Door Hinges
Hinges are an important consideration for any door, since doors are unable to open without them. Important considerations when choosing a door hinge are the strength of the hinge, its visual appearance, and its handedness (the direction it swings). Door hinges may be left-handed or right-handed, or they may work both ways.
The most common type of door hinge is called a butt hinge. These basic hinges have rectangular-shaped leaves with three screw holes on each leaf. They are installed by carving a rectangular recess, called a mortise, into a doorframe and screwing the hinge in place. Generally, two butt hinges are used for each single door.
A flush hinge may be used without carving a mortise, but they are not as strong as butt hinges. One type of flush hinge is the Tee Hinge, a hinge installed on the surface of the door that is shaped like the letter T. Tee Hinges are available in plain and heavy-duty versions as well as decorative varieties.
Another type of door hinge is called a butterfly hinge. These also do not require a mortise and are placed on the surface of a door. Butterfly hinges are available in a number of decorative styles and finishes. The continuous hinge, also called a piano hinge, is more commonly used for pianos and toolboxes, but may be used for doors, where it spreads out the weight better than a pair of butt hinges.