporarily remove the door leaf, you will have to carry out a complete dismantling.
• Very rarely, but nevertheless, distortions in the doorway do occur during the operation of butterfly hinges. Accordingly, the aesthetic beauty disappears, and from the technical side, the door lock may start to jam.
• To a large extent, the use of butterfly hinges is intended for light doors. When using a massive material of the door leaf, such hinges may not cope, since they are mainly characterized as decorative.
• When installing butterfly hinges, it is very important that the door leaf is flat. Otherwise, distortions may occur.

Installation of butterfly hinges is characterized by simplicity and convenience. The main thing is to follow the step-by-step instructions. Otherwise, the door leaf may not be compatible with the frame or with the key recess.

First you need to decide on the tool that you need for installation:

• screwdriver;
• drills (required for wood);
• self-tapping screws;
• awl;
• stationery pencil;
• roulette.

Now you can start installing.

• First you need to decide in which part and on which side you need to install the butterfly loops. After that, the markup is done. A tape measure measures 20-25 cm from the lower and upper sides of the door. The measured areas will just become the basis for installing the mounts.
• Since it is not necessary to cut in the hinged mechanisms, the hinge plate must be attached to the door leaf in order to make the necessary marks in the calculated place. With a pencil, points are set where you need to drill holes with a screwdriver.
• The drilled holes must be screwed to the door and jamb with self-tapping screws. Hang the door carefully, check the smooth operation of the hinges and the absence of extraneous noise. If there are defects, you need to disassemble the structure in order not to get distortions later.
• As soon as the installation of the hinges is made, it is worth taking preventive measures to lubricate the structures.

The technology of installing butterfly loops in practice looks even easier. Installation work can be done with your own hands, without spending money on calling the master, just installing and fastening the hinges alone is a very inconvenient task. But the main thing is not to deviate from the installation requirements and set the marks correctly. It is better to measure seven times and drill once than vice versa. It is worth noting that when installing the hinges, certain difficulties may arise, which are influenced exclusively by external factors.

• A common difficulty is the gap between the hinge and the jamb. In this case, the door will not be able to close tightly. The solution would be an ordinary piece of cardboard or even a match. A kind of gasket will in some way affect the quality of the installation process, but it will eliminate the gap.
• It happens that when checking after installation, the hinge plates are connected extremely tightly. In this matter, there is only one solution - it is necessary to slightly drown part of the loop in the box.

By installing new doors with new fittings, you can forget about possible unpleasant sounds when opening and closing for a long time. Butterfly hinges at the exit from the conveyor have factory lubrication. But with constant use, the lubricant is depleted and a very annoying squeak occurs. To get rid of it, you need to resort to preventive measures. The first thing to apply is sewing machine oil. Unfortunately, not everyone has such a liquid, although its universal qualities help in solving many issues.

The third solution to the problem lies in office supplies. It is considered the most effective, but in any case will not last long. A soft slate pencil is taken, its tip must be pushed into the mechanism and at the same moment begin to move the door. The lead inside the loop structure will crumble, due to which the inner surface will be processed.

Modern technology offers many alternative ways to solve the squeak problem. One of them is WD-40 fluid. One injection is enough, and the loop will instantly stop creaking. It is important to emphasize that the consistency of WD-40 does not have a greasy base, due to which these manipulations can be carried out on any wiped surface. To understand how the process of applying lubricant occurs, you should carefully study the technology.

• The door leaf must be fully opened and fixed in one place, making a strong stop.
• Using a syringe and a needle, a lubricating fluid, such as oil, is injected into the interior.
• After this procedure, the door leaf retainer is removed.
• The door must be closed, and then opened, and this must be done several times. These actions will disperse the lubricant within the entire surface of the butterfly hinge.
• In order not to stain the door during the procedure, the surface must be covered with polyethylene and fixed with tape.

Most people who have used butterfly hinges when installing interior doors share only positive reviews. Timely processing of fittings helps to extend their service life. Rare squeaks are resolved in one minute. If we are talking about a factory defect, then the defect can be seen upon purchase while checking the closing mechanism. Specialists in the installation of doorways speak only with flattering words about the design of butterfly hinges. Firstly, it is a very convenient and simple installation method, and secondly, if the installation rules are followed, the final result exceeds all expectations.

Watch a video on the topic.