Hinges for glass shower doors - reliable and functional interior elements

Glass doors in cabinets create a showcase effect and look more beautiful than their chipboard counterparts. Souvenirs, dishes and books are visible when the wardrobe is closed, but accumulate dust. Hinges for glass doors are manufactured and installed taking into account the fragility of the material - their installation differs from classical facades. The fittings market is filled with several types of canopies for mirrors and stained glass windows. Let's consider the technology of mechanisms and the installation procedure.

Types of hinges for glass

All canopies are divided into two groups according to installation method. These are accessories that require drilling of the blade or are clamping devices.

You can make transparent doors in cabinets and cabinets with a solid fabric and install hinges without drilling. The second option is to enclose the glass in a metal frame made of stainless steel or aluminum and use canopies with drilling. Let's look at each type in more detail.

Glass in aluminum profile does not require drilling for hinges

With drilling

The design of the insert consists of a front cup and a counter lining. Installation requires mandatory glass drilling for fastening rotary fittings.

A decorative overlay is always attached to the front side

The inner and mating parts of the cup are fastened through the hole. Mortise fastenings are connected by simply screwing together both parts. The strike plate with the shoulder is secured with screws to the side post of the cabinet opening.

Expert opinion

Bashir Rabadanov

Technologist at the furniture company Woodband

Drill glass sheets up to 8 mm thick inclusive. Making doors from 10 mm or more glass is dangerous - their weight will be excessive for the hinges, which can be torn out of their mounting sockets in the cabinet body.

Articulated

Traditional designs of furniture hinges consist of hinges and have seals (gaskets), which we described above. Such canopies are used to secure hinged doors and are designed for a maximum load of up to 20 kg.

Types of hinges for glass doors

Modern technologies make it possible to create strong glass, which is why such doors are popular and considered safe. To install a glass door, you will need special hinges: strong, but at the same time elegant, to decorate its appearance.

Glass doors can be installed in a steam room and shower stall, between rooms, mounted in furniture, and armored models can even be installed at the entrance to a house

Hinges for glass doors differ from conventional awnings in the following characteristics:

• specific fastenings - allow you to fix a thin glass sheet;
• high strength and reliability - since glass is heavy;
• beautiful appearance - they correspond to the style of the canvas, elegant, with clear lines;
• high cost - more expensive than conventional hinges, since only high-quality materials are used for their manufacture.

What material are hinges for glass doors made of?

To make such loops use:

• zinc alloy;
• brass alloy;
• bronze;
• stainless steel;
• aluminum.

The cheapest and most accessible are hinges made of aluminum and zinc alloy. In terms of their characteristics, they are inferior to steel and brass. Bronze hinges are more expensive than others, but their service life is much longer. Some manufacturers provide a lifetime guarantee for high-quality bronze and brass hinges, so we can conclude that they are durable. But there are options when different materials are used to make one element.

Regardless of the base material, hinges may have different coatings and different colors. Their surface is polished or matte.

The execution of hinges in different colors allows you to choose the right fittings for each specific case, based on the style and color scheme of the interior

When choosing hinges for a glass door, the design of the room and the permissible load on the fittings during operation are taken into account.

Built-in door closers

Glass is a fragile material. It is important that the doors close quietly and without knocking, otherwise the door may crack upon impact. Closers come to the rescue.

Door closer Blumotion 973-A

They can be built-in or independent. The price for such models is more expensive than classic ones. But you will be confident in the safety of fragile doors.

The closer is a spring or an oil shock absorber. Sometimes the mechanisms are filled with gas. If you decide to equip your glass doors with a shock-absorbing system yourself, you can do this in two ways: hang hinges with built-in closers or install stand-alone devices.

In Hafele, Resident and Leroy Merlin stores you will find glass hinges with built-in closers. Cheap Chinese companies build them into the hinge arm. Expensive fittings (Dorma, Blum) are equipped with closers in the seating cups of the hinges.

If you have already hung glass doors in your closet, then you do not need to change the hinges, just attach the autonomous closers to the screws. The pusher should protrude almost completely beyond the cabinet opening. The thrust piston should not prevent the door from closing completely.

How to install in old book furniture?

Installation of a glass panel in a bookcase can be done in two ways: secured with glue or special fasteners.

Tools and materials

For gluing you will need the following materials and tools:

• special adhesive substance (silicone, liquid nails);
• solvent for degreasing surfaces;
• clean rags;
• sharp knife.

When mounting on special holders you will need:

• the holders themselves (metal or plastic);
• screwdriver;
• self-tapping screws

Accessories

To secure it in a vertical or horizontal position, special fittings for such fragile material are used. There are 2 types of glass holders:

• Linear: fixed on two opposite sides around the perimeter. Usually used if the glass sheets themselves are doors and move in grooves relative to each other.
• Pointed: attached to the glass in areas of greatest load. They are inconspicuous, but can be decorative, with a chrome surface, the color of gold or silver.

How to remove and secure: step-by-step instructions

The glass fragment, secured with metal or plastic holders, can be easily pulled out. To do this, you need to unscrew the screws with a screwdriver, remove the holders and remove it. If the glass sheet was inserted into the grooves of the door and then glued, you will have to tinker. You can unstick it in two ways - using:

• solvent;
• construction hair dryer.

It is better to remove the door and place it on a horizontal surface, then it will be easier to work.

Advice

Before peeling off the glass, you need to stick strips of tape on it. If it starts to crack or crumble, this will help prevent fragments from scattering.

In the first case:

1. Purchase a solvent to remove old adhesive. This can be a special product, acetone, gasoline or white spirit.
2. Apply solvent between the glass edge and the door surface.
3. Wait a while.
4. Move the fragment; if it begins to move, you can begin to carefully separate the element.
5. After peeling, wipe all surfaces to remove any remaining adhesive.

If it is impossible or impossible to use a solvent, but you have a hair dryer, you can remove the mirror from the facade using hot air. In addition to the hair dryer itself, you will need a metal ruler.

1. Turn on the hair dryer and heat the glass sheet with hot air along with the adhesive that holds it in place.
2. Carefully try to move it; if it gives way, carefully slide a ruler under the edge, then begin to lift.
3. Once removed, wipe with solvent to remove any remaining adhesive. Clean the door front.

Attention

A hair dryer does not always help in peeling off glass surfaces, since some adhesives have very high resistance to high temperatures.

The following describes how to properly attach new glass to a cabinet door:

1. Place the piece in the door groove to try it on.
2. Place the door in a horizontal position, face down, after laying down a clean and soft material. Place glass nearby.
3. Clean the door sample and the workpiece from dust, degrease them with a solvent.
4. Apply an even layer of sealant to the sample.
5. Turn the glass over with the grease-free side down and carefully place it in the door opening.
6. Align the glass sheet so that the gaps on all sides are equal.
7. Leave the glued elements in a horizontal position for a day.
8. After the glue has hardened, carefully remove any excess glue from the front of the door with a sharp knife.

Fastening bookcase glass using metal or plastic holders in steps:

1. Insert a new fragment into the selection so that the overlap at the edges is the same around the perimeter.
2. Attach the first glass holder at a distance of approximately 5 cm from the edge. The second and subsequent ones - after 10 cm (for large sizes) or 20 cm (for small sizes).
3. It is better to pierce new glass holders made of plastic with an awl or a thin knife to ensure easier screwing in of the screws.
4. Using a screwdriver, carefully and slowly tighten the screws.

Advice

Glass holders made of plastic or metal allow you to securely fix glass sheets of any size and weight.

How to choose glass hinges

Important factors to consider when purchasing a glass door pivot kit:

• maximum door opening angle:
• sash thickness and dimensions;
• weight of the glass sheet (and decorative decorations);
• appearance of the front part of the loop;
• complexity of installation (with and without drilling).

Don't skimp on accessories. Buy models from well-known manufacturers with built-in door closers.

MDM-Komplekt is an Italian company that has been supplying high-quality furniture fittings to Russia for many years.

Meroni Francesco has in its assortment authentic, exclusive and expensive models of glass hinges.

Dorma Russia is a leading supplier of door hardware in Russia, including glass door fastening systems, which are distinguished by their exquisite design and high reliability.

The Titan furniture company has its own distribution network, which sells a lot of glass accessories from leading manufacturers in Europe and Asia.

If you decide to install glass doors yourself, then you need to know the technology of its fastening, methods for adjusting components and door fittings. Before installation, you should prepare the necessary materials and tools: masking tape and universal foam, wooden wedges and putty, anchor bolts and “liquid nails,” a building level and a drill. If you received a new door with a frame, then the glass sheet is removed from the box and, in its packaged form, placed on a soft carpet. After which the packaging is removed and the glass is placed on wooden slats. So, let's start installing the glass door.

Removing the old door

At the first stage, you have to prepare the opening for the upcoming installation of a glass door. To do this, the old box is removed. Dismantling is carried out even if the condition of the box is quite good, because the dimensions can differ significantly.

Door frame installation

Then the protective covers should be removed from the hinges. Carefully loosen the hinge screws and turn them in the polar direction for the glass door structure. If you need to change the side of the door hanging, then the upper jamb and seals are moved to the opposite side. At the second stage, small holes are drilled in the wall for wood plugs. Irregularities that appear during the work process can be easily smoothed out with putty. Using wooden wedges, the box is inserted into the doorway. To adjust its position relative to the vertical and horizontal planes, use a building level.

Next, several small holes are drilled in the vertical strips of the door frame, into which anchor bolts are screwed. After completing the installation of the box, additional holes are drilled in the wall. Anchor bolts are inserted into them, and the box is tightened.

At the third stage, the free space between the built-in frame and the doorway is foamed with polyurethane foam. It's time to take a break from work and wait for the foam to completely harden. After this, it is necessary to cut off the hardened remains of the foam and saw off the protruding parts of the wooden wedges.

Installation of glass door and door closer

The fourth stage should be devoted to installing the glass in the box. The screws are tightened tightly and the safety covers are mounted in place. Now you can check the correct fastening using a square. Don't forget to check the gaps between the door and the door frame by closing the door.

It's time to start installing the platbands using “liquid nails”: fastening starts from the top platband towards the lower plane. Don't forget to place joints at the corners. After completing the installation of the glass door, it is recommended to pay attention to the components, in particular the door closer, and adjust them. In order for the operation of the closer to be long-lasting and continuous, it is important to perform each installation and debugging step in accordance with the recommendations in the instructions!

The door closer models come with a special template for correct installation, which shows where the device is attached to the door. The adjustment process is carried out using 2 adjustment screws located at the end of the housing, which, unfortunately, makes access difficult.

So, it is necessary to adjust the lever so that a right angle (90°) is formed between it and the plane of the door. Next, pay attention to the speed at which the glass door opens and closes. If you find that the speed is too high or, conversely, too slow, you should adjust it by tightening the special adjusting screws - 1 and 2. The first screw will allow you to adjust the closing speed within 180°-15°, and the second screw is responsible for the tempo at the moment " “dokhlopa” - at the last stage of closing the door. By tightening the second screw, you will reduce the closing speed and, conversely, by unscrewing it, you will increase it.

Popular models

In Russia, there is a large selection of furniture hinges for glass on the furniture fittings market. We have compiled an overview of the most popular models from well-known manufacturers in the form of a table:

Drilling installation

To install a glass door with holes, overhead, semi-overlay and inset hinges are used. They come with landing cups with a diameter of 26 and 35 mm. The distance between the edge of the hole and the edge of the glass is 4 – 8 mm. You will need to make 2 holes in the glass sheet.

The action plan is as follows:

1. Make markings for installing hinges on the canvas and cabinet body. Remember that the holes for installing the cup should be located somewhere ten to twelve centimeters from the top and bottom of the glass; on the sides they should recede somewhere between three and five millimeters. The diameter of the hole is equal to the cup of the loop.
2. Drill holes according to the markings using a drill with a special cutter with a diamond attachment under running water. If you are unable to do this yourself, order such work to be performed in a workshop by a qualified worker with special equipment.
3. Insert the hinge cup into the slot from the back side of the facade.
4. Place the counter part on top of the cup, tighten both parts with screws, which should be included in the hinge kit. If they are not there, contact the store where you bought the accessories and report the shortage.
5. Make a mark on the cabinet body to install the hinge arm by leaning the glass against the installation site and marking the fastening points with a pencil or thin marker.
6. Drill holes according to the markings with a drill.
7. Attach the arm to the cabinet stand in the traditional way - with screws.
8. Adjust the loop with special bolts located on the body.
9. Cover the finished connection with a decorative cover.

Furniture hinges for glass doors with drilling

The mechanism for opening overhead hinges itself implies installation with fixation only at the top and bottom. This gives certain restrictions on the size of the facade - after all, glass, as you know, has much more weight than, for example, chipboard. And also very fragile. For glass doors with a large area, it is better to use furniture hinges with drilling. Their installation allows the fasteners to be distributed evenly along the entire length of the facade.

The most practical, allowing for adjustment and various installation methods are four-hinge furniture hinges for glass doors with drilling. They have the following design.

The gaps for calculating the size of the facade are absolutely similar to the usual ones, description here.

To be able to install four-hinged hinges for glass in facades, in addition to processing the edges, you need to make holes. You can cut the holes yourself if you have the skill and the appropriate tool, but it’s better to order it directly from a glass cutter. On a sash up to 800-1000 mm in length, it is enough to make holes for two hinges (at a distance of approximately 100 mm from the edge on both sides). If the sash is longer, then another loop should be added in the center and, accordingly, another hole.

Four-hinged furniture comes in a mini version, with a bowl with a diameter of 26 mm, and in a standard version, with a bowl 35 mm in diameter. For small, lightweight sashes, a mini-hinge is sufficient.

When ordering holes for hinges, you need to think about handles. In some cases, it is quite appropriate to use an overhead handle. But if you want to install the same handles as on the rest of the furniture, you will need to immediately order holes for them. Measure the base (the distance between the handle screws) and determine where you want to install them.

In addition to four-hinged glass hinges, there are other options.

They are rarely used due to their high cost. If you decide to install them, be sure to study the installation instructions - for what diameter of the loop and at what distance from the edge you need to make the holes.

Installation of stop hinges without drilling

Use end loops here. The procedure is as follows:

1. Drill holes for pins in the bottom and top of the cabinet frame. They must be exactly above each other and at the same distance from the wall!
2. Install hinges in the corners of the opening.
3. Place protective pads in the grooves.
4. Insert the corners of the glass into the grooves of the hinges and clamp them with the clamping bar and screws until they stop.
5. Make sure everything is level and secure.
6. Install decorative elements if they are provided by the manufacturer.

Adjusting hinges on a glass door

After installing glass doors, the hinges must be adjusted correctly. This process is carried out carefully and slowly so as not to damage the canvas. Let's look at adjusting the hinges using the example of a glass shower door; it is performed in several stages:

1. Vertical and horizontal adjustment. After fixing the glass door to a wall or a fixed screen, use a building level to check its verticality. To adjust the horizontal position of the canvas, there are oval holes in the counter plate attached to the wall. By moving the hinge relative to these holes, the position of the door is adjusted. Once the door is aligned, both hinges are finally secured using central bolts.

   Adjustment of the blade is carried out using oval holes on the hinge bar

2. Pressure adjustment. A check is carried out to see how easily and smoothly the suspended door leaf moves. If the glass door does not fit tightly to the seals, then it is adjusted using special screws. They are usually on a hinge at the top and are adjusted with a hex wrench. Achieve the necessary pressure on the door, and then put decorative covers on the hinges.

   Using a hex key, move the door with fixed hinges inside the glass shower cabin

Installation of clamping loops without drilling

When installing a hinge with a clip under glass, proceed in the following order:

1. Select a location for installation. The hinges should be located at a distance of approximately five to seven centimeters from the top and edge of the glass, respectively.
2. Make a mark on the surface on which you will hang the door. Pay attention to the locations of fasteners!
3. Drill holes in the housing, take a screwdriver or screwdriver and attach one part of the hinge.
4. Insert the glass sheet into the clamp and adjust the position of the door relative to the cabinet body.
5. Secure the glass. For such precise work, use hand tools. A cordless screwdriver may slip and damage the fragile surface.
6. If necessary, install decorative trims.

Between the glass and the metal there should be spacers made of plastic, rubber or glue to protect against possible damage. Fix the glass sheet carefully; the clamping bolts should not be overtightened.

What determines the choice of hinges for glass facades?

Essentially there are two options:

• Install regular glass or mirror as doors. First, you need to grind the edge around the perimeter of the glass. In order to avoid injury from the edge during installation and further operation. Sanding gives a matte finish but costs less. Polishing the end of the glass is more expensive, but it also looks more beautiful and presentable. For hinged facades, glass/mirrors with a thickness of 4-6mm are used.
• Frame the glass. A frame facade with glass looks better and is more practical to use. The frame can be solid (for example, made of MDF) or prefabricated. If the frame facade under glass is assembled from laminated chipboard, MDF or solid wood, then ordinary furniture hinges are installed on it - overhead, semi-overlay, internal, corner, etc. A frame façade with glazing can be assembled from an aluminum profile. Your own specific furniture hinges are installed on the aluminum frame, with fastener adapters for wide and narrow profiles. Hinges are also divided into types (overhead, inset, semi-overhead, etc.), depending on the design of the box.

Adjustment

You can adjust the hinges as follows:

1. The central screw on the shoulder is “responsible” for the position of the blade in its plane. Turning it left or right, install the door exactly with the edges of the opening.
2. The end screw is installed in the shoulder slot. By loosening the fastening, achieve even gaps between the door and the perimeter of the opening. After adjustment, be sure to tighten the screw back.
3. Using the screws of the trim strip on the opening post, move the door vertically.
4. Using special pads under the hinge arms, you can set the desired door opening angle.

The end hinges with the location of the support sockets in the horizontal panels of the opening are not adjustable. Therefore, when drilling seats, you need to be very careful and avoid miscalculations.

How to adjust glass doors

Swinging glass doors are a special element of the interior; it is quite difficult to choose the optimal fittings for them that can ensure correct functioning.

Due to the specific nature of the mechanism responsible for opening doors, the fittings must meet higher modern requirements and standards.

The specificity of such doors is that they must open correctly and maintain a certain balance between fixation in a certain position and fairly easy opening. The hinges that form the basis of this mechanism allow it to successfully cope with this task. The ability of the fittings to perform their job correctly depends on the quality of this element.

The fittings for doors of this type must not only regulate the correct operation of the hinges, but it is also responsible for ensuring a reliable and tight connection with the door leaf. The structure moves quite quickly, the amplitude of movements can lead to significant loosening of connections.

To ensure reliability and durability of the structure, you need to choose high-quality fittings; it allows you to ensure optimal operating conditions and avoid various breakdowns.

Many modern potential buyers are trying to save a lot by choosing more affordable domestic analogues - this is not the worst idea; you need to find a trusted manufacturer who can provide certain guarantees for their products. Only in this case can a potential buyer protect himself from purchasing low-quality products that can create many problems during the operation of the doors.

Adjusting glass doors is especially important. You need to carry out this procedure very carefully in order to achieve maximum results and protect yourself from various unpleasant situations. Glass double doors especially require careful adjustment. After adjustment, both leaves should function the same way - move at the same speed, fix the doors in a certain position. If everything is done correctly, the service life of such doors increases significantly.

To achieve the desired result, you need to adhere to a few simple conditions.

— Order and buy high-quality fittings

— Skills and knowledge that will help a potential buyer make adjustments independently. But it is best to entrust this to highly qualified professionals to get maximum results.